Submit Bird Behavior And Medical Concerns

I have a cockatiel named Lucy, and she has always refused to eat anything but her seed and pellets. I have endlessly tried for over a year now, but she wont touch anything, no fruits, vegetables, nothing. The vet told me she was perfectly healthy, but that I should try to get her to eat more. What should I do?

Thanks for the forum. I have several concerns that are medical in nature.

I have recently had a real scare with a female Eclectus parrot that became very ill after ingesting part of a toy that was advertised as bird-safe and non-toxic. I think parrot owners would benefit from knowing more about what is and is not toxic to birds, especially from a veterinarian's point of view.

My other concerns are about obtaining baseline blood values before a bird becomes ill. I know with the cost of everything these days, routine care becomes one of the things that can be put off. I'm guilty of it, too. Having gone through this scare with our bird, I am urging you to get to the vet so your relationship with the veterinarian, the vet's knowledge of the bird when it it healthy and routine blood values can be done.

One way to help with reducing vet bills is to keep a good log of what your bird weighs every week. You can catch a problem before it becomes a crisis if you notice a bird gaining or losing a significant amount of weight.

Thanks for hosting this forum - I think we will all learn a little more about how to care for our avian friends.