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Waiting for my new Cape Parrot

Oma321

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I am in Idaho and waiting for the weather to break so our new parrot can be shipped from Ca to us. This bird is ten month old , but he looks older. His feathers are dull but otherwise he looks fine. Is he too old for a healthy new diet? My husband does not think the parrot looks good. Please advise me — we spend a lot of our savings. Thank you very much, Oma 321
 

Mizzely

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Do you have a link to where you bought your bird?

As to diet changes, never too old! My Jardine's (Cape Parrot cousin) was 19 years old when I got him; he was on a seed only diet and while it took time, he is on a variety of pellets, nuts, and veggies now :)
 

Tyrion

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:welcomesign:
 

Kiwi's Dad

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:welcomegroup: Congrats on the new bird!!!
 

MnGuy

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Welcome!

It's never too late to get a parrot on a healthy diet, and many will make the transition over time or much quicker than expected. However, if a parrot is much older and has had a bad diet for most of its life, that can cause longterm health issues even with a change in diet.

It sounds like you're also asking whether you have been duped into buying an older parrot. Do you have pictures or a link to the seller?

Good luck.
 

aooratrix

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You've had several good insights into diet, so I won't go there. Keep in mind that photos often don't do justice to parrots' actual appearance. Sharing info on your breeder will ultimately be of no benefit. You'll need a vet visit soon after you get your bird; that will tell you a lot more about your bird's health than any photo or our opinions. Good luck with your new bird. Share photos, please.
 

MommyBird

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A contract for a parrot from a breeder should allow for you to take them for a vet visit to check initial condition.
Hopefully you have found an AVIAN vet and will have an appointment lined up no matter what the case.
 

Oma321

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Welcome!

It's never too late to get a parrot on a healthy diet, and many will make the transition over time or much quicker than expected. However, if a parrot is much older and has had a bad diet for most of its life, that can cause longterm health issues even with a change in diet.

It sounds like you're also asking whether you have been duped into buying an older parrot. Do you have pictures or a link to the seller?

Good luck.
Thank you for answering I do have a picture which I will attach. Perhaps I should not give away the name of the Breeder. My feelings might be not right and I do not want to hurt the Breeder. Oma321
 

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Mizzely

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Young birds can have some disheveled looking feathers, that is normal. There isn't anything in your photo that is immediately alarming; none of the colors in the photo, even on the person's shirt are very vibrant, so I would have a hard time using these as proof that the feathers look dull. I think the lighting, focus, and/or camera is just bad.
 

Mizzely

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Last edited:

Oma321

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You've had several good insights into diet, so I won't go there. Keep in mind that photos often don't do justice to parrots' actual appearance. Sharing info on your breeder will ultimately be of no benefit. You'll need a vet visit soon after you get your bird; that will tell you a lot more about your bird's health than any photo or our opinions. Good luck with your new bird. Share photos, please.
Wonderful advice, thank you very much!! Tomorrow I will check for an Avian Vet in Spokane, Wa or CoeurD’Alene near us. I needed to do that anyways before bringing our sweet bird home. Oma321
 

aooratrix

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Don't just get a well-bird check. For most vets, that just entails weighing the bird, giving it the once-over, and maybe looking at the poop. Get a gram stain, a coanal swab, and blood work. Then you'll KNOW your bird's health. You've spent thousands on a parrot; you need to know the condition of its health. Good luck with your bird.
 

aooratrix

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The reason I didn't want to know the name of your breeder was because the "horse was already out of the barn," so to speak. If the breeder had a less-than-stellar reputation, you'd have freaked out, possibly needlessly. If the breeder had a fabulous reputation, you still could have a bird with a low grade infection or something similar, which is common after shipping. If you decide on another parrot in the future, it wouldn't hurt to name the breeder: some people here might have experience with them or know their reputation, which could save you future heartache.
 
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