Adult Grey not eating

[tas6_1999]

Dear Members,

 

I had purchased a CAG about four days back. It is on a sunflower diet from the petshop. I was told by the petshop owner that the bird is very good eater but I always saw it sitting at one place on the perch only.

 

Anyway, I bought the bird and it is not eating at all ever since I bought it. First night, there were signs that the bird had previously eaten before moving into my apartment as there was pooh on the cage floor. But nothing is missing from the food dish and no pooh on the cage floor except for the namesake thing. I am forcefully feeding it some water with honey/multivitamins for it not to get starved.

 

Could you please advise what should I do for it to get back to eating. What possibily could be wrong. I totally fail to understand as the other grey bird I bought along from the same shop is active and eating and playful too.

 

Regards

Taz

[ecodweeb]

Hi Taz,

 

Sunflower seed diets are not very good for these parrots. I would advise you go online and order some Harrisons or Roudybush or even Zupreem brand pellets and mix these into the seeds to try and encourage the parrot to eat them.

 

Immediately I'd start with fresh fruits and veggies. Beware of Avacados and critus fruits, I'd suggest you start out with some red or green peppers, perhaps a bit of tomato, some bananna, apple slice, a grape (seedless) and even some celery, carrots and corn. Fresh/frozen is best, I don't like how canned foods tastes myself so I don't subject my parrots to them.

 

I bet he will come around with the fresh food, also try some breads down the road.

 

Also the bird is adjusting to your new home, so it may not be eating because it is scared. How have you acted around the parrot since he's come home? Have you let him decide if he wishes to come out of the cage or required he come out of the cage with step up? These are all important depending on the timed you've had him.

[Greywings]

I would not force feed you may aspirate that guy. Let him settle in and provide small meals and treats during the day. Pretend you are eating some and make it sound yummy-smacking lips and UMMM sounds.

[Summerc25]

Awww poor little guy Have you taken him to the vet? Maybe something is wrong. I agree with the the others, force feeding could kill him accidentally. Just make sure he has constantly fresh food and water. If you are watching him a lot maybe leave the room for an hour or two and leave him with plenty of fresh food and water. He may be scared and maybe he will eat if he is alone for a few minutes. Please keep us posted, I will pray for your little guy!

[tas6_1999]

I am deeply touched and impressed by your emotions and passion, particularly, the ones of summerc25. I am very responsible breeder and have about nine years' experience of rescuing birds and feeding from chick to independent birds. I have many other greys also to give him company. But the point has been that I cannot see him starving and this seems to be an extreme emotional case of grey who is not getting over the loss of his previous environment/friends of the petshop, may be, though everything that has been offered to him is much, much better. I have also given up feeding him and have put him among other four grey birds. Let us see how things turn up. Should you have any suggestions, I would feel myself to be most fortunate.

[tas6_1999]

Dear members,

 

Good news!! Here is the update on the bird in question. Just one night and one day with the other birds, turned him around and changed him quite a bit. Now he does not appear to be bored and looks more active and is moving around in the cage. That is quite comforting to me. Isn't it?

 

Thanks to every one of your for your comments and remarks that have really guided my course of help to the bird.

 

Regards

Taz

[judygram]

That is wonderful news Taz, now he feels like he is one of the flock, sometimes it is something as simple as just being among his own kind that makes the difference in whether he eats or not, glad you found it works.

 

Thanks for letting us know and I hope it continues to improve.

[rbpittman]

Taz, how long have you been breeding greys? Your post says you have about 9 years experience with them, so one not eating for the first few days should not be a new thing, and you should have already known that a diet of sunflower seeds is not a good diet for a grey.

 

I'm glad that your grey is eating now, and that's great, but was it vet checked prior to bringing him into your home? You've put him with your other birds without a proper quarantine period. No poo for several days and having to force fluids indicates an immediate visit to the vet.

[tas6_1999]

Dear rbpittman, thanks for your very intelligent probing question.

 

Request you to please re-read my post. I never said nine years with greys. What I said was nine years of experience in rescuing the birds (during the course of breeding Indian Ringnecks, Canaries, Cockatiels and other abandoned sick birds such as piegeons, etc.) and that I am well experienced in hand feeding. In the absence of your knowledge of my background, I really appreciated the concern about forceful feeding which was being done in the quarantine period. Before I introduce him to the flock, I needed to ensure he is fit and fine. At the same time, it was breaking my heart to see he is not eating at all. (believe me he appreciated my handfeeding as with the passage of time, he was making it easy for me and taking it).

 

Please re-read my post, I have also said that the petshop owner has told me that he is a great eater and the night he came to my apartment, there was enough poo not to get worried. I started looking for advice only after the three days during which period he was on liquid handfed diet. I was doing it because I was very well aware that the grey do get extremely obstinate and very emotionally unstable, particularly this bird who is of extremely introvert nature.

 

There are no vets in my area and I feel the experience has made me a vet itself. Don't you all worry, I do consult child specialists when my birds get sick and get guided by their advices.

 

I am into the breeding of greys for the last three years and have had many successful breeding seasons and raised twelve grey chicks. I have so far dealt with six individual birds. At present, I have eight birds - I find each birds' personality disticnt from the other and at times challenging with complexity. Well, I may not be as educated and experienced as you may be, but rest assured I am learning fast.

 

Thank you very much for your time and concerns.

 

Regards

Taz

[danmcq]

Welcome Taz!

 

It's Greyt having you here.

 

It sounds like you have everything in control and that your new Grey is finally starting to settle in. As I'm sure you know, many do not like change and it affects them for days sometimes. :-)

 

Karma to you for taking in birds in need of rescue.

 

Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[Greywings]

Taz you sound like you do have some valuable experience under your belt and it is good to know that you have experience with what you were doing. Being on a public forum we always want to put the emphasis on safety. Keeping them all happy and healthy.

[ramsabi]

ecodweeb wrote:

<snip> Beware of Avacados and critus fruits <snip>

 

Are citrus fruits dangerous?<br><br>Post edited by: ramsabi, at: 2010/02/03 18:33

[Dave007]

They're not dangerous but they all create acidity which a bird doesn't need. Fruits aren't as important as veggies The benefits of fruit are very small compared to veggies.

[ecodweeb]

Yes, it's ok to give them some OJ every now and again but the acid in those kinds of foods or juices long term could be a health problem.

 

Like anything else, moderation.

 

Except it seems avacados, they seem to be kind of deadly. But I have no first hand exposure or knowledge of this. Just what I read.

[Dave007]

All bad

 

Chocolate----apple seeds-----avocado----onions----alcohol----mushrooms---tomato leaves----salt---- caffeine-----dried beans.

[Luvparrots]

So glad to hear that your grey is doing better now that he is with the flock! Karma to you Taz for rescuing so many fids! Can't wait to hear more about your flock and hearing their names and seeing some pictures if you have any to share!!

[rbpittman]

Taz, thanks for your explanation. I didn't mean to offend, and apologize if I did. I have less than a years experience with Grey's so I tend to jump to "go to vet" faster than I should I guess.