Re-homed Macaw question

[Gabriel]

"Hello.
I just purchased a 1.5 year old B&G Macaw from a pet store.
This is the second day and he is not eating?
He was/is on a seed diet but does not seem interested in anything I have available, I have mixed veg., pelleted food and seed mix.

He looks great and is mobile around his cage. His poop looks normal and if he is eating at night I see no signs of it, however he continues to poop like any Macaw I have had in the past(Weird). He drinks normally also.

I have read this condition is normal when re-homing?
Let me add that all other functions seem normal like preening, flapping, subtle Macaw noises, bobbing etc.
He does not allow me to touch him yet but he does "step up"
Any comments appreciated..."


Gab...

 

[mtdoramike]

Did you take him to a vet for a checkup? Most pet shops offer a health guarranty any where from 72 hours to 7 days inorder to give the buyer the chance to have the bird or animal checked out for any illneses that would have made the animal unfit for sale. I know in Florida, pet shops as well as breeders have to abide by this.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but you meantions other macaw(s) that you had in the past, what happened to them?

 

[Gabriel]

No I did not,
To me at this point this is not a major issue. The evening I brought him home (night before last) he ate a couple of peanuts (with shell).
He did not eat yesterday or this morning. He exhibits no signs of illness and I understand this is sometimes hard to detect.
I would like to add that this is my 6th macaw and I just never had one that did not eat after I brought him home and I have read elsewhere that this is sometimes normal.
My question here is; has anyone ever experienced this with issue with their bird?

Thanks for your input.
I just called the pet shop and the owner told me he did the exact same thing when they got him 6 months ago. He said he did not eat for two or three days.

 

[Cecilia]

When a bird is rehomed it will sometimes go into shock. I would leave him alone (ie dont go up to the cage trying to interact with him via touching) Offer 3 different types of foods and fresh water daily. I'd give him 2-3 days to get used to his new home. You can sit next to his cage so he gets used to you being near by but do not I REPEAT do NOT try and stick your hands in.. this will only prolong the process. The bird is scared and nervous and just needs time to settle. He is still a baby and sounds like he has been moved around WAY to much already.

For someone who has had 5 other Macaws... (what happened to those?) you should know how to handle a situation like this.

 

[Conurekidd]

Well no. Don't "ignore" him. Now he's at venerable point and need someone. Dont closly interact with em. Just let him know you there for him and he's never alone.
One thing parrots don't handle very well is quietness and departure from a mate.
So instead of leaving him and ignoring him. You need to be there for him. Just not in a loud touchy feely kinda way. In a soft jester kinda way.
Offer plenty of treats.
Is he in an area where he can see you all the time.

Oh and don't get to close to the cage. That's a lil spooky at first.
Give it a day or 2. Then start cage talking.
How friendly is she?

 

[Gabriel]

When a bird is rehomed it will sometimes go into shock. I would leave him alone and ignore him (ie dont go up to the cage trying to interact with him) Offer 3 different types of foods and fresh water daily. I'd give him 2-3 days to get used to his new home. You can sit next to his cage so he gets used to you being near by but do not I REPEAT do NOT try and stick your hands in.. this will only prolong the process. The bird is scared and nervous and just needs time to settle. He is still a baby and sounds like he has been moved around WAY to much already.

For someone who has had 5 other Macaws... (what happened to those?) you should know how to handle a situation like this.

Well, I'm not sure about your advice (because I have had those 5 other Macaws and never seen this)
I once brokered these birds including most other parrots. (about 10 years ago).
When I was building this home I stayed with my brother and so did my pet birds (a now 30 year old rescued wild caught Greenwing and a African Gray).
When I left I gave my birds to my brother as a gift because he fell in love with them.
I hand-feed out two Greenwings and one Harlequin. I do understand the temperament of these Macaws I just never had a bird that did not eat.
I just returned from taking him outside, I let him step off on the banister and when I sat down and put my arm on the rail he walked down the rail and got on my arm and stayed there.
When I brought him back in and set him on his cage top he flapped his wings, climbed down and eat something out of his bowl. So things are looking up.
My question was never about his willingness to except me,
It was always about his eating issue.

 

[Rio Mom]

You said his poop looks normal, which is good. So I'm thinking, since he's pooping, doesn't he have to be eating something when you're not looking?

 

[Gabriel]

You said his poop looks normal, which is good. So I'm thinking, since he's pooping, doesn't he have to be eating something when you're not looking?

Unless he is a real neat eater? I agree.
I have cleaned up a lot of Macaw poop (off of everything including me) and it looks like all the rest.
I could describe it but I'm sure everyone has seen it...

 

[Cecilia]

My advice comes from being in a 501c3 rescue for 7yrs. So I gave you advice on the side of you not knowing what the birds backround is... if he was abuse, neglected etc... SO if he was in SHOCK... then he would not eat.. I've seen MANY birds NOT eat due to being rehomed and in new surroundings....

 

[Gabriel]

My advice comes from being in a 501c3 rescue for 7yrs. So I gave you advice on the side of you not knowing what the birds backround is... if he was abuse, neglected etc... SO if he was in SHOCK... then he would not eat.. I've seen MANY birds NOT eat due to being rehomed and in new surroundings....

Thanks for your comment

 

[Gabriel]

I swapped his bowls around and now he is eating, at least some

 

[Cecilia]

That is great news. He will start eating more and more each day! Try fresh apples and stuff that would be more appealing to him. He'd love that!

 

[darkling]

Hannibal LOVES fresh apples and oranges. He will literally bury his beak into the fruit until its absolutely coated. He's a greenwing macaw, by the way.

 

[Gabriel]

Hannibal LOVES fresh apples and oranges. He will literally bury his beak into the fruit until its absolutely coated. He's a greenwing macaw, by the way.

I gave him some fresh apple and orange and he ate it, mostly the orange. He did not eat a lot but his head was in the bowl for about 5 minutes.
This Macaw eats entirely inside his bowl. How lucky am I?

 

[Abzeez]

Both my parrots are pretty clean, as far as parrots go. Bean also keeps most of his food in the bowl. Wonder how the new baby will eat. Will I get lucky with a 3rd?

 

[Gabriel]

Both my parrots are pretty clean, as far as parrots go. Bean also keeps most of his food in the bowl. Wonder how the new baby will eat. Will I get lucky with a 3rd?

Most I have had push the food out of their bowls looking for their favorite, and sling foods like oranges when stuck on their beaks.

 

[Mike]

I've read that if his weight starts dropping you need to take him to a vet.

 

[kitt]

It has been my experience on other boards that birds sometimes stop eating or eat a ton when facing new situations. I am sure he is fine and I am glad to hear he is eating a bit.
And a neat eater to boot, yes, you are lucky. LOL
Have you tried some birdie bread or some cooked brown rice....
Do you plan to get him off the all seed diet/ Either way, i hope it all works out for you.
When I got my mini mac, it took him two weeks to adjust to his new surroundings...yes, two whole weeks before he would even make noises and eat normal. I think you just need some time here but as mentioned, if he seems to drop weight then I would seek the advice of a vet....Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[kitt]

Oh and by the way, what is the name of this new baby....I was just curious...and post some pics when you can...they truly are beautiful birds.

 

[Gabriel]

I have not named him/her yet, any ideas? The pet shop owner said he? I'm not sure he really knows.
Bird is eating well now...