9 weeks and suddenly won't eat as much formula

[links1979]

I too agree she needs to get to your CAV asap, especially since the ambient temp has been low...At what age did you remove her from the Brooder? Was she kept in a controlled temperature until all of her mature feathers grew in? If not, if you removed her from the Brooder before ALL of her mature feathers grew in and she was kept below about 85 degrees F, then that's a very common cause for GI/Crop fungal infections...

I'd also try bumping the formula temp up, no higher than 110, they do tend to want the temp a little higher...However, when you were describing her droppings as being "fluffy green", that was worrisome to me...any "froth" or bubbles? It's very likely that she is suffering from a fungal infection either in her crop or throughout her GI Tract...If her Crop is still fully emptying normally then that's a good thing, but she needs culture done ASAP...

You can also add a probiotic to her formula in the meantime and see if that helps a bit, although most hand-feeding formulas (commercial ones) already have a probiotic added-in, so if that's the case then no need...

Thanks I posted above about my vet visit today. I had more questions to ask but the vet literally got sick during the visit and had to run out and had a nurse come in to finish the appointment. I think she got the flu. We kept her at 75-80 degrees consistently prior. Now its on 85 the entire first floor. Any tips for how to not feel like you are going to suffer heat stroke? We want her cage where we can all interact with her so I didn't want to confine her to an isolated room I could heat up. How do you manage this?

I started the meds. Is it an issue if we are able to feed her the proper amount by her just chewing and swallowing it but not via the feeding reflex?

 

[brighterdaysaviary]

Your bird is fine, your bird is just going through the weaning phase. Keep feeding her but if she refuses don't force her to eat. African Grey start weaning at around 8-9 weeks old.

 

[links1979]

Your bird is fine, your bird is just going through the weaning phase. Keep feeding her but if she refuses don't force her to eat. African Grey start weaning at around 8-9 weeks old.

Thanks. What do you suggest to keep her at 85F? I sleep in 68 degree temps upstairs and now I'm blasting the heat on the first floor to 85. How long do I need to keep her in 85 degree temps?

 

[greytness]

Awww so so cute. Has she started flying yet? If not then I believe she is at the beginning of her fledging period where she will start refusing formula to try and lose some weight so she can start flying. It's normal. Just keep offering her formula and let her decide how much she wants to eat, don't force her to eat though. And also offer solid foods all the time so she can wean herself off of formula.

Also, make sure she isn't clipped and don't clip her feathers.

Same advice we gave him on another forum. Also to not give corn at this point, but to bump up her diet with more veggies, including sweet potato for vitamin A

 

[Laurasea]

Hi glad things are going well. I still encourage you to feed veggies, you mentioned fruit but not veggies. The veggies are the most important, with fruits being rare. I love your pictures and videos. Congratulations on your new family member.

 

[Laurasea]

Lol greatness and I were typing at the same time!!! Veggie Time

 

[links1979]

Awww so so cute. Has she started flying yet? If not then I believe she is at the beginning of her fledging period where she will start refusing formula to try and lose some weight so she can start flying. It's normal. Just keep offering her formula and let her decide how much she wants to eat, don't force her to eat though. And also offer solid foods all the time so she can wean herself off of formula.

Also, make sure she isn't clipped and don't clip her feathers.

Same advice we gave him on another forum. Also to not give corn at this point, but to bump up her diet with more veggies, including sweet potato for vitamin A

Lol greatness and I were typing at the same time!!! Veggie Time

Thanks to you both for the advice. She's quite a character now. I bought a heat lamp and was hoping to be able to reduce the heat down here and use the heat lamp to keep her warm. Any thoughts on this?

 

[LordTriggs]

don't use a heat lamp on them, they can cause a whole lot more damage than good, damaging eyes, feathers and skin pus they can essentially start 'cooking' her. Unfortunately for now it's going to be a simple case of putting up with the heat until she's all done with the baby phase

 

[Sandy19]

I used a heat lamp while weaning my bird, it was recommended to me by the breeder. It was a certain type of lamp made for baby birds, however. Don't just use any type of lamp.The breeder had all the babies under a red lamp, but ask your vet first before doing anything with lamps. I don't know if that was the right thing to do, but needless to say my bird is fine and I didn't cook her.

 

[links1979]

Lol greatness and I were typing at the same time!!! Veggie Time

She took some Kale but just chews a little and lets it fall down. Today she is down 11g from yesterday. Doesn't seem that interested in food. Its really stressing me out. I think I'll bring her to another vet tomorrow.

 

[EllenD]

Do not use a heat lamp over your bird, as Triggs already mentioned, lot of health issues can arise...You're better off to use an electric heating-pad and attach it to the outside of her cage closest to the perch she usually sits/sleeps on, and then cover her cage with a large blanket/thick sheet on 3 sides and the top, leaving only the front open. This will trap the heat inside of her cage, and you won't be cooking yourselves, or her...Heating lamps/artificial lighting of any kind is not at all recommended for birds, for a multitude of reasons.

I'm more concerned about the Vet visit, as birds do not get "the flu"; If she is/was suffering from an illness, it is/was most likely a Bacterial or Fungal infection of some kind. So keep her warm using the electric heating pad and the cover over her cage, making sure you have an ambient thermometer inside the cage to make sure she doesn't get too hot, keep her drinking lots of water, maybe add some unflavored Pedialyte to her water each day so she'll get some extra electrolytes and hydration, and if the Vet gave her any medications, make sure that she is taking them all, although I'm not sure what she would have been put on if they didn't do any cultures to diagnose an infection...

 

[Sandy19]

Give him a daily smorgasbord of parrot safe veggies, unsalted garbanzo beans and plain cheerios mixed with the pellet so he has the option to pick and choose and keep offering the formula until he no longer takes it at all. When you go to the new vet ask about the lamp, if it's approved then it would be better than cooking yourself in the house. I always kept the lamp higher up and checked to make sure the bird isn't panting or acting distressed in any way.

 

[Sandy19]

Posting at the same time as Ellen. I'm no expert about the lamp, just know that my bird was ok with it, doesnt mean it couldnt have hurt her.

 

[links1979]

Do not use a heat lamp over your bird, as Triggs already mentioned, lot of health issues can arise...You're better off to use an electric heating-pad and attach it to the outside of her cage closest to the perch she usually sits/sleeps on, and then cover her cage with a large blanket/thick sheet on 3 sides and the top, leaving only the front open. This will trap the heat inside of her cage, and you won't be cooking yourselves, or her...Heating lamps/artificial lighting of any kind is not at all recommended for birds, for a multitude of reasons.

I'm more concerned about the Vet visit, as birds do not get "the flu"; If she is/was suffering from an illness, it is/was most likely a Bacterial or Fungal infection of some kind. So keep her warm using the electric heating pad and the cover over her cage, making sure you have an ambient thermometer inside the cage to make sure she doesn't get too hot, keep her drinking lots of water, maybe add some unflavored Pedialyte to her water each day so she'll get some extra electrolytes and hydration, and if the Vet gave her any medications, make sure that she is taking them all, although I'm not sure what she would have been put on if they didn't do any cultures to diagnose an infection...

Hi ellen it was actually the vet who had the flu and ran out without answering my questions. Currently i'm keeping the house on 85 until I can try out some of these other options. Thanks for the support.

 

[LordTriggs]

another option you can do to keep them warm is to get a hot water bottle and wrap it in a towel (let the towel be sort of loose so it can be manipulated to be comfy to your bird) and place it on one side of the cage so if they feel a bit cold they can snuggle up against the towel, and if they get warm they can move away. I'd also keep with the heavy blanket with one side open going to keep heat in. This should also simulate a nest like environment including simulating how a group of babies will huddle up for warmth then move away from each other to cool down.

What I will say is Ellen is far more versed in raising parrots than I (far too scary for me to even attempt, and highly illegal here to sell unweaned pets)