concern for my baby lovebird

[buckee]

Hi everyone,
I'm concern about our 2 month baby lovebird, Buckee. We just got her last Thursday. She's been eating very little. Her poop is very small yellow-green and sometimes it's only the white part that she poops. the only thing she would eat is millet and a few times sweet potato and rice but very little. She doesn't eat any of the seeds or pellets. Even in the morning she has very little appetite. Are any of these things normal for a baby? Do you think it's because she's fledging? She was clipped the breeder. The breeder told us that she's updated on her health exam and we don't need to bring her to a vet.

please help,
Eilene

[expressmailtome]

No these things are not normal. A bird that is properly weaned should eat seed/pellets. Is the breeder reputable? If the bird is weaned and still will not eat then there would be a health issue. My hunch is that the bird was either not fully weaned or was forced weaned.

Matt

[buckee]

The breeder gives 2 weeks guarantee. I'm not sure either if she was weaned properly. she's stuffing herself with millet right now but as far as seed or pellets, it seems like her beak cannot handle eating anything hard. i tried giving her cauliflower last night, she was trying to bite it but she cannot get a good grasp with her beak.

[expressmailtome]

This seems like a large problem. You might want to ask the breeder if he/she will take the bird back and finish weaning it as he/she is not eating on his/her own. The two week guarantee is one thing if the bird is weaned, but if it is not weaned and therefore not eating on its own then it will die. You would not happen to be trained in hand feeding would you? If the breeder refuses to do anything then I recommend seeing an avian vet ASAP. Let us know how things go.

Matt

[buckee]

I emailed the breeder. I'll call her tonight when she's available. I just noticed now that the bottom beak on right side has a little bent. Could that explain why she's having trouble eating hard food? I'm not trained in hand feeding but I could probably offer her some mashed sweet potato with crushed pellet.

[Flappuccino]

A new baby should not be going home until a minimum of 1-2 weeks AFTER being fully weaned. The breeder should also have sent home some of the diet the bird was on at their house.

Often, a new baby will revert to wanting to be handfed with the stress of a new to a whole new environment.

I hope this is a caring, reputable breeder who will help you with anything you need.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[buckee]

Thanks for all your help. I'll keep all posted.

[expressmailtome]

I agree with Flappuccino. Also, while sweet potatoe would be a help, it by no means would fill the nutritional requirements that this baby has. The beak being bent could have something to do with it. Still talk to the breeder. Good luck.

Matt

[Monica]

Originally Posted by buckee

The breeder told us that she's updated on her health exam and we don't need to bring her to a vet.

What the heck does that mean? Did the lovebird go in to an avian vet already and have a full CBC and Fecal done? Was the lovebird vaccinated against anything?

Being 8 weeks old she *might not* be weaned, or perhaps force-weaned. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking that perhaps this isn't a reputable breeder...

Got any pictures???

[expressmailtome]

Originally Posted by Monica

What the heck does that mean? Did the lovebird go in to an avian vet already and have a full CBC and Fecal done? Was the lovebird vaccinated against anything?

Being 8 weeks old she *might not* be weaned, or perhaps force-weaned. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking that perhaps this isn't a reputable breeder...

Got any pictures???

I did not want to put any breeder down without knowing the facts, but your support helps. I agree that 2 months is young. If the breeder cared then they would most likely recommend that you take the bird to the vet not the other way around.

Matt