Cockatiel not eating (?)

[usamma]

I got a rehomed tiel several days ago along with a bag of food that looked brand new, even though they'd had the bird for a few weeks. They told me the bird ate millet spray "like candy."

So we got home, and the bird did eat the millet spray, but I was hoping he'd eat regular food because it's more nutritious. He also ate lettuce. I have never seen him actually eating because he's shy, but I see evidence with the lettuce and millet spray. Do tiels leave seed hulls? Because they are no seed hulls in the dish and as far as I can tell the bird has not eaten anything but lettuce since I took the millet sprays out. I thought hunger would get the better of him and he'd start eating regular food. I even took note of where the sunflower seeds are in the top of the food bowl and they have not moved.

His poops are sometimes normal looking and sometimes only contain the white part. I can feel the keel sticking out a bit, but am not a good judge of whether he's underweight or normal. (My other birds range from plump to thin and that's just their individual body size-- they all eat well.) He's 3 oz on my bird scale.. If he's not eating, how long can this go on that he survives just on lettuce?

This bird is extremely timid and alert. He appears to be healthy. He has not sung since coming home, but was singing a lot at his old house. I assume he's still not used to our home and that's why he's not singing. He's very alert and plays with the toys sometimes.

Any ideas or suggestions? I've never had this happen with my birds. I mean, I'm using the food he came with and he's not even eating that. I broke down and put a millet spray in there this AM out of worry. How can I transition him to regular food?

[usamma]

I wanted to add that I changed the cage paper this AM and just in the last 45 minutes or so the tiel made two very normal-looking poops. So maybe he's just really fooling me?? Obviously he would be dead by now if he was not eating.

[Lori~D]

Yes tiels hull the seeds. Lettuce is NO good and of no value unless its a little romain now and then. Iceburg is all water. Millet is ok and high in carbs and low in fat but he needs more. Have you tried pellets?

[usamma]

I put the millet spray back in and he ate it like he was starving. I have a feeling that's all he's used to eating. Ugh! I would like to get him on pellets eventually, but first I need to get him to eat regular bird food, not just millet sprays.

[usamma]

Originally Posted by Lori~D

Yes tiels hull the seeds. Lettuce is NO good and of no value unless its a little romain now and then. Iceburg is all water. Millet is ok and high in carbs and low in fat but he needs more. Have you tried pellets?

I only give my birds romaine lettuce. We don't even eat iceburg lettuce ourselves. Just romaine. :)

[usamma]

Ha! I caught him eating finally! Whew!

[Monica]

Try putting the millet into his regular food dish. Try making birdy bread with millet inside. If he'll eat that, then add in other foods.

[tielfan]

Birds in a new home may be too frightened to let their guard down long enough to stick their head in a food cup for several days. They're more comfortable with hanging foods (like millet spray) because they can nibble on it and watch for danger at the same time. Keep on with the millet spray until he's comfortable eating from a cup, and try hanging up some nutritious greens.

[Chicklette]

Don’t worry, he will eat. He is in a new home and his world is totally turned upside down. Everything is different and new to him. Usually you don't see their true behaviou for a week or two after getting a new bird. He is adjusting. New birds also very often sleep a lot when they are new. Just give him some time to adjust, try not to worry because it will settle out and he will start eating. This is normal. Did you get a wellness check up with your vet? When ever I buy a new animal they go straight to the vets for a check up and the animal get’s to meet their vet. I would suggest you take him to the vets for a check up. It might also ease your mind, it does with me. Im always so paranoid a new animal will be sick.

Is he drinking water?

[maggy]

You could try some soaked seeds or let them sprout. They are seed like but better for your birds as they contain more activated nutrients. Just look up sprouted seeds in google, there are heaps of sites and lots of info.