purchased from store parakeets who won't try greens?

Lunalie

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Jan 28, 2020
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Hi! So I have got my parakeets leafy greens, corn... even tried crackers and they don't seem to want to try anything other than what they are used to.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Do you think they will eventually try it?
Best I can get them to do is open there mouth and nip at it and that's, that.

What do you all recommend?

Thanks in advance! :)
 

itzjbean

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I recommend starting with their diet they were getting -- likely seeds? -- and offer other forms of veggies. Sometimes I find that the presentation of the veggie is most important. For example, my birds won't touch a solid veggie that isn't shredded up or chopped up . For those who don't like veggies I chop up some broccoli, bell peppers, jalapeno, corn, pears, green beans -- and put in into a cornbread muffin mix and serve that way.

Also an option is sprouting! As in letting a high quality seed mix germinate and grow a little root, it's just super nutritious for birds and parakeets like them a lot.
 

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
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How long have you had them? My rescued bird took over a year before she would try spinach.
 
Nov 12, 2019
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Keep trying to offer veggies. That’s the only way they will eventually try it. Skye took what felt like forever to decide that he was going to try anything. Sometimes it’s the way it’s offered(raw, cooked, cut up, whole, in a bowl, on a flat plate, hanging, etc.) and sometimes they just don’t realize it’s edible. What worked for Skye was hanging (stabbing) a piece of romaine lettuce on his favorite perch for several days. Obviously not the same piece, we changed it twice a day every day, then he somehow decided to try a nibble (or more likely pick the offending piece of green stuff off his perch) and now romaine lettuce is his favorite, after millet that is. Then again, he’s only tried romaine and kale so far...but seriously, KEEP TRYING. Eventually they have to try it. And eventually they will like something they have tried.


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Lunalie

Lunalie

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Jan 28, 2020
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LaGrange KY
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Thanks!! :)

I've had them a week now? They will eat seeds out of my hand and anything with seeds on it.
 

Jasmine333

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Hi! So I have got my parakeets leafy greens, corn... even tried crackers and they don't seem to want to try anything other than what they are used to.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Do you think they will eventually try it?
Best I can get them to do is open there mouth and nip at it and that's, that.

What do you all recommend?

Thanks in advance! :)

My parakeet is a store-bought bird too, and neither did he seem interested in fresh fruit or vegetables. So from Petco where I got him I got something called Bird Greens by Kaytee. It is a blend of alfalfa, parsley, kale, chia seed and sweet potatoes and Oliver likes it. You might see if your pet store has it.

Many times after I put a pinch of it in with his regular food he goes and gets some, then it's back to the toys and mirrors.
 
Last edited:

fiddlejen

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My budgies like broccoli tops a lot. probably because the tops of broccoli look like seeds. also they like lettuce clipped around their cage. it did take a few weeks or months of trying, though, before they would Try the veggies. Also, they won't eat veggies if I chop them and put in their bowl … they Only want Seeds in their Bowls. Originally I diced the veggies tiny and put on paper plates in the bottoms of their cages, and they tried them that way. The ones they liked, I clip around their cage, and now they like them best that way. But, it was a process over a few months.
 

Rozalka

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My budgies like broccoli tops a lot. probably because the tops of broccoli look like seeds. also they like lettuce clipped around their cage. it did take a few weeks or months of trying, though, before they would Try the veggies. Also, they won't eat veggies if I chop them and put in their bowl … they Only want Seeds in their Bowls. Originally I diced the veggies tiny and put on paper plates in the bottoms of their cages, and they tried them that way. The ones they liked, I clip around their cage, and now they like them best that way. But, it was a process over a few months.
On each side about feeding budgies (not general parrots) I had Red they shouldn' t eat broccoli

Wysłane z mojego Redmi 5 przy użyciu Tapatalka
 

noodles123

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Also, without allowing them to eat what you have eaten (no spit sharing/eating after you directly), model eating what you want them to eat. Sometimes the novelty of a plate and seeing you will help but it still will take time.
 
Last edited:

fiddlejen

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Sunny the Sun Conure (sept '18, gotcha 3/'19). Mr Jefferson Budgie & Mrs Calliope Budgie (albino) (nov'18 & jan'19). Summer 2021 Baby Budgies: Riker (Green); Patchouli, Keye, & Tiny (blue greywings).
My budgies like broccoli tops a lot. probably because the tops of broccoli look like seeds. also they like lettuce clipped around their cage. it did take a few weeks or months of trying, though, before they would Try the veggies. Also, they won't eat veggies if I chop them and put in their bowl … they Only want Seeds in their Bowls. Originally I diced the veggies tiny and put on paper plates in the bottoms of their cages, and they tried them that way. The ones they liked, I clip around their cage, and now they like them best that way. But, it was a process over a few months.
On each side about feeding budgies (not general parrots) I had Red they shouldn' t eat broccoli

Wysłane z mojego Redmi 5 przy użyciu Tapatalka

Hi I've been trying to look this up but I cannot find anything except that Broccoli is Good for budgies. In the case of my own pellet-rejecting budgies, Broccoli is one of the few veggies they like -- (they love it, in fact) -- so, I would hate to take it away unnecessarily.

Searching the internet for "Broccoli" and "Budgies" the ONLy links I can find All say Broccoli is Good.

Do you have links to references for any controversy / problems about Broccoli?

??? (thanks in advance)
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
My budgies like broccoli tops a lot. probably because the tops of broccoli look like seeds. also they like lettuce clipped around their cage. it did take a few weeks or months of trying, though, before they would Try the veggies. Also, they won't eat veggies if I chop them and put in their bowl … they Only want Seeds in their Bowls. Originally I diced the veggies tiny and put on paper plates in the bottoms of their cages, and they tried them that way. The ones they liked, I clip around their cage, and now they like them best that way. But, it was a process over a few months.
On each side about feeding budgies (not general parrots) I had Red they shouldn' t eat broccoli

Wysłane z mojego Redmi 5 przy użyciu Tapatalka

Hi I've been trying to look this up but I cannot find anything except that Broccoli is Good for budgies. In the case of my own pellet-rejecting budgies, Broccoli is one of the few veggies they like -- (they love it, in fact) -- so, I would hate to take it away unnecessarily.

Searching the internet for "Broccoli" and "Budgies" the ONLy links I can find All say Broccoli is Good.

Do you have links to references for any controversy / problems about Broccoli?

??? (thanks in advance)
I know a few years back I read to limit cruciferous veg--I have read this a lot and broccoli is in that family-- but I will have to find a source to confirm it again. It may have been misinformation or an outdated belief..DK
 
Last edited:

Rozalka

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May 23, 2018
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My budgies like broccoli tops a lot. probably because the tops of broccoli look like seeds. also they like lettuce clipped around their cage. it did take a few weeks or months of trying, though, before they would Try the veggies. Also, they won't eat veggies if I chop them and put in their bowl … they Only want Seeds in their Bowls. Originally I diced the veggies tiny and put on paper plates in the bottoms of their cages, and they tried them that way. The ones they liked, I clip around their cage, and now they like them best that way. But, it was a process over a few months.
On each side about feeding budgies (not general parrots) I had Red they shouldn' t eat broccoli

Wysłane z mojego Redmi 5 przy użyciu Tapatalka

Hi I've been trying to look this up but I cannot find anything except that Broccoli is Good for budgies. In the case of my own pellet-rejecting budgies, Broccoli is one of the few veggies they like -- (they love it, in fact) -- so, I would hate to take it away unnecessarily.

Searching the internet for "Broccoli" and "Budgies" the ONLy links I can find All say Broccoli is Good.

Do you have links to references for any controversy / problems about Broccoli?

??? (thanks in advance)
No, I don't, they all were in Polish. They all had information that cabbage isn't good and Everything from this genus. They never mentioned a broccoli but this is cabbage genus afaik. Maybe I missunderstood them all, they never mentioned a broccoli both - good or not so thought they mentioned it as cabbage genus. In the past my dad gave my budgies a broccoli without my knowledge and they hated it

Wysłane z mojego Redmi 5 przy użyciu Tapatalka
 

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