H/R Greencheek - help?

[kangus]

Hi all, its been a while since i dropped here.
Almost 2 weeks ago, we bought a H/R cinnamon greencheek hen as a pet but also as a friend for Kermit (our G/C boy). Now before driving the one and a half hours to go and see/purchase her, we asked the usual questions eg fully weaned, friendly, healthy etc. When we got there they got her out and she was a bit flighty - which they explained was because of us being there. She had a bit of a breast bone which i assumed was because she was young. So we handed over the money and drove home with the new little g/c.

When we got home, we clipped her wing as she wanted nothing to do with us, and the people we got her off said it would help the bonding process. The 1st couple of days she showed not much interest in food or us but thought that would change, and we did a precautionary worming. She would not (and still wont) eat in her cage, so we feed her on the bench with fruit, vege and seed. Now her appetite is not good - she is not eating near what i consider enough and her breast bone still sticks out quiet a bit and has us worried.

She seems energetic, bright eyes normal looking poop, and sleeps often. She is rather unsettled, unfriendly and anxious for what is supposed to be a H/R bird. Occassionally she will let us give her a head scratch, and she has improved a fair bit since we got her, but sometimes we get discouraged. We are only assuming here, but we think she wasn't quiet weaned properly, and assume the only interaction she ever had with people was when she was getting food, and then shoved back in the cage till next feed time, and possibly was a bit younger than we were told (supposed to be 8-9weeks).

Our main concern is that she isn't eating properly and not showing that much interest in food, she only pecks at bits here and there. We are thinking that she might not be the best companion bird and if we can get her eating better and put on some weight she might be better in an avairy, and maybe look for another?

I hope this makes sense, and if anyone has any ideas on how to encourage this little g/c to eat and be friendly please share because we dont know what to do

[erik]

Is her diet the same as the one the breeder fed her? As a green-cheek owner myself, I know how picky birds can be about their food, and I've heard that if they're introduced to something different, they might not eat it.

Also, my green-cheek absolutely loves bananas, so you might try feeding one to yours too. Millet seed trees are also a hit.

If I can think of anything else that might useful to you, I'll post it...

[kangus]

Hi Eric, thanks for the reply. Since i last posted there has been some improvement, if we take the time to feed her by hand she eats much better. She gets a choice of food, banana, grapes, carrot, she even had a go at some pumpkin the other day, and some shelled sunflower seed as a treat, and of course there is seed for her aswell. She is a little more friendly as well, so we will persist and update this as we go

[erik]

Glad to hear she's been eating more! I also forgot to mention this egg food supplement that I feed my green cheek. I sprinkle it on top of his seed and it's the first thing he devours when I set him down to eat. I've been told that birds love the stuff, so maybe yours will too? Just do a search for 'Quiko Classic Egg Food Supplement For All Birds' if you're at all interested.

Anyway, keep us updated on her progress!

[kangus]

well we are still persisting with the little G/C, we have given her an "unofficial" name of "Ding" which she gets called when she is good, when she's not good its Dingbat lol. I know she is young, but she doesn't seem to have the smarts of our other G/C Kermit, hence the name. She is eating a bit better now, but its still a bit of a hassle. Anyway, not much progress to report yet, so fingers crossed she gets a bit better still

[Scully]

Hi Kangus, happy new year
I have read yor posts and i dont think yor baby was handraised at all.
When i picked Biggles i had the choice of 2 or 3 and all of them were pretty much like magnets. All were eating everything very well.
I thought maybe it would be a good idea if you tried a little handfeeding, with a syringe. Not only does yor little girl/gy sond like he has not been weaned very well , he could do with a little of the goodness that is in the baby food. Or the Egg food as Erik suggested.

i am glad to hear this little bird has you though, i wonder how he/she would be doing with someone else.

[kangus]

Hi Scully, thanks for the reply. I tend to agree with what you have said, i think the poor little thing had little to do with people before we got her. When we got her she couldnt even drink out of a water dish, and she learnt how to do that over the first two weeks. She has of tonight started showing interest in food inside her cage so fingers crossed she keeps at it. She even has asked for a head scratch a couple of times over the last couple of days, so thats encouraging.

We felt so let down with this little gc and the breeder, as they would have known these things yet they sold her on anyway. I did contact the breeder about a week after purchase saying we were having the above mentioned troubles, and their reply was "sorry your having trouble with her, she was in good health when sold". Anyway, live and learn hey

What do you recommend as a good formula to help her put on some weight? baby formula with egg and biscuit mix?

[kangus]

heres a pic of Ding playing with a tissue

[Scully]

oh shes is adorable!
i did wonder if feeding her a little baby food with a syringe would help you to bond with her as well.
Biggs is acting wierd he one min acts like a hen in my hand, then he acts like he needs a hen haha!

and yes we all certainly have to learn to 'live and Learn'' ;D

[kangus]

well, 2 weeks ago we got some egg ang biscuit mix and started giving it to her via syringe, she wouldn't take it off a spoon, and wouldn't take it from the syringe willfully either, so we had to force feed her 3 feeds a day of approx 1-2ml per feed. While she hated every second of it - i think it has done some good as she weights about 2 grams more on the kitchen scales and has started eating more in her cage! She is also still making slow progress in the friendliness department and is now at the stage i expected her to be at when we got her, now asking for head scratches, isnt trying to get away all the time, and has even let us hold her a couple of times! She is also becoming quiet playfull! that the update for now, will do so again in another couple of weeks, Cheers

[erik]

Glad to here that Ding is coming along! Very cute photo too. You know you're in good when you're being asked for head scratches hehe.

[kangus]

well, Ding is still making slow progress - the newest development i dont know if you could call progress, but she has learnt how to open her cage door and get out! so we now have to peg it closed lol.