New GCC hasn't eaten yet

[aufde]

I just brought home my GCC last nite and he hasn't eaten yet. From what I've read, it's pretty common for them not to eat while they're adjusting. So what I'm wondering is when should I get worried? It's been about 12 hours since I brought him home.
EDIT: also I can't move the food dishes, they're stuck at the bottom

He also has clung to the back side of the cage (against the wall) and at the top for most of the time so far. I finally move his perch to that side and now hes sitting on it.

It sounded like he slept fine last night too (I could hear him move around a couple times)

He is also staying fluffed up, which I read can also be part of the adjustment because they have a hard time regulating they're body temp when they're stressed. Again, I just want to know how long this should go on before I get worried.

Here's a picture of him (I know you guys love pics )

 

[dishgal1]

How old is he? He is weaned isn't he?
Has he been eating regular food and what are you feeding him?

 

[aufde]

He just turned 1 year old last week. He was at the pet store since he left the breeder. The pet store had him on Kaytee pellets and when he was originally weened, he was eating ZuPreem. Since the pet store person recommended the ZuPreem over Kaytee that's what I'm (trying to) feed him.

The person at the pet store didn't know what treats he liked, so I'm gonna get some sunflower seeds and see how he likes them. I got some Lafeber's Nutri-Berries and put one in hes food bowl when I first brought him back and he hasn't touched that either.

 

[Parrotmamma]

He probably just needs some time to adjust to his new surroundings...you might try giving him some apple or banana. My GCC loves those : )
He also may not be use to the zupreem pellets since he was eating Katy pellets. You usually have to switch them over slowly when introducing new pellets.
I'm sure he will come around and start eating soon : )

 

[dishgal1]

He is probably trying to adjust. Don't feed too many sunflowers but give him a good seed mix. My Gcc won't hardly eat pellets but I give him fresh veggies and fruit. He will probably eat seeds better during his transition to your home. Ideally, fresh veggies and fruit should be fed daily ...NO AVOCADOS ......Try a good seed mix for a few days to get him started. Also give him plenty of out of cage time. They do not like being in cage but prefer to be near you. He seems really sweet. Is he drinking water and pooping okay?

 

[rosco]

My GCC did the same thing when i brought him home. However, I could hear him eating at night, and after about a week he is now moving around his cage; up, down and using the walls and the roof. However, based on that picture you are a step ahead of me already, as Roco is afraid of hands without food in them.

 

[aufde]

Yeah, I really have to coax him onto my finger though, he usually tries (his wings are clipped) to fly away. He doesn't seem to like to come out of the cage and he was the same way at the pet store. So for now I'm leaving it open so he can come out when he wants then I pick him up.

I can't tell if he's drinking any water yet, but I haven't seen him drink any. I just put a couple sunflower seeds in his food dish and he found them ok, so he knows where the food is. I'm probably just going to have to put the kaytee in there.

As far as pooping, I think it's less than normal. Judging by the bottom of the cage, I can see his morning poop and a few others. At the store he pooped 4 or 5 times in the hour i was there. He's been up for about 4 hours now and there's about 6-7 spots in the cage. Maybe there stacking up cause he likes to perch in the same spot. They look normal enough, this is my first bird so I'm not sure what they're supposed to look like.

As far as the fruit goes, I'm worried about pesticides. With apples and bananas, is alright just to take the skin off and its clean (I also know no to give him appleseeds)? I'm still looking for a place to get organic fruit.

 

[dishgal1]

Wash all fruits and veggies with a product called "veggie wash".....it is great. Be sure to rinse well afterward.

Sounds like his pooping is normal and yeah they do like to go in the same place, at least mine does. To be sure he eats keep giving him seeds along with his regular food until he starts eating well.
You might want to buy a scale to weigh him every few days to make sure he is holding his weight.

There is a thread about scales somewhere within the last couple days. I use a postal scale that does grams as well as ounces. You will need the grams.
YOu are doing right leaving the cage open. That way he can come out on his terms. Eventually he will want to come and see what you are doing. They are very nosy. Mine loves to eat with me. A good way to get them to eat veggies is to take a bite first. Mine loves to share my food.

 

[beck]

I can't tell if he's drinking any water yet, but I haven't seen him drink any. I just put a couple sunflower seeds in his food dish and he found them ok, so he knows where the food is. I'm probably just going to have to put the kaytee in there.

When I first brought my Quaker home, I tried just giving him Zupreem (he had been weaned onto it at the pet shop) and he didn't want any part of that. The first week or so I had him, I had to coax him into eating with warmed up corn and cheap seed mix. Once he got comfortable, I was able to switch him right back to pellets.

As far as pooping, I think it's less than normal. Judging by the bottom of the cage, I can see his morning poop and a few others. At the store he pooped 4 or 5 times in the hour i was there. He's been up for about 4 hours now and there's about 6-7 spots in the cage. Maybe there stacking up cause he likes to perch in the same spot. They look normal enough, this is my first bird so I'm not sure what they're supposed to look like.

Just watch out for very dark green/black poop- that means he's not eating/drinking.

As far as the fruit goes, I'm worried about pesticides. With apples and bananas, is alright just to take the skin off and its clean (I also know no to give him appleseeds)? I'm still looking for a place to get organic fruit.

I don't do anything to bananas besides peel them.... for apples/grapes/peppers/etc. I use Veggie Wash mentioned above by dishgal1.

Congrats on your new baby!

 

[raleej337]

If he's eating Kaytee at the petstore then give him kaytee. Let him settle first before you try change his diet. Offer lots of fruits and vegies plus water. Try soaking the pellets in apple juice, just to make it a little moist. Once he is settled then if you want to change his diet to Zupreem do it gradually.

 

[amysaviary]

I would feed what he was eating at the store till he is settled. Also to wash fruits and veggies I use GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) U can use it for everything even cleaning ur toothbrush but I use it for anything to do with the birds as far as cleaning. I love this stuff!

 

[aufde]

ok, he is eating really well now, he just took a while to adjust. I also saw him take a drink so I know he's getting water too.

It's funny, so far he's picking out all of the little banana shaped pellets. I haven't seen him eat any of the other ones so far.

 

[lexx510]

So glad to hear that he's eating! He's a handsome little guy!

 

[jonahsmom]

I just adopted a GCC not quite a week ago and he was also fed seed mix. I bought some zupreem and the only pieces he will eat are the banana shaped ones. I just found it funny that yours did the same thing! I'm still trying to adjust to how much I should be feeding him and trying to determine what he's really eating. I just wish he would go crazy over the pellets....it's much easier to tell what has/has not been eaten as opposed to sifting through the seed shells.