Hi been awhile since ive owned any birds and was wondering how long does it take a new arrival to relax and look for its food and water..ive spread small amt of food on bottom of cage as well as have filled reg food cups..its not even been a full day that this keet is home with me but even tho not a flighty bird and is truly a VERY young baby bought from a breeder..it is finger and hand tame...but im concerned as it isnt really investigating things yet to find food and water..how long will this take before i should become VERY concerned..I know its healthy as its droppings are not watery or discolored it has no dropping wing or is not coughing sneezing or puffy...so whats the next step and when should it get hungry enuf to look for some food...thanks for your help

I think most new birds, even hand tamed babies from a breeder need time to get used to their new home. It's very scary for them.
Most of the time I think they eat/drink while you are not watching. Check the food dish for empty seed hulls to see if he's eating on the sly. It's also a good idea to get some spray millet and hang a small piece next to a perch that he likes. That way he doesn't have to go far.
Covering their cage, all but the front, for a few days helps them feel more secure while getting used to their new home too.
I got one of as a baby-just under 7wks, from a breeder too, and I think it took almost 2 days for him to eat in front of me. I was getting very worried and came here and sais He's not eating..help! LOL I had to place a small dish on the cage floor with his seed in it..I think he was used to dishes on the floor. So you might want to try that?
We'd LOVE to see pics of your new baby. Does he/she have a name yet? Do you know how old he is?

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new keet. I agree with every thing that kksuns said. I do think that covering three side and top of the cage is very important for the first few days.

They will find the food and water. Your new one probably alread has and has been sneaky getting a drink. Quite often they are a little parakeet statue for the first two days. That is very normal.

Hi THANKS A LOT FOR QUICK RESPONSES...i did spread some seed on floor and placed him on floor a couple of times and just also now placed him on a water cup where he did take just a couple of small sips ..pheww i KNEW afer 24hrs he had to be VERY thirsty and its a start..once i saw him do that at least i let him be to go to his already favorite perch...i do have some millet also in the cage on that perch site..just he doesnt move around or make but only a chirp here or there once in a great while giggle..im considering removing all from the cage except the food and water cups so he HAS to perch on them from the floor to discover whats in them ..in the meantime ill try a couple more times to acclimate him by placing him on the food and water cups without removing all from the cage and hope for the best...and i dont have a name for him/her yet gonna wait on that ... also he is only 6weeks old ..breeder pulls them at that time for sale purpose...its what use to be known as harlequin color where it is beautifully marked blue and white...with a blue bib and between wings the rest is white with just the shoulders being with the pearl scalloping and very symetrical. It also has a white spot directly on top of head like a lil bald spot giggle. AGAIN THANKS SO MUCH for such quick responses cuz im gonna get REALLY WORRIED if in three days he isnt getting about and doing his thing and finding his own food/water.

illuseve - for at least 36 to 48 hours just cover three sides and the top of the cage. Leave all his stuff in there, including food and water. Give it some time. The more you keep changing things around to longer it will take him to adjust. There are such scaredy cats that they are affraid of anything new.

You misunderstood Tin ive changed NOTHING and said i would only do so (taking out things)if the keet didnt show any signs of moving around or getting curious etc. He/she is now preening and its not a scaredy cat at all...it does not display even remotely fearful tendencies. In fact its quite relaxed with preening and stretching and the occasional chirp..i just dont want to wait till it gets too weak to perch by waiting to long for it to get some nourishment.
Thats why i said if i dont see some real interest soon and with the aid of showing him/her where the dishes are by HIM allowing me to place him there...that this is what id do. He is not intimadated nor resisting my actions on any level. So just to let you know nothing is being changed around since his arrival as YET. Thanks for your encouraging thoughts

Just a thought - since you said he was very young - he is weaned, right.

yes i made a point of being sure to ask the breeder this question...as i said in first post im not a newbie bird owner its just been about 15yrs since ive owned. I use to breed/show clear face pied and clear face cinn. pearl pied cockatiels .. so im just regenerating my grey matter of info. Forgot how long it may take for a bird to acclimate so being cautious rather than foolish..and yes he is 6wks old and was not hand fed which amazes me at how calm he is..especially NOT being hand fed. He/she is a jewel in deportment..and just a major head start bonus on training....again really im quite glad of your feedback dont think im not but just wanted to clear up some things..text can be soooo misleading sometimes. Appreciate your help and comments and input VERY much...THANKS.

It sounds like your new keet is doing very nicely and will soon get over the shyness!

Definitely post some photos, I would love to see the coloring!

Hi illusive,
Just checking in..is your baby eating/drinking yet? I hope so, I know how worrisome it can be.
The one I got from a breeder,Levi, was not handfed either. But he was somewhat hand tamed as they did hold the babies. He was still pretty scared at first tho, because after all, we were strangers to him and it was a whole new home and he was used to being with his family. I know he was a lil birdy statue the fist couple days, and I felt bad for him so I contacted the breeder.I know that in most cases you probably shouldn't try handling a new keet for a while until they get comfortable in their surroundings. Which is what I was doing..just talking to him alot. But the breeder said I should try holding him, that it might help. And it did. Once i held him,he became much more relaxed rather quickly. Have you held your baby yet? If not maybe it will help? And BTW-Is he clipped?
Oh, and you said it's been a while since you've had birds? Just in case you didn't know, it is now known that sandpaper perch covers are not good for keets. They can cause problems for their poor little feet and also if they chew on the sandpaper it can bind up in their crop. Same goes for gravel and grit..in the old days they used to say keets needed it..now it is known it's actually bad for them. Same for mite protectors-big No No.
You might have already known about these things but I thought I'd mention them just in case.
Love tio see pics of ur new baby, awww just 6wks...sooo sweet

OH WOW KK...geeeeesh glad to found my way back into here as im having a dickens of a time trying to figure out the link to post to the keet forum...thanks for your concern nice to see some folks are genuine...
Yes its been over 15yrs so gawd for most intentions im a newbie all over again and have to try to remember all ive forgotten.
Well yes and no on the holding bit..this morning first thing i picked him up (no resistance) and just quickly put him or her on the water cup and becuz of doing this yesterday it immediately took a sip THEN SNEEZED oh gawd..i feel like a new mother and i guess i am...so then i picked him up again only long enuf to place him on floor where i spread some seed...this got no results yesterday but IT DID TODAY...yeeeehaw...so i let him/her it from down there for awhile...and then put him/her onto food cup and geeeesh poor little thing was really hungry i guess..now he got his head cranked around under and near his wings and is going to sleep still sitting on the food cup but sneezed again while eating. Am i being paranoid on the sneezes ..it was just when he drank and ate he doesnt do it ANY OTHER TIME...and seeing how he hasnt really drank or ate much..he hasnt sneezed much..giggle. He just really isnt perky YET..and im sure when he becomes perky ill be wishing for these days again. Also, omg ok all u in the peanut galler about to read this ..shush..he would keep eating everytime i made believe i was right there eating with him ...hold your laughter please. Im so relieved he did that at least..and THANKS SO MUCH for the update on gravel n grit...i panicked when i realize i didnt buy any and someone told me i should get some as they need it to digest and grind up their food..i knew how sandpaper perches were not the best as sometimes they did more to irrate the feet than anything but i use to put a little VERY little vaseline on feet if i thought my other budgies were showing signs of soreness and all would be ok..i do have a mineral block and the breeder said thats ALL she uses as i asked about cuttle bone too ...so whats the latest on cuttlebone ..needed or not.??? THANKS PHEWWWW glad someone is paying attenition to my paranoid brain.

Hey I'm not laughing! It makes perfect sense that he would eat when YOU pretended to eat! Sice birds are flock creatures, one of the things they do as a flock is EAT. So..you are his flock! haha makes sense eh? That's soo cool he's starting to see you as a flockmate already.:)
Umm sneezing? Maybe he just gets a bit of water in his nose while drinking or seed hull particles tickle his nose? I wouldn't worry too much about it right yet.
And since he is so very young you'll probably notice he will sleep alot.
Cuttlebone-yep, it's a must have. Helps condition their beak and also adds calcium to their diet.
LOL I know EXACTLY what you mean about feelin like a new mother with her first baby. I'm pretty sure we ALL feel like that at first. And as for being paranoid..I don't think THAT ever goes away LOL It goes with the territory! haha
Sounds like baby is starting to settle right in. He'll be more perky in no time. Talk to him lots and lots..maybe play some music for him.

wow found ur post lol...yah i remember a female cockie i had that saw me as her mate too,...dang thing laid a egg under the blankets with me one nite as i watched a movie.....geeeeesh...talk about unplanned parenthood...lawdy...
ok so not to be paranoid about the occasional sneeze when he eats or drinks GOOD...sigh..also makes mental note...no gravel or grit yess on cuttlebone asap even tho breeder said she doesnt use them only mineral blocks...gawd how things change...thanks ..he is still sleeping i want to go over and say heeeeeeeeeeeey ur a bird and its daytime get the heck up. lol

LOL She laid an egg for you! haha too funny..she laid it right in your "nest"!
Things sure do change! Do you know about how important veggies and pellets are?
aww Baby is taking another nap nap.LOL
Have you come up with any names yet?

dont do pellets either neither did the breeder. ive tried them in past when they first came out and my birds would starve rather than eat them...and besides again its not natural to them in looks...no im waiting on names till i find out the sex...if i call him anything it will be buddy i think as thats what i kept saying when i was bringin him home and its a word he can learn to say easily too...OMG HE MOVED...he went down to bottom of cage on his own and is eating again WOW SUCCESS....OMG OMG..

Yeah, some birds won't even TOUCH pellets. I don't think it would hurt to try tho. I'm not saying convert to all pellets or even mostly pellets, I don't like that idea either, altho some owners swear by it, but a tsp or so mixed with their seed mix can't hurt. I think they help make up for some of the nutrients they are lacking from eating only seed. Esp if they won't eat veggies.
Yahoooo he's moving around and finding his food! Big sigh of relief I bet

yes enormous sigh of relief..well i also live in the boon docks not much around for availability on pellets as i dont have any transportation means to larger areas..and most seed is vitamized now too..at this time im just glad to see him eating some seed that i bought from the breeder that she feeds all the time. Plus when i picked up the cage from a pet store ..my daughter ran me around that day but thats really really rare...i also bought two other types of seed to feed. Oat n Groats and yessssss i know dont give them much of that as its very fattening...and moulting and conditioning food..millet sprays and some vita flight with 13 different vitamins thats a powder to add to water. So i dont think he will be lacking giggle..eventually in a month ill introduce new foods i just want to go really slow with him and not put a ton on new things and adjustments on him at this time..i wont even let him out for AT LEAST a month. By then it will be a trick just to get him to come out lol..however, today things much better he moving about eating and chirping more. All is good so far. Also voice training has begun right away with just two simple words ...good boy...but thats something too i dont remember how long it takes for them to speak. I know its different for each bird but i dont remember lol.

Oh yeah! I'd be doin the happy dance just to see him eating period! LOL
But I wouldn't wait too long to introduce new foods. Like a veggie or 2. I think it might be easier to start him while he's so young and not "used to" only certain foods yet.Kind of like before he gets settled into eating just one certain thing?
I'm not sure, but I think it took Levi a couple months to start talking? Geesh, you'd think I'd remember such a thing! LOL His first words were "Whatcha doin?" Probably because I said that to him every time I went by his cage or walked up to him without even thinking about it. I didn't set out to teach it to him and it surprised the heck out of us when we first heard him talk! It seems he says things I say all the time without giving it any thought . He doesn't say anything I've actually TRIED to teach him! LOL

Sounds like a bratty kid never doing what u want lol...giggle..omg..too cute. Well once he finds on his own the food and water especially now that i put the hoods on them lol, didnt to wait till he got accoustomed to them off and then not go near them, ill introduce more foods. KK i dont want to get into the trap that a lot do and rush..on anything. He is having enuf to deal with in just two days and im sooooo glad he has figured out he can move around and start to look for seed on bottom at least as he just now did again. Ive still another food cup i need to show him also that he doesnt know about..so all that comes first. To totally allow him the ability to know his cage/home thoroughly first before trying too too much. So i figure by weeks end then ill toss some type of veggie on the floor. However, u see where this is now going he will look only to the floor for food and i really dont want that. So its a very painstaking process to get it all right.
Two months to talk huh gawd...geeeeeeesh ooooook we gonna be not like my own voice very much by then i can tell ya. Ok gotta watch the news and my later tv programs but ill check one more time back here before going to hug my pillow.
There he goes again with another sneeze or two just after eating again and preening. HEY truly appreciate our little chats here. Thanks for you kindness and thoughts and time.

Oh no, I don't mean you should rush things! You're right! One step at a time. Baby steps and lots of patience.And then..more patience! LOL
ummm not to be the bearer of bad news but..those food/water dish covers? There have been a few people here who's birds somehow got stuck in them. So even tho they help keep food/water clean, it's safer to leave the covers off. If your bird gets stuck during the night or when you're not right there to rescue it...not good.

WHOA thats not bearer of bad news this is good news to let me know this kinda stuff OKKKKKKKKK...we did take the cover of the water dish tonight thought so he could see it better would be good...but YOUR RIGHT and im gonna check that out ASAP ...LIKE NOW...too bad little one i have to wake ya up for a bit...THANKKKKKKK YOUUUUU...

OK got them off the food and water and i can see where a baby keet could try turning itself around as it eats ets and get jammed up in it sooooooo...getting out my trusty dremmel now and gonna file the whole top of it off and just leave the sides on...wont get stuck then...more than one way to skin a cat as they say...no offense cat lovers its a saying...ok thanks for sharing gonna grab the dremmel like i said and FIX THIS LITTLE DEATH TRAP so THAT wont happen

OK that took all of ten minutes to do one .. just took hack saw and saw'd the top off and then dremmel to grind it BABY smooth..so sides are left, which is all thats needed really to keep seeds in and stop them from flying around, and the entire top of the cover is now removed. Which is where the problem would come to get them stuck..THANKS moving on to the number two one for the water...where there is a will there is a way...sorry someone had to loose a precious friend to find that out for the rest of us.

Ok that took a half hour from start to finish getting out tools and cleaning up to make a would be death trap 110percent safe..and why couldnt the genius manufacturers do the same..

Thanks KK seems im saying ty to you A LOT. The back an sides are left with tops removed so alllllll is very very safe now. Ill be saying a special prayer for you and yours tonight to keep ya all safe and happy.

You're welcome
Love the idea you came up with to solve the problem As for why manufactures aren't clever enough to make them that way? hmmmm they are idiots??!! LOL
There are soo many things out there that are made for birds that are actually dangerous,even toxic for crying out loud! It just doesn't make sense does it? Anything to make a buck.
I'll throw a couple more danger zones at ya just in case- teflon cookware~ lets off toxic fumes when it gets overheated most esp if you forget you have something cooking and it burns down in the pan? Many people just get rid of their teflon all together. Air fresheners, scented candles or regular candles-unless they are soy based I think,and most cleaning products should not be used around birds.
Anyone else care to list dangerous/toxic products?

Hi again regarding non stick cooking items..I got a kitchen stove company and merchandiser many years ago to change their stoves which had a grilling section with silverstone on grates to modify and they sent me non coated grates to go with my stove also the store at that time stopped ordering stoves with non stick surfaces...me...i trashed every single non stick item i had and didnt give away either any of it cuz ya just never know where they end up or if someone got a bird who u would give it too. So i knew about all that...thanks anyway...
Now regarding cleaning products i was a kid when getting my first bird..and as years went on as ive said i ended up breeding cockies..my mom was a clean freak and so am i and never had a problem. ive never sprayed anything next or near to any of my animals either or plants...ANOTHER TOXIC to birds is many many plants and some fruit/veggie seeds so im aware of that stuff but thanks..

Hi again,
just thought I'd check in and see how that baby of yours is doing. Is s/he still sneezing after eating/drinking?
I got thinking about it so I checked with a couple others who have more experience and knowledge than I do.I've only been a bird slave for about 1 1/2 yrs now..well other than when I was a kid back in the stone age LOL and that doesn't count.
Anyway, I explained about the sneezing and age. This is what I was told: Could be allergic reaction to something in the food, which is common, in which case would require vet attention. I don't think that's it tho because water causes sneezing too right?
Could be putting beak too far in to water and getting water up the cere, also common, and if continues you could try switching to water silo feeder.
Could be dust from seed or in the room..be sure to blow off empty seed hulls several times a day.
Sneezing is a natural bodily function, so as long as there is no spray/discharge coming out it's usually ok..if there's ANY kind of moisture coming from cere it's time for a vet visit.

So all in all I think it's just a baby that has to get used to eating/drinking without inhaling the stuff?? LOL What do you think? Practice make perfect? haha

GIGGLE...YAH he or she has stopped doing that .. have no idea what it was unless clearing nostrils from the breeders place too an accumulation of errrrrrm stuff there. Anyway, no more sneezes. However, whatever its gender it took a uncleared take off from the tower today lmao. Nothing traumatic and i didnt panic either..but im sure that pilot will have a dream or two tonight giggle. Unscheduled flight lasted all of five minutes if that. Another reason im so glad he/she..isnt a skitzo and ive continued with hand and finger train..however, having flown to ..ahem ..new heights==had to get a nearby loose perch i kept handy JUST IN CASE of something like this and returned him to the hanger. Being the same day he decided to rev his engines inside the hanger first, it figures. Not more than a hour before he clamped down and let rip running his motor to high rpms lol..must of been planning this flight unbeknown to me. Again tho i wish he/she gawd..would really use the food cups instead of floor ..this could get to be a nasty habit. OR NOT as he finds food is getting thin down there. Today has been i guess u could say a break thru day ... being more vocal...rev'n his motor..and uncleared short hop flight. I doooooo believe im gonna have a bit of a character on my hands as the days pass. Thanks for checking back. Seems like what i thought was a keet formum is welllllll a anything goes forum not much posted on keets huh???

So enjoyed your account of your babies maiden flight. I have one that is a helicopter. He flies up and down in their cage. It is so funny to watch him do this. The others are content to fly from perch to perch. They usually only make one turn around the living room then back to the top of their cage.

Sounds like everything is going really well. It is so good to hear.

Cracking up here at your helicopter. Poor little thing needs to find its control stick. Ok so he is a male and we have to cut him a little slace cuz of that. You know how men drivers are..he needs some picture diagrams...
Ok im making a VERY fast exit here now...cyaaaaaaa lol

Yaay no more sneezing!
Loved hearing about his maiden voyage First flights are always so special
Hey all the talk about hangars and what not..how 'bout naming him Pilot? nah..doesn't sound right

lol..i dunno everytime i look over ill say hey buddy...i really think its gonna end up buddy unless i have some sort of epithany lol

Nothing wrong with the name Buddy. He IS ur little buddy after all! LOL
I'm willing to bet that if he ends up being a talker, his first words will be Hey Buddy!
Can you post pics? I'd love to see him/her.

Hi i dont have a cam to post pic's but i can tell u the nic xerox has a pic that looks dern close to my lil one..in fact i was shocked when i saw it. After looking up diff colors and mixes i can describe..my lil one looks like u would expect i guess of a clear wing dominate banded lite blue pied. Even the secondary flights are clear along with tail. He/she has a lite blue bib with the white band around the middle and blue tween wings on back. If u can find that nic in here on a post u will be looking at my lil guy..they are almost mirror birds.
Today i came up with a close running second name to buddy...BONKERS. Ive no clue what was in his head today but omg..my mild mannered getting along with finger n hand taming nicely bird all on his own was suddenly going bonkers..i think that maiden flight put ideas into his head and good lawd he for all the intent in the world looked like he was desparate to wanting to come out. The more i went to the cage to talk to him the worse it got...every time i would approach lawdy lawdy...he would run all over like a firecracker was well u know where. Up to me climbing in front of my face up n down all around geeeeeesh.. He was possessed giggle. Sure hope thats not a repeat tomorrow of his activity.

BONKERS?? I like it!
I think it's normal for a new keet to go from being pretty passive and quiet to being rebellious and crazy. At first I think they're too scared to put up a fuss about much of anything, then as a few days go by and they feel more secure, well..they test their limits maybe? Sounds to me like a sign s/he's feeling more comfy with his new home and family

nothing really new here cept to say he/she has gotten quite rambuncious *sp...too early for spelling im on my first cuppa and not human yet sigh..as he had become a lot more comfortable with the goings on around here and his cage he is alot more active. In fact he shows signs of thinking the territory beyond is also part of his and wants to explore and shows definete indications of that .. NOT HAPPENING YET....neener neener lol

ok to continue this thread abit..id like to know anyone out there with some info on avian/vet insurance a website link to such a insurance ...who here has actually purchased a insurance plan and used it...i know how the doggie ones worked and i imagine if there now is a avian one it works much the same as the regular animal vet insurances for dogs and cats work..information on prices ...different options to plans etc would be helpful ty.

Dang! Lost all my bookmarks with my comp too! grrr 2nd page of this thread http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/382173/1
petinsurance.com I've never gotten pet ins myself tho so.....

saved that link to fav's to review the quick glance i gave it tho is but of course VERY VAGUE lol