I was perusing Craigslist (like an idiot), and saw an ad by someone in a rough spot and needing to get their bird into a good home ASAP.
So I messaged them (like an idiot), and will be picking up a three year old presumed male Quaker. Because I’m dumb and a sucker.
The owner has been very ill, and their dad has taken over care of the bird, but apparently isn’t doing the best care, and aside from lack of out of cage time, he’s been on a seed-only diet.
Here’s my question - I know with other animals, like dogs for example, they will eat a new food before they’ll starve themselves to illness/death. I’ve had to recommend to owners to do this before (ex: owner was feeding dog human food, like burgers, bacon, cookies, etc [we’ll skim over the fact that it was crazy the dog hadn’t died from pancreatitis] and was absolutely *flummoxed* that her dog wouldn’t eat dog food. Imagine that. It was made clear to her to STOP feeding the dog anything other than kibble - No slow transition, just cold turkey - and the dog would eat when he got hungry enough), because most animals will eat something they don’t like because it’s better than starvation.
Would a bird do the same, or is it going to have to be a transition? The primary seed in the diet is sunflower, which is why I ask, knowing that I’m about to take on a potentially fluffachub of a bird.
Edit to add - It would be a mix of flavors of Zupreem pellets.
So I messaged them (like an idiot), and will be picking up a three year old presumed male Quaker. Because I’m dumb and a sucker.
The owner has been very ill, and their dad has taken over care of the bird, but apparently isn’t doing the best care, and aside from lack of out of cage time, he’s been on a seed-only diet.
Here’s my question - I know with other animals, like dogs for example, they will eat a new food before they’ll starve themselves to illness/death. I’ve had to recommend to owners to do this before (ex: owner was feeding dog human food, like burgers, bacon, cookies, etc [we’ll skim over the fact that it was crazy the dog hadn’t died from pancreatitis] and was absolutely *flummoxed* that her dog wouldn’t eat dog food. Imagine that. It was made clear to her to STOP feeding the dog anything other than kibble - No slow transition, just cold turkey - and the dog would eat when he got hungry enough), because most animals will eat something they don’t like because it’s better than starvation.
Would a bird do the same, or is it going to have to be a transition? The primary seed in the diet is sunflower, which is why I ask, knowing that I’m about to take on a potentially fluffachub of a bird.
Edit to add - It would be a mix of flavors of Zupreem pellets.