New bird

[Ziekenzie]

Hi! I got a new bird on Monday, and I don’t know if I’m feeding her the same food she had at the shop. Ive heard that they might starve themselves, so I am kind of worried. She has eaten a little bit of mullet though. Any advice?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Zara]

If she is eating millet, then that is ok while you convert her to the mix you have purchased. A shame the shop didn´t give you a little bag of food but as long as she eats something, she will be ok.
Put a bowl of your mix in the cage, then clip a sprig of millet in there.
Weight your bird every morning and night and jot down the weights, just to be sure she doesn´t lose too much weight. (Losing a couple of grams while settling in is not abnormal).
Remember to offer some vegetables in the mornings too

 

[Ziekenzie]

How would I weight her if she is still shy? I’ve had her for 3 days so far.

 

[Sweet Louise]

What kind of bird and how old? (is it a baby and for sure weaned?)
You can find a ton of good info from the members here, welcome!

 

[Ziekenzie]

It is a budgie. I am pretty sure she is weaned. I got her from PetSmart and I am not sure how old she is. Here is a picture.

 

[Tiel Feathers]

Congratulations on your new bird! Can you call the store and ask them what she was eating?

 

[Ziekenzie]

I’m going to see if I can do that tomorrow. If I couldn’t, I just wanted to know if she would starve herself.

 

[Tiel Feathers]

Is she pooping? If she’s eating millet, she should be okay until tomorrow.

 

[Ziekenzie]

Is she pooping? If she’s eating millet, she should be okay until tomorrow.

She is pooping, but her poops are green. If I don’t switch out the food, will she starve? I don’t know if the shop will have the same food for sale.

 

[MommyBird]

If she is eating you should see hulls on the floor or in the dish.
Be sure to blow gently on the dish to get rid of any hulls.
I've heard where some birds starved because their people thought the seed dish was full but it was full of emptied seed hulls.
You might also put a small flat dish of seed on the floor of the cage since it looks like she is hanging out there. and also put lettuce leaf you make wet on the floor so she can get moisture.

 

[sunnysmom]

Birds that eat primarily seeds will have green droppings. If she's going to the bathroom, she's eating. Usually from what I've seen the little birds will eat any seed mix prettily readily. I don't know if I'd worry too much that you're not feeding the same one. Can she reach the food dish okay? Also, you can try giving her some millet spray. Little birds almost always eat that and as she settles in try to get her to eat fresh food too.

 

[Ziekenzie]

I’m not feeding her seeds sobI can’t tell by looking at the seed shells

 

[MommyBird]

I’m not feeding her seeds sobI can’t tell by looking at the seed shells

I don't know what you mean.
hold the seed dish in your hand and blow on it. Empty seed shells will be moved easily. If you go outside and blow harder they will blow off as you shake the dish gently and blow.

 

[tka]

What are you feeding her? Are you offering pellets and millet rather than a seed mix, and she's just eating the millet?

 

[Ziekenzie]

I am offering her some rainbow pellets. I’ll try to take a picture.

 

[Ziekenzie]

Here’s a picture.

 

[Ziekenzie]

Update: Got the new food!

 

[Tiel Feathers]

I’m glad you got the food she was eating, but once she is all settled in nicely you can start improving her diet to include pellets and fresh foods.

 

[Ziekenzie]

One more question: Do you recommend pellets or seeds?

 

[Shezbug]

Both for budgies