6 week old Lovebird - need urgent help

[ioniemeow]

Two days ago, I got a lovebird that the owner says is 6 weeks old. He said that it was off the formula, and gave me a bag of Zupreem pellets to feed it (image attached). The bird eats very well, and is learning how to use the bottle but we have a small dish of water as well. However, it seems to nap a lot, and cannot jump yet to perch. My questions are,
1) Are feeding the pellets alone fine? I read that they could die of malnutrition, please help me see if the ingredients are suitable for her.
2) Is it normal for the lovebird to sleep so much? It tends to yawn as well. When I take it out, after a while being on my hand it will close its eyes.
3) How old do you think my lovebird is? The outer feathers are grown, but upon lifting the wing there is still skin and also hasn't grown in the neck regions. (I attached pictures)
4) Any other tips? I have a much older lovebird as well.

 

[Tami2]

Hello ioniemeow,

Welcome to the PFs, glad you joined us.

No you cannot feed only pellets. They need vegetables, fruits, grains etc.
Please read the link below. Baby birds do sleep a lot, but you need to get him to eat fresh food ASAP. Managing a larger cage and perches do take some time as well.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

https://www.amazon.com/Parrots-Fine...1585490213&sprefix=Parrot+cook,aps,155&sr=8-2

Best of luck and please keep us posted.

 

[CharlieChick]

Hi there, welcome

1. No lovebirds should NEVER have pellets as their sole diet. Their diet consists of 30% vegetables, almost 67% pellets and the rest 3% is made up of some fruits, cooked legumes, sprouts, seeds etc. In fact, sprouts are quite healthy so you can give them more of that. Everyone has a different opinion but this what I like to follow. (Please do a lot of research and consider other people's opinions too before making a decision on their diet)
It is recommended to give birds fresh vegetables in the morning, every single day. You can make a 'chop' by cutting different vegetables (remember to look them up if they are safe!) and put the chop in their food bowl and take that food bowl out after 2-3 hours.
I'd like to point out that ZuPreem's pellets are not very good, the natural one is better than the fruitblend, but still... it doesn't have a lot of nutritional value. I'd recommend Tops or Harrison's, if you have those available. If you happen to live in a place where everything has to be shipped and either don't have it available or can't afford after all the shipping charges then you can feed your birb a mix of roudybush and ZuPreem natural (70% roudybush and 30% ZuPreem natural out of the portion of pellets).
Fruits should only be given to them once or twice a week because of the sugar levels.
Boiled eggs are a hit too!. Just remember to only give it once a week.

You can begin feeding your bird vegetables and perhaps slowly, slowly make all the required changes.

2. As far as I think, it's probably normal. I am definitely NOT AN EXPERT, perhaps other people will help you out!

3. From the photos, I think... about a month (I don't think it's complete 6 weeks)

4. Not really because I don't have much knowledge about this topic...

Other people with more experience and knowledge than me will surely help you out

Thanks
Happy New Year!