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Post by criswell on Apr 17, 2015 14:02:01 GMT
After 6 weeks of trying Criswell has decided he likes fresh food. He's had some grape and some lamb's lettuce this week, and was very keen on both and ate quite a lot. He now has wet droppings but is otherwise behaving normally. I'm assuming it's because he's not used to fresh food but just wanted to check. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do to help him get back to normal? I've not given him any fresh food today and was going to wait until his droppings are back to normal before I give him any more. I'll be careful he doesn't eat too much too.
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Post by Budgies Retreat on Apr 17, 2015 14:04:26 GMT
Grape is mostly water, and fresh foods like leaves also contain a high percentage of water. It is absolutely normal that the bird will have loose/wet droppings, just don't give it too much wet food.
Personally I wouldn't give grape due to the high water content, but if I had to then it would be one grape every 3 days, and lettuce would be shredded and pressed in clean paper towel to try and get some of the water out and small amounts offered every other day, unless breeding then you may want to have fresh food daily, but not too many grapes! Budgies don't drink a great deal of water, after all they are a dessert bird.
Try a more solid food like broccoli or corn. Celery is good but again high water content, so cut it and rest the cut side on paper towel for 10 mins or so.
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Post by criswell on Apr 17, 2015 14:41:18 GMT
Thank you dazandloz. I've been trying different things to find something he likes. I will make sure he doesn't get too much grape or lettuce though.
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Post by Budgies Retreat on Apr 17, 2015 16:32:01 GMT
Some say that lettuce isn't best for them, I never feed it. I always feed dark green leaves, broccoli, carrot, red pepper, beetroot, soaked millet seed. And a small pinch of garlic powder, amongst other things it helps prevent red mites. I've tried orange and apple, but they weren't too keen on that. Raw baby corns are also good and they love the small niblets.
I'm currently growing some chickweed bought from seed. It took a while to sprout, but it is nicely coming along.
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Apr 16, 2015 8:34:55 GMT
Billy's Dad
Normal Green
Posts: 443 
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Post by Billy's Dad on Apr 17, 2015 16:43:24 GMT
Gave Billy some mixed green leaves yesterday evening.He attacked them big style,poo runny this morning but back to normal now.  |
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Post by suesbird on Apr 17, 2015 19:42:25 GMT
Mine love orange and apple
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Post by Hezz on Apr 18, 2015 0:51:50 GMT
You have it correct, criswell; the fresh food has caused the droppings to be wet, and particularly so if he has only just discovered fresh food - his gut needs to get used to it. Leave him be for a day or two and then give a small amount and see if he has the same problem. His gut will gradually get used to it and his poops will settle down. Most budgies prefer their veggies to fruit. Cucumber, zucchini, celery and your iceberg lettuces are full of water and very little nutritional value, so skip them. Dark green leaves are good and he may like to have them hung up in his cage wet to use as a shower as well.  |
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Post by criswell on Apr 20, 2015 9:38:18 GMT
Thank you His droppings were back to normal by the next morning. He had some broccoli yesterday and his droppings have been fine. |
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Post by Hezz on Apr 21, 2015 7:39:28 GMT
Broccoli doesn't have a high water content, so not so much to pass on through. Good for the little guy; glad he is back to normal. |
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