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And now we a beautiful star - Stella (star in Italian)




We couldn't take it any more when my sweet Luna died on Saturday night, hubby told me to get another on Sunday.

At first I felt funny getting another bird right after Luna died. But then I thought about it and changed the way I looked at it. What better way to show our love and what she meant to us then to get another right away. Luna touched our lives and filled our home with so much love and companionship we couldn't go another day without. So I set out on Sunday and went to what I thought was the same sponsored bird fair I went to last year which was wonderful - this one was not. Son onto a store a few miles a way a co-worker told me about - major yuk!! The room and cages were filthy! Then on to my favorite bird store - I called and let her know the story about Luna, They had some very nice tiels but none jumped at me and she felt they were all boys. So onto my next favorite store (especially to cuddle up with the babies) - Petland - that's where I found her!! Yes I know all the problems with pet stores like this, but I've been visiting this store for 3 years on a regular basis and they keep it very clean. I have had issues with some of the staff over the years but that's neither here nor there. I think she is a lot younger then they say (what a surprise), the records I saw of each bird aren't very detailed.

She is a white face gray, and has speckles of white on the top of her head and chest. It's funny because hubby picked out the name on Sat. night and here she (hopefully) has "stars" on the top of her head. The store says she's 12 -14 weeks, I don't think so - she weighs only 77gm - and you can feel her keel bone (took her to the vet today). He thinks more like 8-10 weeks!!! Yikes! hand feeding is not what I was looking to do!!! Pet store says one a day if she wants it - 15cc, doc says 2 a day 10-12 cc each time!! And she (again hoping) sleeps A LOT!!!!! If we didn't have a name I would call her cricket because that's what she sounds like. I heard may 2-3 small regular chirps so far She has not done the loud FEED ME NOW crying I've heard from the birds in the store in the past and even Luna did it when I got her.

I am having Luna cremated privately and returned to us. We don't own property so burial is not an option. As I was going through the pictures of her this message, I started crying all over, every time I talk to someone about her I start crying. I know Stella won't replace Luna and I know she is her own bird and we'll have to discover what she likes and doesn't like, it may be the same it may be different, there may be overlapping of each. But we will love her and care for her the best way we know how.

Again, thanks to all who posted in my time of need - Christie, BB Exotics, Jenny, Monica, Lisa, Kim, Sam, Claudia, Sadielynn, Bubblelady, nascargirl and patti in oz

Jo

Happy Holidays to all

your little star is beautiful and no Stella will not ever replace Luna, but of course it is okay to have another bird so soon after.
Don't worry about her needing a feed if the vet reckons she is around the 8 week mark.
She shouldn't need it anymore (hopefully she isn't any younger than that though!)
She looks lovely and it does indeed look like she has stars on her body, can't wait to see more pics of her as she gets older
I wish you a very merry Christmas with little Stella
big hug from Down Under

Even if she shouldn't need the feedings any more, handfed tiels are notorious for regressing, and if she hasn't been fed properly (because of the ignorance of the store) she will need to catch up, and quite a bit too. At even 8 weeks she should have been full sized and in the 90's for weight.

Remember, many hand fed tiels don't wean until 10-12 weeks.

Feed this bird whenever she is hungry. Leave millet spray in the cage where it is easy for her to get to and make sure her food and water dish are easy to access. She will have to re-wean all over again. Remember, abundance is the key to a healthy bird. If she is acting off, take her back to the vet.

ETA:
Here is a link to a weight gain chart and reccomended feeding ammounts.
http://www.cockatielcottage.net/weightgain.html

According to this chart, your bird has dropped to the 6-7 week weight category. I sincerly hope that she is older and has just regressed due to being forced to wean early.

She is GEORGOUS !! and will be loved unconditionally I am sure ...
Just remember (its hard I find myself doing it on occasion ) to try not to compair them
When I got noodle he reverted and it took about a month or 2 to reween him he weighed lower than what he should have and we abundence feed him ... To get him to eat and drink I spred his food all over the floor of his room covered in paper towels , we went through a ton of food since I would change it out atleast 4 times a day .. but in the end it was worth it
When we got noodle he was said to be 10 weeks old there was no way the vet concured on this and we figure he was only 3-4 weeks old ... From my understanding that is illigeal to sell them that young ? Either way he is a whopping 105 grams up from I think was 68 grams ... He weened at 133 or so and fledge to 103- 109 sometimes 112 but normally sits at 103
Again congrats on the new bappy she is beautiful !

What a pretty Girl you got there..

She is a beauty.
I know what you feel. When Whook took off I knew no other bird could replace Whook but I loved having birds so I got Dexter. Whook was eventually found and returned to me. I felt like I won the lottery! They are such a joy.
I wish you the best with your new addition

I went back to the store with Stella to get handfed - I failed miserably at it last night They showed me her records of feedings - received her on 10/19 about 3 weeks old - or whenever they can go the night without being fed. She was always the smallest and always the biggest hog when it came to the food. They feed Kaytee Exact, and yes even when she was eating at home today with food in fer crop she gladly accepted 20cc!! So, if she wants it for another month or 2 so be it. She has millet, Roudy Bush pellets, Zupreem pellets, seed mix, water (in a shallow dish on the cage floor and a water bottle near a perch) beak apetit at night, and some collard greens - is that abundant ? She still sounds like a cricket - so darn cute. Barely makes any other sounds so I'm inclined to think it's a girl

As far as pet stores that sell an assortment of animals go, I think they do a pretty good job with feeding and weaning. The birds always have seed, pellets, millet and water available at all times. They keep records of the weights of each bird and how much formula was fed. They keep the baby for at least a week after it first refuses formula - they wanted to keep Stella another week but asked if we could take her that day. he said fine and gave some formula to take with me and said to bring her in if I had any problems. Since I go there a lot, most of the employees know me by name or face, and I talk to them - especially those who care for the birds. It pays off to be a regular.

The vet did a fecal test and in came out negative for parasites - don't know about another bugs.

She sleeps just about anywhere, anytime, that's why I thought she was much younger - either way - she will be loved and will be a great addition to our small family - Getting her was the thing to do for me - hubby was right!!

Working on getting better pictures of her.

Jo

that petshop sure sounds great!
So she is the age you were told, that's good news!
She is probably still settling in, now being all alone as well.
She'll take a little while but I am sure she will be just fine with you as her new mum
Enjoy your Christmas with your new treasure

Luna Bella wrote:I went back to the store with Stella to get handfed - I failed miserably at it last night
Jo

Hand feeding is no picnic trained or not , I never did it with any others other than Taz , Noodle by far was the hardest ... So you DID NOT FAIL ! Just give it time noodle did not take syringe feeding but had spoon feedings , we just used small sugar spoons to feed him, then one day he wanted it in his bowl so we left it their and it seemed a short while later he just turned up his beak at it ...

Awwww, congrats on your baby! I hope she helps ease the pain of your loss....even a little. I think Luna would be happy that you're taking in another tiel that needs a good home.....not to replace her.....but to show your love for her by not being able to live without the kind of companionship she provided. Best of luck to you and your new addition.

The diet sounds good. It is good to introduce them to greens and pellets at a a young age (plus the millet to keep their weight up.)
I got Button at 8 weeks and I think she should have still been hand fed til she was 10 but I did not know that at the time. She was still begging and crying and the shop owner said that was 'normal". Hindsight tells me that was not normal and she should have still had at least some hand feeding until she stopped the begging.
It is good you brought Stella to vet for a check up. Babies tend to get yeast infections.
Best wishes with your new baby

We did the same thing, Jo. Right after Diego died, we went out and got Casper. I was happy that we did. I missed Diego so badly and it really did help when Casper came home with us. Little Star is adorable. I hope she brings lots of love and happiness!!!

Thanks Lisa, I miss Luna so much - she was such a large part of our lives. We did have her cremated and returned to us, I picked her up Friday morning when I went to the vets office for Stellas meds. Stella hasn't gained any weight When I hand feed her she is only taking 3-5cc the last 2days compared to 10-15cc a couple days ago. The vet prescribed baytril to be on the safe side if there is an infection and said it should stimulate her appetite. She is eating millet also, but not touching much of anything else. I hope it helps - it is very frustrating.

Is Stella eating regular food? (seed, pellets greens etc..?) At a certain age, fledglings will reisist hand feedings.
What does her poop look like?Normal?