Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, all. We just got a new parakeet on Sunday last and I don't know what to make of him. I owned keets about 15 years ago, and had one of my keets live to the age of nine, so I do know something about keet behavior. I don't THINK he's sick; no puffing up, no sitting on the bottom of the cage; poops look fine, etc. He's sticking to the top perch like glue. He does chirp but not too often. We found a short movie on YouTube of a parakeet singing/chattering and he then chirps to it very freely. He is eating from millet sprays but not from his seed cup. I have not seen him go to the water cup. He is a very young male and seems quite calm. No crazy fluttering around the cage. He has let me scratch a bit around his neck and stroke his chest, which surprises me, because I'd expect biting and panicked flying. I saw him edge down the cage bars once but that's as far down as he's gone. I am afraid he's going to get dehydrated or starve because he's sticking only to the millet. I've feed him regular keet seed from the pet store in a little medicine cup and he will eat it then with no problem. He will not take water from the medicine cup unless he sees some seed in it; I've been making a medicine cup with water with seed floating in it and holding it for him. I'm afraid he will become dependent on my feeding and watering him but don't want him to starve, etc. Is this behavior normal? Should I stop hand feeding or watering him?

Although its not as common in parakeets was this bird handfed? Whether it was handfed or parent raised it sounds like it might not have been fully weaned or it is a possibility it is sick. Since in the wild these smaller bird are "food" for other larger animals it is instinctual for them to hide their sickness. Yes sometimes they will puff up or act differently when sick many times you will notice no signs unless it is too late.

Also are you sure that it is not drinking water when not being watched. If possible fill the cup to a certain line or mark and then check it regularly to see if it has went down. Also check to make sure exactly what diet this bird was eating before you brought it home. A change in diet can make some birds refuse to eat. Just changing to a new home can make some not eat regularly. Lastly try leaving out the millet for a little while and see if it will then eat its food. Sometimes birds will eat one item with the exclusion of all other. Since they have such small stomaches they do not need to eat as much as you think so if you do see it eating or it eats from your hand I bet it is getting enough to eat. Oh and I almost forgot, check its food closely many birds have starved to death when their owners thought their food bowls were full. Instead their bowls were full of the husks or shells from the seeds and they had no real food left.

Thanks! He seems to be doing better and is eating and drinking on his own. He seems to be a very gentle bird; has already let me scratch around his neck. I don't think he was handfed. I think, since he seems okay now, that he was scared to death. He's understandably cautious, but he seems normal to me now. My last keet became very tame and talked a great deal; got lots of attention, but still nipped hard from time to time. This one doesn't seem to know what a nip is. Maybe we just got lucky.