My 7-week-old African Grey chick isn't eating. What should I do?

Thanks for reaching out about Cheeku. If she is not eating, she needs to see a veterinarian. Crop/esophageal infections or obstruction (ingested foreign material) can cause serious problems. Maintaining proper husbandry (i.e. environmental temperature) is important for sick birds, to conserve their own energy to fight illness. Veterinarians attempt to place ill birds in incubators fo 80-85 degrees, 24/7. Attempt to syringe water, as dehydrate is a more immediate concern than starvation. Good luck.

There could be many reasons for her being unwell, she could be suffering from candida infection causing crop impaction, or she could have a viral/bacterial infection, she could also be suffering from internal parasites. it's very difficult to know what could be wrong as the symptom is very general, if you want to help her you will need to take her to an avian vet ASAP in order to get treated.

If the chick is 3-5 weeks old, he can be removed from the cage. Use an appropriate hand feeding formula and feed 2-3 times daily. The formula should be warm (not hot) as most chicks will refuse cold food. He should also be kept warm. A cold chick will not eat. By 7-8 weeks, he should be eating seed, pellets and other foods on his own.

Thanks for reaching out about Kuku. Loss of phonation and appetite are serious concerns. Diseases such as aspergillosis, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney) and other diseases are possible. A veterinary vista should be scheduled for today. Providing an environment in 80-85 degrees might provide some support but it not a cure. Diagnostics will need to be performed to conclude a diagnosis. Good luck.

You didn't indicate Snowflake's age and if she is still little enough that she needs to be hand fed, or if she is an adult. If she is an adult and not eating, it may be that there is an underlying issue, such as pain or illness, that should be ruled out by a vet in person to make sure she is OK. Adding in various food and water dishes that are easy to climb in and out of may also help make it easier for her to get to the food and eat on her own. A balanced diet of seed and pellets can help ensure she's getting the right nutrition, and too many extras may make her picky about food. Limiting treats may encourage her to eat more on her own. However, if she is sitting at the bottom of the cage, isn't eating at all, or otherwise appears ill, seeking vet care first is best.

At his current age, you can start weaning him off of hand feeding formula. Begin to gradually decrease the amount and frequency of feeding. Offer a commercial pelleted diet and a fortified seed mix. Millet sprays can also be offered. Check his crop to ensure he is eating. You can continue to supplement as needed though to prevent weight loss. The droppings look normal for a chick being hand fed. The increased liquid can result in loose stool. Expect the consistency and appearance of droppings to change once the transition to solid food is made. Contact local breeders, bird keepers or even zoos to get information on avian veterinarians that will be able to examine Kiwi if necessary.

Even if Rangu isn't having diarrhea, other issues such as GI upset, underlying illness, parasites, being full, or issues with the crop could all cause a bird to not eat as much. Extreme temperatures such as very hot or cold conditions may also cause a bird to not want to eat as much. If this has been ongoing for several days, or he is losing weight from it, seeking veterinary care is always best to rule out any more serious issues. In the meantime, keeping him in a place that isn't too cold or too hot with easy access to food and water may encourage him to eat. If he is still too young to eat on his own, monitoring his crop for emptying and feeding following the instructions on any baby bird formula can help ensure he's getting the right amount of food.