My Yellow Parakeet Just sits on perch all day!!

[NewBirdLover]

Like I said I bought a yellow parakeet yesterday around 4:30 PM and she just sits still on perch.. I dont even know f she is eating!!!! What should i do?
I dont know much:o but i am learning:)

[dlaura]

Hello and welcome to PetLovers! It may be that your keet is just needing to adjust to a new home. While it may look like she isn't eating, sometimes hulled seeds can be tricky and look like they haven't been touched. Be sure to give her fresh seeds in the morning and evening. Also should be offering small diced pieces of fruit and veggies. Does your keet have any toys, swings, ladders in her cage on which to play? Change the water a few times a day also. If you already have another bird then any new bird should be quarantined in another area of the house for at least 30 days giving you time to assess the health of the new bird.

Good luck and if you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.

[NewBirdLover]

Thank you for your advise. I dont know if this should be done or not butI put her in with Pete (my male keet) she saw him eating so she joined him and there was and has been n fighting? Is this advised? also, I havent seen Pete drink any water but seems to be fine and of good cheer.. Right now they are sitting quietly on same perch:) also, yes they do have toys... 4 perches... 2 toys...... do i need 2 water and feed bowls or can they share if it is ok for them to be together

[dlaura]

Well the idea of quarantining is to keep a new bird from passing on any diseases to another already in the home. Birds have this inherited instinct to hide their illnesses very well because if they appear weak or sick in the wild that is the end for them because other stronger animals will sense this and pounce. Since you mentioned that the yellow keet is very quiet it may indicate illness or may be just needing to settle in -- you just can't tell by looking at them.

Since you have already put them together it is a moot point. I am not sure about sharing a dish/water as eventually they might fight over this and if they are already used to another area to eat it would make things easier - so that is for you to decide.

Has the water level in the water dish gone down any? Try and keep an eye on that aspect -- with two birds it should be easy to see. Be sure to change the water at least two to three times during the day. Especially if you notice bird poop in it.

[NewBirdLover]

ok and thanks again... I dont think Jesse is sick I just think she needs to get used to the area..... She was pretty loud at the pet store.......... They seem to be getting salong fine............. I will start checking on the levels of water maybe mark it........ I have been changing the water at least 3 times a day:) I really would love to provide the best care for these babies

[dlaura]

You're welcome. I am glad you wanting to provide the best care for your keets!

[NewBirdLover]

Update on my keets!!!! Jesse seems to mimic Pete... lol:) If Pete eats she eats!!:D Still dont know if they are drinking though

[Magnum]

I would not keep her in with Pete, unless you don't want them to bond to you and you want to deal with baby keets. I would take her back out and put her into her own cage so they won't breed, and you will be able to keep track of who is eating what and how much. Your chances of both of them bonding to you will far greater with them seperated.

What kind of diet are they currently on? Pet stores usually feed just seeds, so you may want to start introducing fresh food to yours as soon as possible. Keets can be seed junkies and that is not healthy for them. Typical seed fed keets live very short lives, but a well fed keet will live long enough to see a child go to college and land a great job......lol. I personally know a keet that is 30 years old and he never eats pet store food or seeds. :)

[NewBirdLover]

I have tried to introduce fruits suchs as Mandarines and Apples to Pete..... but he turned it down..... its like he'll only eat seeds.. how do i break him from this habbit.............. I was really concerned about this question too thanks for mentioning it... Well, like I said since they been together she eats when Pete eats.. I dont think she was eating Much when she was by herself! They are at the point where they sit up on the highest Perch together and
I can calmy pet both.. Pete is not afraid that much any more but any sudden mood will make Jesse go Nutts!!!!!!! I marked the water bowl and he showed that the water went down... I guess they do drink even though I don't see them do it.... Also, They are still young and I dont believe they are 6 months or older so I don't think they will breed at this point even though I am up to the Challenge! (but i don't know much and I am tryin to learn all I can--- what u advise) I just would hate to separate them when they seem to be gettin along Good! Pete is thrilled i believe! Should I not worry as much? Should I just let them stay to themselves for a couple days? I am scheduled to take Jesse back to the Pet store Sunday to see how much she weighs still and how she is adapting!!! I am also lookin around to gettin their first Check up with the vet! Please respond back to as what u think about the situation!!

thanks!!

[Magnum]

Getting birds to eat fresh foods takes time, patience, and offering it to them all the time. Many offerings may get pecked at, thrown out of the cage, or just left in the bowl untouched. The ripeness or texture can be an issue with them, so working with your birds and getting to know them really helps to figure out which foods they may take to faster. My Boolette doesn't like the texture of apples, but she loves it when I mush an apple and mix it with oatmeal.......lol. My Luther hates cranberry juice, but loves cranberries.....:rolleyes: I actually eat the new food right in front of them and make a big deal out of how yummy it tastes. They watch and learn from us and will eventually give it try. If there is one thing to learn about birds is that they learn at their own pace, not ours. Nothing can be forced onto them, and they must have a clean environment to live in. Their health is not as forgiving as a dog or cat's, and they are masters at masking a grave illness.

I understand that Pete is fine with the situation having Jesse as a new room mate, but they will breed. If you are wanting to breed keets, then I suggest not starting with this pair as education tools for your learning. I am not trying to be harsh, just concerned for the thousands of homeless birds due to folks who breed them for the $ and sell them to undereducated people. The breeders may have the intentions of selling them to loving homes, but a loving home for a bird has to be an educated one as well. They are not meant to be placed in a cage, or used as pets. Man has taken them from their environment and brought them into homes for their beauty and as novelty items. Birds will never be domesticated (such as a dog or cat) and deserve to be free. I wish I could free mine to their native home, but I can't afford it monetarily. They came from homes that started off with good intentions, but they finally realized that birds are nothing like domestic pets and decided to give them up.

There are quite a few here that have birds and are great sources for information. :) I hope this helps some.

[NewBirdLover]

Thanks for all of yor advise... I am glad i started being interested in animals.. I was lookin for a career change and i think i may have one.. I am researching to become a veterinary Asst or Tech.. who knows i could go all the way to a veterinarina through time,dedication,and perservereance.... I love learning about animals.. AS you can See.......

As for your advise Magnum... I would prolly keep a couple birdies for myself and not sell them....... i am becomin really interested and i am recording my pets behaviors and reactions to new techniques.......

[NewBirdLover]

oh yeah Magnum.. Do you reccomend me tryin to intoduce them to corn!! i thought about mixin a lil corn in with seeds

[Magnum]

oh yeah Magnum.. Do you reccomend me tryin to intoduce them to corn!! i thought about mixin a lil corn in with seeds
Corn is fine, but I don't recommend mixing fresh food in with seeds since fresh food spoils quickly. I remove the fresh food after a maximum of a couple hours. Dry corn is fine to put in their seed mixture, but corn kernels are a bit large for keets to try and eat.

Starting off with your keets will give you plenty of experience to learn about birds, and will be helpful if you decide to become a vet tech in a avian office. If you really want to increase your flock, I would highly recommend checking into adopting. There are so many needing loving homes, and it's a horrible shame that they are brought into this world by humans to only sit and wait for a loving family to take them in. Bird rescues need fosters and adoptors just as bad as dog/cat rescues. Keeping birds really requires a person to educate themselves because birds don't rehome as easily as a dog or cat, and so many get rehomed due to the dedication they require, noise level they can reach, and the notorious biting issues that are all a part of bird care. It's easy to just go out and buy a baby, but it only supports those breeders to breed more, and it takes one more home away from a bird in a rescue, waiting to be loved.

[NewBirdLover]

THANKS AGAIN MAGNUM FOR YOUR ADVISE.. JESSE AND PETE SEEM TO BE FINE. THEY ARE STARTING TO MOVE AROUND MORE AND MAKE MORE NOISE,LOL.. THEY ACTUALLY CALL TO EACH OTHER IN THE DAY.. AND I TELL YOU THEY MAKE SURE I GET UP AND FEED THEM AROUND 8 AM EVERY MORING,LOL!!!! THEM SCREAMIN AND PECKIN IS LIKE THEM TELLIN ME THEY HUNGRY... ITS CUTE.. WELL, HERE IS A PIC OF THEM. I KNOW U PROLLY BEEN WONDERING http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=4475&stc=1&d=1149609513