Talk to me about changes in behavior

[Fiwi]

I've been worried about Emmett (5 YO Eclectus). Several days ago I noticed some changes in his poop --very watery. After a couple of days it had improved. There are def. solids now. I took him to my vet a couple of days ago and he checked out okay. No weight loss. He's actually gained weight since his last visit a few months ago when we first brought him home. He's been eating well. Shows interest in all his foods and is actually eating things he usually picks out of his food. However, what I have noticed for the past several days that hasn't improved is that he is very quiet. He is usually very chatty in the morning before we let him out of his cage and this has all but stopped. He doesn't talk in the car when we go for rides which he used to do. He doesn't even scream when I leave the room!

He has been molting -- I don't know if that could have anything to do with it. Emmett is my first parrot and I worry about everything.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Melissa, My first questing is when you say "vet" is it an Avian Vet? If you had concerns when taking him to a Avian Vet they should have at least taken blood or fecal samples for testing. That is unless the doc was without a shadow of a doubt positive there was nothing wrong with Emmett.

Is it possible that Emmett is beginning a molt or has there been any change with living environment. Any changes in food, etc? My babies have watery poops after breakfast when they eat a lot of veggies and such and after taking a bath.

I don't know how long you have had Emmett so I will just say that parrots are like people in that they have good days and bad days.

 

[Fiwi]

Melissa, My first questing is when you say "vet" is it an Avian Vet? If you had concerns when taking him to a Avian Vet they should have at least taken blood or fecal samples for testing. That is unless the doc was without a shadow of a doubt positive there was nothing wrong with Emmett.

Is it possible that Emmett is beginning a molt or has there been any change with living environment. Any changes in food, etc? My babies have watery poops after breakfast when they eat a lot of veggies and such and after taking a bath.

I don't know how long you have had Emmett so I will just say that parrots are like people in that they have good days and bad days.

Yes, our vet is an avian vet. He felt Emmett looked fine. I will take a stool sample (what's the best way to do that, BTW?) in to be sure. I made him a new mash (Mike's Manna Mash) and that could be the issue. We got Emmett early March 2012.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Melissa, My first questing is when you say "vet" is it an Avian Vet? If you had concerns when taking him to a Avian Vet they should have at least taken blood or fecal samples for testing. That is unless the doc was without a shadow of a doubt positive there was nothing wrong with Emmett.

Is it possible that Emmett is beginning a molt or has there been any change with living environment. Any changes in food, etc? My babies have watery poops after breakfast when they eat a lot of veggies and such and after taking a bath.

I don't know how long you have had Emmett so I will just say that parrots are like people in that they have good days and bad days.

Yes, our vet is an avian vet. He felt Emmett looked fine. I will take a stool sample (what's the best way to do that, BTW?) in to be sure. I made him a new mash (Mike's Manna Mash) and that could be the issue. We got Emmett early March 2012.

I've seen the stool sample done two ways. Primary way is when you take the bird into the vet and they squeeze it out. JUST KIDDING! They take a fresh sample from the cage. Second way is to get a fresh poop in a paper towel or tissue and then place it into a ziploc bag to prevent it from drying and then immediately drive to the vet.

I'm not familiar with Mike's Manna Mash but always remember what hes been fed because that can do it. My babies love a few bites of apples but that can cause a mess...

 

[Fiwi]

Just dropped a poo sample off at the vet's. Should have the results Tuesday . . .

 

[Fiwi]

Emmett's gram stain showed he has an overgrowth of gram negative rods. I'm still awaiting other fecal tests, but this is a start. I believe this has been an issue for him since I got him at the end of February and has recently become bad enough that a newbie Ekie owner like myself noticed. First I saw his poop changing, then I noticed he wasn't talking hardly at all. I don't believe he was well fed with his previous owner. When I got him, he was missing a ring of feathers around his neck and had black tips on most of his body feathers. Since I've had him, I've been feeding him all the best recipes I can get my hands on. No seed. Only a touch of Zupreem Nut Blend Pellets between meals.

I've been speaking with a very helpful Eclectus breeder in GA who has recommended her organic pellets (in addition to the fresh foods I am already feeding him) -- I've read about her and her pellets online and people have very good things to say about them both. I'm also starting him on AVIAN TRIO and Silver Hydrosol (immune support). I'm considering spirulina, but am still doing some research since there seems to be positive and negative ideas about its addition to the eclectus diet.

Of course, my vet wants to put Emmett on an antibiotic. I'm on the fence about it. I believe the use of antibiotics come with a price and I'm hesitant. I want to believe that the change in Emmett's diet and the addition of immune support and supplements will be all he needs, but I don't know if that's too much of a risk to take.

Looking forward to seeing Emmet improve now that we know what's wrong with him!
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[renmex]

One of them main reason people seek African grey parrots as pet is because they are one of the species more likely to learn to mimic sounds or talk. What is particularly interesting about their mimicking ability is that is often so exact it is difficult to tell the bird from the real thing. This is a bit different from other parrot species.


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