Introducing Pellets

[funnyfarm?]

Hi,

I need some advice.I've rescued a 4 yr old

Amazon.She is pretty messed up.She has lived in

a budgie cage,and is paceing along her wood perch

stareing up,almost as if hypnotised..She has been

fed straight shelled sunflower seeds,with the odd

carrot and orange.I 've tried giving her pellets,dry

and mashed up and warm,but she's hardly eaten any.She

has had some bananas and grapes,apple and a bit of

yogurt.I realize sunflower seeds are high in fat and

that Amazons are prone to fatty liver disease.

My question is,should I wean her off these sunflower

seeds gradually,or all at once?I don't want to shock

her system.She was owned by an 84 yr old lady who

passed away,and obviously didn't know any better..

She is in perfect feather,and seems healthy despite

everything,...has anyone seen a bird do this behaviour?

I've searched and read many of your posts,any help or

ideas would be greatly appreciated....I forgot to mention,I've only had her 4 days..

Thanks alot..K.C.

[judygram]

Probably the first thing you need to do is take her to see an avian vet for a workup to see if she is healthy as that staring upward is puzzling to me.

 

You won't be able to just cut out the sunflower seeds cold turkey, but you can gradually replace them with other more nutritious foods and gradually wean her off of them but it will take time.

 

I wouldn't worry too much right now about getting her to eat the pellets, concentrate on getting her some fresh veggies and such, take a cruise thru the bird food room for lots of ideas and suggestions.

[judygram]

K C, I see this is your first post, why don't you introduce yourself in the welcome room and tell us some more about you and your birds.

[BaxtersMom]

Hi Funnyfarm, karma to you for taking in such a neglected amazon and trying to give it a healthier life style. I can't believe the poor thing was in a budgie cage:(

 

I took in a 1.5 year old dyh amazon and noticed that he had a dazed type of look to him at times. Even now he does it sometimes. He will look up at a light or lightbulb or something up in the air with his head tilted to the side and looks totally zoned out for a few minutes. I never really gave it much thought because overall he acted pretty normal. If it seems more serious than that you might want to take him to the vet which he may need anyways just for a wellness check.

 

As taking him off the sunflower seeds, I would do that gradually. Mine too was on a sunflower seed diet when I got him. That's all he had in his bowl and she said thats what he liked and other than some occassional table foods that was diet. If yours is anything like mine he loves food!! I was lucky. I would take him off the sunflower seeds gradually. Mine did take to pellets right away. Actually I had get him a different brand than my other birds ate. he would not eat the plain pellets at all but loves the Zupreem fruity blend pellets. Maybe you could try some different brands to see if he has a preference. Also, try offering pellets in different ways like, soaking in apple juice or get a jar of baby food and put a spoonful in to moisten them up. (mine love it that way),try cooking some oatmeal and put some pellets in it. I am hoping that you will be able to find a brand that he likes or find a way mixed with something else that will start him or her eating pellets.

 

Also, keep giving him lots of veggies if he eats them well and the occassional fruit. Veggies have much more nutrition than the fruits.

 

Please keep us posted and perhaps you can go introduce yourself in the Welcome Room here. Was wondering if you have a grey also. You don't have to have a grey to be a member here but we love to know more about you. Good luck and let us know how it goes.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/25 18:54

[funnyfarm?]

That's what i was wondering,if it was better to take

her off them gradually.I'll do as you suggest,I just

know they aren't the best.for Amazons anyway.I'm really

trying with the veges. and fruit..I know it will take

time.I thought the pellets had more nutrients then

fruits,so I was really trying to get those into her.

I do plan on getting her to the vet, and maybe get her

clipped,but becuz she's been threw so much,I think I'll

wait a bit..This paceing back and forth and stareing

upwards is what's really weird.It's like she is

hypnotised.I took out the long perch,so she can't do

the paceing,so she's doing it less,when climbing along

her cage.I'm sure it's from being in such a small cage,

and she had no toys,either.Horses that are in small

stalls do a similar side to side pacecing called

weaving.I've seen wolves do it too.

[BaxtersMom]

Being in that small cage could have really made her a little crazy. I've seen shows on TV on birds that litterly go insane in bad situations like that. I hope yours will be fine. I bet under your care she will finally have a wonderful life.

 

I recommended to keep giving the veggies as much as possible because you said she wouldn't eat the pellets. I am one who thinks pellets are very important and would try to get her on them as quick as possible. Untill you can do that, veggies are the way to go if you can. The greener ones I've heard have the most nutrients than the lighter colored ones.

 

I have 4 parrots and the only one I had to clip was my amazon. He was just too wild in the beginning and clipping is my last resort but really felt it was necessary in his case. We had to clip his wings in the first week. I would have liked to wait for 30 days to take him anywhere but had to do quickly in his case. I'm sure will make the right choices and if unsure, just ask us. Someones usually on here that is willing to help out.

[funnyfarm?]

I forgot to say Thankyou for you yor help,I'm new on

the computer and my last message disappeared before I

finished!I do have a 2 yr old Grey named Shado and a

10 moth old Y C.Amazon named Lyric,and a 12 yr old 1

eyed pidgeon,with a deformed wing named Bird...I have

horses,dogs,and cats too.I know I should have maybe

quarantined this bird,but I couldn't believe the size

of her cage..I had driven 3 hrs to see her,and couldn't

leave her,...I'll keep going threw all your posts,they

have been really helpful,Thanks again

K.C.

[BaxtersMom]

You are quite welcome and that is what we are for. This is a wonderful website with great people on it. We are here for each other through the good and bad stuff. I've made several really good friends here along the way, too. We love to brag on our babies and well, too and love seeing pictures of our birds.

 

I am glad you will taking her to the vet. It amazes me that there are so many people out there that do not know how to properly take care of their birds and I feel so sorry for them. That's what happened with our amazon. I thought we were going to look at a well rounded young and socialized bird but it was the total opposite. I couldn't leave him behind and he is doing wonderful now.

 

When you get chance please introduce yourself and your flock in the welcome room so everyone can give you a warm welcome. We would love to see pictures of your all your flock, too. photos would be great, too:)<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/25 19:47