Mango acting like a baby again??? why

[MangoMexicanRedHead]

Hi,
Is this normal??? My Mexican red headed amazon is 4.5 months old. I had him for one month and went on a 5 day trip. I picked him up today and he's acting like a baby again. He was screaming (every 2 min) right when I picked him up...which he has never done. I made some strides while I had him and started to clicker train him. I noticed he lost some weight (he was 300g and when I picked him up he was 222). I fed him right away and now he's all fluffy making baby noises and sleepy. Do they act like this with you guys when you board a bird? I'm new to this and was a bit worried about the weight change but he ate a bit now and his crop is full. Maybe he was stressed out.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Is he still handfeeding?

 

[MangoMexicanRedHead]

no he was weaned but I made him soft food in the morning (bird street bistro, with veggies and softened pellets). just a whole lot of baby talk. He ate now but I feel like 80g is a lot of weight to lose in 5 days.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Based on his weight loss and baby crying it sounds like he didn't eat much while you were gone. Separation anxiety, maybe? After all, he's still a baby even though he's weaned. Give him lots of love and lots of good food and keep an eye on his weight because a 30% weight loss is huge. If he doesn't gain it back in a couple weeks I'd take him to the vet. Keep an eye on his poops, too- appearance and frequency. It helps to put plain white paper towels at the bottom of his cage. If they're not normal, photograph them to show the vet.

 

[wrench13]

Yep, separation anxiety rears its ugly head. I always tell folk who will be away for a time to explain it to their parrots well in advance, using props to show how many days you will be away. It makes a world of difference with my 'zon. If I dont, I will get a week of pissy attitude if i do it, he is often just fine after less then a day.

 

[MangoMexicanRedHead]

Yep, separation anxiety rears its ugly head. I always tell folk who will be away for a time to explain it to their parrots well in advance, using props to show how many days you will be away. It makes a world of difference with my 'zon. If I dont, I will get a week of pissy attitude if i do it, he is often just fine after less then a day.

wow he must have been bonded after a month...yea - you are right - he is way better today and is eating a lot and relaxed. He was exhausted yesterday - it really alarmed me to see him not his usual self. Thank you

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'm not surprised Mango's very bonded to you and didn’t eat much, if anything, while you were gone. The one month you've had him is a long time for an Amazon only 4.5 months old, especially a handraised one. Some parrots are still eating formula at that age. Parent raised budgies are weaned at 6 or 7 weeks but I handraised a baby budgie that didn't completely wean until he was over 3 months old.

 

[rheashard2]

Parrots don't really forget. They may not remember the exact reason why. They do remember their response and emotions. Your little one didn't respond well to the new environment. He can't tell you why. A hairdo? noises? apparent confusion? no TV, music? Isolated? There's too much more to name. You're going to get him used to you being away. Leave home for varying lengths of time. Pay attention to his responses. Take him on outings. He'll learn that he's not being abandoned. My CAG can 'sense' if I am on an outing or a trip. She becomes anxious and demanding for trips. I give lots of love, reassurance etc. She still gets an attitude with trips. But calms down after a reasonably short period of time. She doesn't tolerate being left at vets (who boards exotics and birds) more then a few hours or overnight. She's familiar with the vet, and the entire staff, as in 20 yrs going there. She also becomes aggressive to any stranger in her space. It takes effort to get her 'approval'. Make plans now for future trips. You'll both feel better.