Thank you for getting back to me. The guy in the pet store didn't know what he is talking about. Millet is the bird equivalent of feeding nothing but candy to a child. It should be a treat only. If Bella is not eating, it's possible she has not eaten solid food, though she should be able to. Cockatiels are weaned from formula much younger than 5 months. Here's more information on weaning:

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww50eii.htm

It's also possible she may be sick. I'll give you some information on care first.

Diet is the single most important factor in keeping our birds healthy. Many people still feed a diet consisiting mostly of seeds, but recent research has shown that an all-seed diet is not good for cockatiels. Pellets, supplemented with various fresh and healthy “people foods,” along with a few seeds make up a healthier diet. Birds that are fed mostly seeds tend to develop fatty liver disease, tumors, and other health conditions. However, if a bird is used to eating mostly seeds, you’ll have to convert them to pellets gradually. Since Bella may not know how to eat solid food, you can try some softer foods for her, such as cooked, mashed sweet potato or squash, baby food vegetables (no onions) or fruit. The following two sites are where you can get reliable information on feeding and care. The second one has a section on converting from seeds to pellets.

http://www.4animalcare.org/birds


http://www.cockatiels.org/ownersandenthusiasts/converting-seed-junkie-to-pellets.htm

Your birds will also need a cuttlebone. Grit or gravel is something they don’t need. That’s another one of those things we thought was healthy, only to learn later that it is bad for birds in the parrot family. Be sure to provide plenty of clean water. Don’t use vitamins that are added to the water. That just makes the water taste bad, and the birds won’t drink enough.

I’m sure you realize cleanliness is important, as is exercise. Provide the biggest cage you can, and also bring the birds out for exercise when you can supervise. It’s also important to have a variety of perches. I suggest that you get details on all these aspects of care from the above sites.

Birds are very sensitive to chemicals in the household. Never use air fresheners of any kind in their room. scented candles are also out. Spray cleaners shouldn’t be used either. Nonstick cookware gives off fumes when hot that can kill a bird.

When a problem develops, consult an avian vet rather than a pet store. Most pet store personnel will act if they are well-informed, but few really are. The over-the-counter medications sold there are ineffective and sometimes dangerous. It would be a good idea to find a vet now, so when you need one, you don’t have to go searching. You could take your birds in for a check-up (a good idea once a year) , or just go in to introduce yourself and let them know you’d like to be a client. This link will take you to a directory of avian vets:

http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/vets.htm

Because Bella isn't eating and seems to be sleeping a lot, I highly recommend a vet visit now. She may be sick.

I recommend that you go to the sites above, and read all you can. Afterward, if you have more questions, you can come back here, click on REPLY, and ask me what you need to know. There’s no additional fee for follow-up questions as long as you post them as a reply on this same question. I hope you enjoy many years with Bella.

Anna

(The above answer is intended for informational purposes only. If your pet is ill, you should consult a veterinarian. )