Food question

IamJolyn · Sep 22, 2015

Hey all, I looked on the diet forum, but didn't really find any advice.

I am trying to get Davy to eat chop, and he will eat it if I hand feed it to him, but not when I have it in his cage.

I have tried mixing it with his normal seed and pellets, adding different veggies and fruit, still nothing. I made this mix and made a LOT of it to freeze, because he was eating it from me, and now he isn't eating it.

haha help? I easily converted my 'Toos and Macaws to eat. But this 'Zon has me stumped

Amanda_Bennett · Sep 22, 2015

Zons are a special species of "picky" about everything! LOL

That being said I give Zilla her chop & "fresh food" along with fresh water early in the morning, no seeds or pellets for at least an hour, sometimes 2 hours. Then in the afternoons I take away her pellet/seed mix at least an hour before dinnertime so she will be hungry. Then after she has eaten some fresh foods and chop mix I give her pellets/seed mix back for the evening/over night.

Aquila · Sep 22, 2015

Try putting some on your plate while you're eating your food and have him part of your meals. Even simple things like soup (my BFA loves tomato soup and chicken noodle) can help him getting interested in fresh foods. Even miming eating his chop might get him interested. For me, Sydney will want anything that I have, which results in him trying to take it away from me. I've made little salad pita pockets before, and end up ripping off a piece so he can eat it.

It's often about tricking them to eat new thing, sneaking it into other foods. I've also had luck in adding peanut powder (or peanut flour) that doesn't have any fats or oils, but has a nice roasted nut flavor without the calories to help give them some interest, as well as adding a little coating of some coconut oil.

I always offer my birds something that I'm eating, usually from a fork or spoon just to get them to try new things. Hot/warm food is also often more appetizing, so I warm up their chop before feeding, mixing in some cinnamon, hot pepper flakes, crushed almonds or even some freeze dried banana that I run through a grinder to make a powder. Adding variety is a big thing too.

IamJolyn · Sep 22, 2015

Amanda_Bennett said:
Zons are a special species of "picky" about everything! LOL

That being said I give Zilla her chop & "fresh food" along with fresh water early in the morning, no seeds or pellets for at least an hour, sometimes 2 hours. Then in the afternoons I take away her pellet/seed mix at least an hour before dinnertime so she will be hungry. Then after she has eaten some fresh foods and chop mix I give her pellets/seed mix back for the evening/over night.

I am not always home to do these things, but I will try it! I just gave him back his normal seed/pellets and he is chowing down like he was starving :/

IamJolyn · Sep 22, 2015

Aquila said:
Try putting some on your plate while you're eating your food and have him part of your meals. Even simple things like soup (my BFA loves tomato soup and chicken noodle) can help him getting interested in fresh foods. Even miming eating his chop might get him interested. For me, Sydney will want anything that I have, which results in him trying to take it away from me. I've made little salad pita pockets before, and end up ripping off a piece so he can eat it.

It's often about tricking them to eat new thing, sneaking it into other foods. I've also had luck in adding peanut powder (or peanut flour) that doesn't have any fats or oils, but has a nice roasted nut flavor without the calories to help give them some interest, as well as adding a little coating of some coconut oil.

I always offer my birds something that I'm eating, usually from a fork or spoon just to get them to try new things. Hot/warm food is also often more appetizing, so I warm up their chop before feeding, mixing in some cinnamon, hot pepper flakes, crushed almonds or even some freeze dried banana that I run through a grinder to make a powder. Adding variety is a big thing too.

I do try to share my dinner with Davy, he isn't a tame bird yet though, so he will not sit with me while I eat. I do offer him healthy food, and he will even eat his chop if I hand feed it to him (from his cage or on top of it), so at least I know he is getting some good food. But he will not touch it from his dish. He stuck his beak in it and recoiled in disgust dragging his beak on the perch and cage bars until it was gone. It would have been funny if it wasn't so serious lol.

I will try the different flavors . . . hot pepper flakes really? huh who would have thought?

IamJolyn · Sep 23, 2015

So this morning I heated up the chop to warm instead of just taking the chill off of it, mixed it with a LOT of his normal seed and pellets and he is at least getting some. Tomorrow I will try with some different flavors and see if he eats more

Notdumasilook · Sep 25, 2015

I tad to lead by example myself to get the ball rolling. And my BFA Cookie now demands a taste of whats on my plate. Yes in the beginning they seem to be revolted by the feel of moist food.. even more so when its cold. Did a similar thing when getting him to try pellets. I put them on a paper plate on my TV tray and started eating them in front of him. (they taste like crap by the way) until he started insisting I give him some too.
And it might be better in a separate bowl instead of mixed with his main food. Just my 2 cents.

SailBoat · Sep 26, 2015

Appears that Davy has been working at training you

Amazon people have two complaints: First, how do I get my Amazon to eat XYZ, and second, how do I keep my Amazon out of my food. At that point, the most dangerous place to be is between an Amazon and food.

Amazons Rule!

Aquila · Sep 26, 2015

SailBoat said:
Appears that Davy has been working at training you

Amazon people have two complaints: First, how do I get my Amazon to eat XYZ, and second, how do I keep my Amazon out of my food. At that point, the most dangerous place to be is between an Amazon and food.

Amazons Rule!

While I was reading this, Sydney was pulling my fork away from me to get my dinner!

Taw5106 · Sep 29, 2015

I warm my chop for 30 seconds in the microwave, stir it so the temp evens out, then mix fresh items to it. Mine like room temperature food. Buddy my GCA loves brown rice so he gets a little every day. I also learned from Anasi that the finer you chose the food, the more they get down so I will grate carrot, pepper, chop up kale etc. Buddy also loves scrambled egg which he gets 1/2 an egg no more than once a week.

Keep offering and try the grating, even juicing. Buddy is my easy eater, Venus, my ekkie is harder so I grate and juice because of her.

Aquila · Sep 29, 2015

Taw5106 said:
I warm my chop for 30 seconds in the microwave, stir it so the temp evens out, then mix fresh items to it. Mine like room temperature food. Buddy my GCA loves brown rice so he gets a little every day. I also learned from Anasi that the finer you chose the food, the more they get down so I will grate carrot, pepper, chop up kale etc. Buddy also loves scrambled egg which he gets 1/2 an egg no more than once a week.

Keep offering and try the grating, even juicing. Buddy is my easy eater, Venus, my ekkie is harder so I grate and juice because of her.

I like to chop all the foods my birds doesn't like super small, but keep the other stuff in bigger chunks that they like and hope for the best. Food processor is my best friend!

IamJolyn · Sep 30, 2015

Notdumasilook said:
And it might be better in a separate bowl instead of mixed with his main food. Just my 2 cents.

I only mix it in with some to get him to try it, I take it away after a while and give him is regular seed. I know it isn't good to let that sit all day

He seems to love cinnamon, once he tires of that I will try the pepper flakes

JerseyWendy · Sep 30, 2015

Don't know if you've ever stumbled upon this link, but it's great one, with lots of ideas/suggestions on how to get your bird to eat 'healthier' things.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

IamJolyn · Sep 30, 2015

Thanks! I will check it out

Food question

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