New Parrot Care Guide: The First Few Weeks
A newly adopted parrot is dealing with a completely new environment, which makes the first 1-2 weeks the most sensitive period. It's easy to get confused about what counts as normal versus a warning sign during this time, so it helps to know ahead of time.
The first few days — these are normal
- Hunkering down in a corner of the cage, wary of people
- Eating less than usual (though if this continues for several days, see "What to check" below)
- Puffing up feathers and staying quiet (resting/on alert)
What to check during the settling-in period
- Check food and droppings: check daily whether the food dish level is dropping and whether droppings are appearing. Eating almost nothing for 3+ days is a warning sign.
- Breathing and posture: pumping the tail up and down while breathing, or keeping the eyes shut, are warning signs.
- Keep the environment quiet: avoid excessive attention (frequent handling, loud noise) for the first few days, and don't move the cage's location often.
When to see a vet
Right after purchase or adoption, quarantine status is often unknown, so a basic health checkup at an exotic (bird) vet within the first few days is recommended. In particular, if loss of appetite lasts more than 3 days or breathing looks abnormal, go right away.
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