We just purchsed a new budgie and are very excited, but worried that he won't eat yet. I see "conflicting" advise about keeping him covered or socializing him "right away" What is the right thing to keep him healthy and acclaimate him?
2006-08-19 17:35:45 · 13 answers · asked by Karen L 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
We got him on Friday. Took him to the vet on Saturday (make sure he is healthy and that we are doing everything right) - the vet actually told us to switch his food - from what he was used to eating to pellets - so we actually mixed both together. He has a millet srpay and we offer fresh fruit. We know he isn't eating because there are no seed hulls or other indication that the food is touched. My daughter is frantic, and I am worried. We are keeping him in her quiet room, so he can adjust - but we check on him every hour or so. Thank you all for your advise - we are trying as much as possible to try everything. We now also have food dishes on the bottom of the cage -we've never seen him off his perches - but the food dish as the store was on the bottom. Thanks again SO MUCH - I can let you know what happens - hopefully good news.
2006-08-20 03:15:38 · update #1
well, you just purchased him. he may be in shock. it may take him awhile to get used to his surroundings. get worried if he continues to not eat. its possible that you bought him, and maybe hes sick. or, which happened to my neighbors bird, he actually got "home sick" because he had been in the pet shop so long. just pay attention to him. if you see some weird behavior contact a vet. and if he contnues to not eat, go to the place you bought him from. since they know him, (if this has happened to them before), they'll know what to do.
2006-08-19 17:44:04 · answer #1 · answered by lindsey m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Worry now. Birds need to eat nearly all the time. 24 hours is way too long for a bird to not eat. Since birds can hide the symptoms of illness till the last minute, it is possible that your keet could become sick or die suddenly if he doesn't get some food soon. Call the place you got him from and find out the kind of food he was eating. He might just not know how to eat the food you're giving him, or he might not recognise it and that's why he won't eat. It is possible that he's only eating when you are not in the room, some birds are shy and don't like to eat around people. See if there are any seed shells in the bottom of the cage. Blow on the food dish and see if any of what you think is seed is really just empty shells. If you are sure he's not eating, first, give him the food he's accustomed to, then put his cage in a corner in a quiet room and try not to bother him much, but still checking to see if he's eating. He could just be so stressed by the new environment. If he still is not eating for another day, I would suggest that you consult an avian vet.
As for keeping the bird covered, its really a matter of preference, the bird's. If you stay up late and keep the lights on in the room the keet will be caged, you should probably cover it, especially since your bird is new, it might appreciate the security of a covered cage in a dark unfamiliar place. Either way is fine, so just go with what your bird's comfortable with.
I would suggest that you wait about a week before you try to bother him too much, just because he seems a little stressed already, you can sit beside his cage and talk quietly to him, try not to put you hands near him until hes used to your presence.
2006-08-19 18:06:37 · answer #2 · answered by jerrri 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's probably scared as the others have stated. Try covering just the back and 1/2 of the cage top with a cover so he feels secure and spray millet you can buy at any pet store just hang some in the cage and then do not bother him except to go peek at him to keep an eye on. Also some real soft elevator music at a low volume may help. If he does not seem better then you will have to call the vet.
2006-08-20 04:54:17 · answer #3 · answered by misb 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some birds go into shock after being purchased. This sounds like what happened to your bird. I suggest that you keep his cage uncovered so he can see everything and not be scared. (By the way, when you do cover his cage leave one side open so he can see what's going on, this is important, because if he gets scared he could have a heart attack.) Eventually, he will calm down, and he will realize he is hungry. If there isn't food in the cage now, put some in, offering different things, and some water. But be sure you leave him alone. If after a while, he still hasn't eaten, take him to the vet, because he could be sick. I hope he eats! :)
2006-08-20 02:07:33 · answer #4 · answered by birdfreak 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please do not panic I sell budgies and parakeets every day and I advise all customers to set up the cage with extra feeders for their new bird and gradually reduce to one as the first week goes on. A small dish of seed on the floor of the cage may help.
Give him time to settle down and find his bearings. remember he might have had diferent type of feeders in the shop and not recognise the one in his new home as a food source. Give him millet sprays as an alternative as well.
2006-08-20 00:33:39 · answer #5 · answered by stevehart53 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is this budgie? Was he fully weaned before being sold to you? Baby birds need to be eating well on their own for at least a week before leaving their parents or their handfeeders.
It is possible he is too young and has no clue what the food is. 24 hours is too long for him not to eat anything.
He wont' have much time left to live if he doesn't get nourishment soon. Please contact the store you bought him from and find out his eating regimen.
Best Wishes
2006-08-20 14:08:41 · answer #6 · answered by Kimmie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is most likely because he is still adjusting, birds are in a sort of state of shock when there environment change dramatically. I would worry if it were anymore than 2 days without food and water. How do you know he hasn't eaten while you've been out?
2006-08-19 18:58:43 · answer #7 · answered by theeare99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get it another budgy to talk to that is the first thing
after that see if it is still not eating
is the food in the proper place and has it got water
give it some fresh fruit .like grapes or apple ,they love that
2006-08-19 17:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know anything about birds, however, I would suggest you locate a vet in your area who specializes in aviary. This way you are prepared in a crisis.
My guess would be that he's nervous about the new environment. If he was among other birds for his whole life and now he's the only one.... that can be a scary situation.
2006-08-19 17:43:54 · answer #9 · answered by danerlu2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i imagine you want to rigidity-feed it with a syringe, first attempt infant milk, if he accepts that attempt putting some cooked mince meat through a strainer and including that to the milk squirting it down it really is throat with the syringe, because after 24 hours the cat will be dehydrated, a minimum of attempt some filtered water to save it hydrated, yet regularly i imagine you want to make certain the vet asap.
2016-11-26 19:19:34 · answer #10 · answered by omparsad 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋