Fostering a parakeet, info please

[kellycraig125]

I have had an Eclectus for 2 years and we love her obviously. She is very healthy and happy. One of our neighbors works at a local community college and found a parakeet sitting under a tree. She waited around to see if anyone claimed him but no one ever came and it was starting to storm so she brought him inside. No one around the college ever claimed him and she asked me to foster him and help him find a home and I agreed. I have been searching lost and found forums and boards in the area and haven't seen anything. I've also posted on them to see if anyone claims him.

In the meantime I'd like to do my best to care for him in the way he should be. Obviously my Eclectus cannot be around him- she is so big I'm afraid she'd hurt him. But other ham that, I'd appreciate any advice as I've never had any little birds. I got him a temporary cage at PetSmart and some food. He seems like he's a love bug and has been snuggling with me. I feel so bad for him. He seems scared and doesn't want to get in his cage, he only wants to stay on me.

Advice please!

 

[SailBoat]

Fundamentally, its much the same as with the Large Parrots with the exception of the diet! And even that has huge areas that overlap!

The vast majority of the difference is the size of the pellets and the size of seeds, grains and nuts, using crushed variation of your Eclectus. That will get you started. At this point, its refining the diet and I will leave that to the 'keet' experts.

Okay, the toys and perches are smaller.

 

[Lacewing]

Thanks for helping him. For safety he should be in a cage when you are not there. They like a quality seed blend and fresh veggie chop. I chop kale, carrots, sweet peppers, corn and such. Keets do not usually care for fruit. I feed mine Goldenfeast small hookbill legume seed mix. They have a web page. Also Roudybush daily maintenance nibbles for pellets mixed in with the Goldenfeast. Is he thin? Another good mix sold on Amazon is Dr. Harvey's parakeet blend. Can you post a photo?

 

[kellycraig125]

I make a veggie chop in my food processor for my Eclectus so I will make him some but grind it a little smaller. My husband grabbed whatever food they had for parakeets at the local pet store but I'll be sure to use your recommendations in the future- I'm very careful about my Eclectus's diet so I'm sure I'll be the same for the little orphaned fella.

One note, he seems so scared he doesn't want to go in his little cage he just wants me to hold him. And when he does go in there (it's bedtime now) he won't sit on the perch (as I'm used to my big girl doing), so I put a hand towel at the bot of it and he's snuggled down in it. Do you think he's just scared still? I'm so heartbroken for him and just trying to do the best thing for him! I will attach/post pics.

 

[kellycraig125]

Hopefully this works, trying from my phone

 

[kellycraig125]

Here is another couple

 

[Flboy]

A little guy like that, a cuddler? Am sure someone is heartbroken! Am tempted to drive up there and swoop him up! That is an amazing keeper!

 

[kellycraig125]

UPDATE: My little orphaned friend died in the middle of the night. I am so heartbroken. I did everything I knew to do in the few hours I had him. When I checked on him this morning he was dead in the bottom of the cage on the towel. I should have held him all night so he wouldn't be scared. :'( Thanks for the responses.

 

[SailBoat]

There is no way to know what this Parakeet faced over the hours, days or weeks that he had been lost. The good news, he knew that he was loved those last hours and that he had a home again. That was a comfort you provided. Thank-you!

 

[kellycraig125]

Thank you I just feel so heartbroken I want to cry. I would have kept him if I never located his owner. I'm so tender hearted I was already attached within hours. I feel so bad I didn't hold him even longer but it was bedtime and I just thought if I put him in the cage he could get some rest after a trying day. :'( I'm just glad I held him for the hours that I did. My only hope is that it brought him some comfort after being lost and out in the elements.

 

[Lacewing]

Aww this is so very sad. Please don't do "I should haves" because he was obviously sick before you took him in. Nature has it's ways. He may have escaped from a pet store and never knew the love of a human like you gave him for a short time. Hugs to you............