Why Isn’t My Bird Eating? Appetite Loss in Avian Patients Explained
Nothing is more terrifying to a pet parent than when their little family member stops eating. In birds, avian appetite loss is even scarier. Birds are delicate creatures, and when they’re sick, they need specialized care to make sure they have a chance of a healthy recovery.
The team at South Texas Avian and Exotic Hospital has tips for what to do if your bird is not eating.
Why Appetite Loss in Birds is so Serious
Have you ever heard the term “eat like a bird”? Usually, it means that someone isn’t eating much. But this is a highly misleading term, because birds actually eat a ton. Like, all day long. Depending on the species, birds need to eat around 10-20% of their body weight every day.
They achieve this level of nutrition by grazing on their food throughout the day. Typically, birds eat every hour or two, mirroring the foraging habits their wild relatives engage in to stay fed.
A pet bird’s diet should be comprised of the following:
- About 60-80% nutritionally-balanced pellets
- Roughly 15-30% leafy greens, carrots, squash, and other fresh vegetables
- Around 10% fruit, from berries and apples to oranges and bananas
- An occasional sprinkling of seeds and nuts to serve as a treat
A healthy bird will frequently visit his food bowl and munch on the full buffet of choices throughout the day.
If your bird is avoiding her pellets and vegetables—or even her fruit or seeds—for more than half a day or so, it’s time to schedule an appointment with an avian veterinarian.
Here’s why. Birds don’t often show outward signs of illness. They have evolved to hide signs of weakness to avoid making themselves seem attractive to predators. These traits have stuck with birds, even in the domesticated sphere, which means that birds may not show symptoms until they’re seriously ill.
And one of the first symptoms they can’t hide is a drop in their hunger levels.
Symptoms That Can Show Up Alongside Avian Appetite Loss
Along with appetite loss, birds might slow down on grooming habits, experience trouble breathing, or spend a lot of time sleeping or lounging around instead of chirping and playing with their toys.
If you notice any of these issues—either on their own or paired with appetite loss—it’s time to contact an emergency veterinarian for birds. Sickness can progress with astonishing speed, and birds are delicate creatures that need specialized care.
The experienced team at South Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital is here for your urgent and emergency care needs—or to give your bird a full checkup to stave off any issues. Call us at (210) 424-1871 to schedule an appointment today.