Last Sunday I bought a 6 month old male Cockatiel. I took him to the vet and he got a clear bill of health, but he hasn't really been eating since I got him. I got him to eat some a few minutes ago but I had to take out all of the larger pellets and sunflower seeds out. So maybe the guy before, whose pet store has no phone for some reason, fed him parakeet food? And I also noticed that his droppings are sort of off-white, almost yellow instead of white. My first question is, is it healthy for a Cockatiel to eat Parakeet food? And is there something else wrong with him that could explain why his droppings arn't white?
2007-03-08 05:47:02 · 6 answers · asked by Stephie 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
A healthy bird will have green in its droppings as well as yellow or white. Not all bird droppings have to be white.
I would offer him millet spray as well as parakeet and canary fruit pellets and all the seed he wants. Parakeet is ok for him just dont worry about the bird unless its sitting in the cage floor all fluffed up otherwise its healthy.
2007-03-08 06:44:17 · answer #1 · answered by reasonable-sale-lots 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its possible that he is eating while you aren't looking. He may still be nervous of his surroundings and choose to eat in private for the time being. alot of times new owners will think that their food tray is full of food when in fact it has been eaten. An easy way to check this is by blowing lightly in the tray. The seed hulls will fly out the untouched seeds will remain. At any rate if you feel that it is not eating what you provide for him....which i find unlikely since you say that he ate some in front of you...then it would be worth the drive back to where you got him to ask the store owner what they were feeding them. Yes, it is fine to have him on parakeet food. Is it healthy? Of course not. an all seed diet is unhealthy and high in fat. It is the leading cause for shortening a cockatiels lifespan. Their normal life span in 15-20 years. however, an all fat all seed diet can cut that number drastically down to 1-5 years. It's best to start trying to slowly wean him off of seed and onto a pelleted diet with fresh fruits and seeds daily.
2007-03-08 08:29:50 · answer #2 · answered by peek-a-boo 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Maybe he just need to ajust to his new environment. Animals regulalry dont eat when they've encountered change etc..give him a few more days and if he's still not eating and his droppings are worrying you, then take him down to the vet just to be sure.
2007-03-08 06:07:16 · answer #3 · answered by littleminnie1000 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once he is adjusted to his new home (and I think that's what the trouble is too) switch him over to a pellet diet. It is healthier than seeds
2007-03-08 10:47:01 · answer #4 · answered by jonnyraven 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well...maybe its cause ur feeding ur bird the wrong food. lol. try to feed him his normal food. also, u can get bird treats. try a couple of those. i used to have a cocatiel. i loved him. no one in my family liked him so my dad let him fly away. i was sad. so treat ur bird nicely
2007-03-08 07:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by Gam3r333 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
try giving millet if he doesn't eat that take back to vet
2007-03-08 06:01:36 · answer #6 · answered by Keri D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋