How to encourage cockatiel to eat fresh foods

Niether of my cockatiels want to eat anything other than seed (typical) and it's becoming worrisome mostly because I had an incident where I though one was eggbound not too long ago, thankfully everything was okay though, but in order to avoid situations like that I really want them eating fresh fruits and other good stuff. Every time Ive tried they reject it, sometimes I can sneak them in their mix if I crush them up really tiny- right now I have calcium supplements and vitamin drops (I use those sparingly though, I dont want to overdo it and kill them) Im taking my rats to the vet soon and will be asking for advice but if anyone has any experience or tips please let me know, thanks

maddieatrisk said:

Niether of my cockatiels want to eat anything other than seed (typical) and it's becoming worrisome mostly because I had an incident where I though one was eggbound not too long ago, thankfully everything was okay though, but in order to avoid situations like that I really want them eating fresh fruits and other good stuff. Every time Ive tried they reject it, sometimes I can sneak them in their mix if I crush them up really tiny- right now I have calcium supplements and vitamin drops (I use those sparingly though, I dont want to overdo it and kill them) Im taking my rats to the vet soon and will be asking for advice but if anyone has any experience or tips please let me know, thanks

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Hi again Maddie

My 'tiel BB is only 8 months old...there 'bouts lol..if you look at my signature you will see that I got him in April when he was four months old.

Yes you are correct about eating seed! The breeder I got him from informed me that BB ate Zupreem fruity pellets,and a "special" Cockatiel seed mix that he formulated himself < he has been in business over 36 years and breeds/hand raises/feeds everything from 'tiels to Macs and everything in between> So I trust his advice.

BB would NOT try anything new...no fruits...no veggies..and it got me worried a bit. However, he loved hanging with me..and one day I had him on my shoulder and I was on the 'puter reading parrot forum stuff and I had my "lunch" with me. Now Beebs just loves to run arounf on my computer desk...jumping on the key board...nibbling at the keys...chewing the mouse wire etc. I had gotten my lunch from the local supermarket..it was a single chicken leg/thigh with smashed 'tatoes,gravy and broccoli heads.
I had the plastic bowl thingie on my desk and Beebs jumped off my shoulder to go investigate. I didn't stop him. And he started to EAT my lunch lol..I was plesently surprised as I watched and let him sample the goodies.
He nibbled on the broc..ate some of the smashed..even nibbled at the chicken leg. I didn't shoo him away..then he decided he was done and walked thru the 'tatoes and gravy and flew onto my shoulder! lol

Now he wont touch any of that stuff if its in his nummy bowl in his cage. HOWEVER..if I make his own little plate,and set it down in front of me like I was eating it he helps himself. So far he eats,with NO problems..corn niblets..sweet peas..broccoli..smashed and sweet 'tatoes..a little watermelon and 'nanna and red grape.

So why not try having "lunch" with your gang? People on here have told me that 'tiels like to eat with their "family' and I can say from experience its true. give it a shot ya never know

Jim

I don't know if this will work with a smaller bird, but this is what my vet suggestion with my veggie-hating macaw:

She eats a mix of pasta, beans, rice and veggies, but eats around the veggie pieces. She goes for the pasta first and then begrudgingly eats the rest. My vet suggested coating her regular mix with a little baby food puree (jarred or homemade). She can't pick around it, as it sticks to the pasta and rice. It's gotten her used to the different flavors, and now, after a couple weeks, she's tentatively nibbling on real veggies. Is it possible to mix a little puree in with her seed? It's got to be pretty thin, btw, to stick enough that the bird can't shake it off.

I second eating with your tiel. Mine are so wierd. I can put a noodle on my shoulder for Jet and he will take the one thats on the way to my mouth instead.
Mine think pellets in their dish are not edible but the ones on my bed are.

Also dont give up it took months for mine to finally start eating some foods. Initially they ignored it. Then threw it and now eat it.

Oh funny note, anything I eat they want, even my tums lol. I actually gave them a tiny bite once. Now they come over to investigate but dont try to eat them.

I'd have a go at raw broccoli, carrot, apple, snap peas all whizzed up fine in a processor and then offer this as first meal of the day with a tiny sprinkle of seeds on top. If they want the seed they have no alternative but taste the veggies. Chosen slightly sweeter ones to start off. You have to be as stubborn as they are but ensure they do not starve. Do this every day as see how it goes? It takes a while but it is possible to get there eventually.

As an aside have you tried Cockatiel Nutriberries - seed coated pellet balls? They are a good half way house to getting them used to a pelleted diet and help to fill in some of those nutritional gaps.

Also dont give up it took months for mine to finally start eating some foods. Initially they ignored it. Then threw it and now eat it


Same here with BB...as I type, he is noshing on scrambled egg,some peas and carrot and a little bit of noodles with alfredo sauce on them


Jim

AmyMyBlueFront said:

So why not try having "lunch" with your gang? People on here have told me that 'tiels like to eat with their "family' and I can say from experience its true. give it a shot ya never know

Jim

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Sorry for the late response, but thank you that worked a bit theyre more open to eating foods other than seeds now- I caught one of them nibbling on a dorito she found on the floor (kids are messy) thought that was pretty funny, not that I let her have it

As others have suggested, they are flock-eaters and really enjoy your presence during mealtime. Another suggestion - if you haven't - is to remove all seeds/pellets while fruits/veggies are provided. The goal is NOT to deprive them of nutrition but rather encourage them to try and enjoy something new. Since fresh food has a fairly short shelf-life depending on temperature, they won't be without food should they stonewall and refuse your offering.

Another vote to eating with your bird... I had the same nightmare when my bare eye too came home about 3 years of age. She had never seen fresh foods, and would not touch anything in the cage. But, I started bringing her to the table and it became a game of her 'stealing' food. So, became the norm that I would have a pile of Ivory food on my plate for her to 'steal', she loved eating what she thought all of us were eating and she quickly found her favorites.

Do your tiels enjoy shredding things? Hanging large pieces of greens in the cage as a 'toy' to shred. We do this all the time at the shelter for the large walk in aviary with the budgies and tiels, we have full pieces of different greens - kale, collards, romaine, chard, etc. The birds shred and eat, so its kinda like a game!

Another thing you can do is whatever the favorite treat or food, mix it in. Start with the simple stuff that most birds love like cooked mashed yams / sweet potatoes. Sprinkle some seed on top. Then once they are eating that, add another new item like pieces of green peppers. With smaller birds, a fine chop in the bird might work better. And add cooked rice or lentils in too. Along tho lines, a great intro to fresh foods that works with a lot of birds of all sizes are sprouts. Start with the easy stuff like regular lentils (tan color, not red ones, they tend to mush). When the sprouts are about half inch long, offer to your birds. And these are something you can share with your birds, if you like veggies and such, you might find lentil sprouts are a delicious treat. Around our house, my daughter and I eat as much for lentil and chick pea (garbanzo) sprouts as the birds do!!

And just keep trying... that's the other key, don't give up