Vet or stop overreacting?

[Barry]

Dear all,

I'll admit to having made an account just to ask you experienced lot for some advice: I'm completely clueless, worried sick, and could use some help.

Brokko moved in with me one week ago; his age is approx. 2 months. Half of the issue I'm having is that he does not seem to drink at all. By this i mean:
1. His water bowl has never dipped as far as I could tell from my daily refreshes, cq. visually (even though the clumsy fool fell in it a few times), and
2. I've never seen him take a sip

I'm aware young parakeets are apparently prone to 'hide?' their drinking and feeding sessions in a new environment, but I'm told it is not regular for this to persist for more than a few days. Since I noticed the behaviour, I've been providing mineral water, as I figured he might dislike the relatively high calcium levels of our tap water, but the drought remains.

The second part of the issue: he will not eat anything other than his grains and fowl powerfood. According to the previous owner, it would eat greens and fruits occasionally. And boy, believe me, I've tried quite a few foods: apple, banana, orange/tangerine, melon, grapes, pomegranate... yes I bought a freaking POMEGRANATE and carved and crafted it into an edible swing and he never even acknowledged the entire object (for reference I did also offer it as-is). Note that after rejection I would always incorporate similar  playful editions of the foods, with the same results. I even offered his majesty pistachios, but alas, I am eternally frowned upon. Also, imagine a similar palette of vegetables.

I was told a budgie would be a good beginner pet, but this little fellow has me worried sick. Should I take him to the vet, or is there some other explainable cause that I'm just not seeing because I'm a beginner? I wouldn't want to be negligent by not taking him to the vet, but I'm also not particularly fond of allowing myself to overreact.


Thank you for your time,
Barry

[tweetiepiesmom]

Barry I buy bottled spring water for my guys. You might try that if you are worried about the taste. He may be drinking and you don't notice it. They don't require much water. Typically they just dip their tongue in the water.

It took my guys a long time to start eating fresh foods even though the breeder said they eat everything. Try leafy stuff - basil, romaine lettuce, celery leaves, carrot tops, grass, etc., until you find things that he nibbles on rather than the fruits. Neither of my guys eat fruit but I keep offering it to them. Brokko is still very new to you and getting settled in. Keep talking to him alot, sit beside him and whatever you read, read it out loud so he becomes used to your voice. When you leave, put on music or the radio for him.

Some of the more experienced people will be on later to give you their advice. It doesn't seem like he needs a vet just have a little patience and he'll come around.

[Hezz]

After one week I'd be surprised if you had seen Brokko have a drink. Some budgies just will not in your presence. I have a seven year old hen ... I could the number of times I've seen her drink on one hand, I reckon. Besides that, budgies are a desert bird that have evolved to not rely on great swathes of water. Yes they will go down to a waterhole to drink, if it is available but are just as happy to take the dew of a few gum leaves - they don't drink much at any one time, not so that you'd notice the level of water in the drinker going down at all.

Don't try to be too fancy with the food. Focus more on veggies rather than fruit (too much sugar). Clip it to the side or top of the cage and keep trying even if your results so far are zero. If you can, get out and pick some seeding grasses, bundle these up and see if he shows any interest. Seeding grass is their natural food so trying with something that actually looks like food can make all the difference.

So in answer to your question - stop overreacting rather than a vet. If seeing a vet would give you peace of mind, then definitely consider it.

[Barry]

You are both absolute saints, thank you so much for your input! I'll take it to heart, and will monitor for the coming weeks. You've definitely calmed me down, thanks