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Post by indigoblue on Dec 7, 2022 21:22:14 GMT -5
Hi all, I'm new to this forum and hope you all can help me with my 9 week old blue Quaker named Indigo. I adopted her from a family about a week ago and she's been great. She's quiet and shy but likes being with me and anyone else that has met her. She isn't loud, likes her new cage, and is pretty happy most of the time. The problem is that she only eats seeds and even then, mostly millet. I've watched a ton of videos and read things about tricks to get birds to eat fruit and pellets but she won't do it. I try to give her small pieces of banana, blueberries, peas and apple to her every day. She'll taste things with her tongue but doesn't eat. She won't even taste pellets. The breeder told me she was completely weaned and eating well but I don't think this was the case. Her poop has been pretty water the last few days and I'm worried. Should I put her back on formula or will she get it eventually?   |
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Post by heatherg on Dec 7, 2022 21:33:23 GMT -5
I don’t think it’s a good idea to completely cut off such a young bird from formula. 9 wks is pretty young and maybe she doesn’t quite understand how to eat. I would continue to feed formula and whatever bird safe food she’ll take. l would leave the seeds there all the time, and offer fresh food as long as it will stay good. If she seems totally “empty” maybe you should try to feed her a few times a day. Only urine and no feces sounds like a hungry baby bird.
you can eat fruits and vegetables in front of her, cooked egg, etc. whatever you want her to eat so she will get the idea that it’s food. I mean she might think a blueberry is just a marble or something.
It is good if she’s at least tasting these things.
Do you have formula? If you need to buy some you could feed mushy banana or cooked oatmeal or cream of wheat or corn grits for a short time until you get some formula.
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Post by indigoblue on Dec 7, 2022 22:09:29 GMT -5
Thanks heatherg! She tasted the mashed up banana but wouldn't really eat it. I can go out and get formula. It makes sense just to keep trying and be persistent. She's still so young.
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Post by heatherg on Dec 7, 2022 22:26:08 GMT -5
I think you really need to get baby bird formula. Human toddlers get frightened and start behaving more babyish so why wouldn’t bird toddlers?
I wonder if she would take oatmeal or cream of wheat? But banana is sweet and you would think she’d eat that.
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Post by Caseysmom on Dec 7, 2022 22:36:20 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum , I agree your baby probably needs formula, you could get some from the breeder if she is regressing. You could try softening the pellets in water too, but it sounds like she still wants to be fed. Perhaps the breeder can show you how. Good luck.
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Post by indigoblue on Dec 8, 2022 11:11:41 GMT -5
Thank you all, she ate about 9 mls of formula this morning just like a baby. I appreciate your help getting this bumpy start figured out.
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 8, 2022 21:13:33 GMT -5
Welcome! I'm not experienced with feeding baby parrots but it sounds like you've received some good suggestions. As caseysmom said, softening pellets in water or unsweetened fruit juice often helps introduce pellets to a parrot who isn't used to eating them. Even though my QP Ralph eats dry pellets he still expects some softened ones every day. I put some pellets in a small glass and add just enough water to moisten them. Once they're softened, the pellets can be offered from a small spoon or placed in the food dish. Ralph likes me to put some at the bottom edge of his cage so he can "forage" for them, but that wouldn't be necessary for getting a parrot started on pellets. With all unfamiliar foods, you do have to be persistent and expect to waste a lot of food. It can sometimes work to eat some of the same foods while your parrot watches, and make a fuss over how delicious they are. Parrots usually want to share the things their human companions enjoy eating. It can also help to try preparing vegetables in different ways-- raw and cooked, larger pieces or finely chopped or even mashed. Every parrot has his/her own preferences. All the best to you and your feathered friend.  |
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Post by biteybird on Dec 19, 2022 5:23:10 GMT -5
I am quite late to this thread...welcome to the Forum! Your little Indigo sounds adorable. The others have given you great advice and I was also going to suggest softening the food/pellets by soaking them a bit. We got Bonnie at around 8-9 weeks and I was concerned that she didn't know how to eat, but within 2 days of her coming home she was eating the pellets (but the breeder had the parents raised on pellets as well, which I understand predisposes the babies to eating them). I would expect your baby to be eating more solid food within a few weeks (if not already, as I didn't see this post until now). |
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