Introducing New Foods To a Cockateil

Hello.
I just need a little advice concerning getting a bird to try new foods. Currently my cockatiel is on a vita-craft cockateil food but I'd really like him to try out some fresh foods, fruits and vegetables.
So far I've tried offering carrot, apple, banana and grapes along side his usual daily feed. Thing is, he goes straight for his usual food and leaves the fresh food.

Is there a way anyone has tried introducing fresh food to their bird that has worked?
I've thought about putting in the fresh food first, and leaving the pre-mixed food out for a while so he takes a look at the new foods.

And are there any particular food that seem popular with 'tels? I know every bird is different, but there might be some food that most birds like.

Many thanks for any advice you have!

One of the best ways to get a bird to eat or try fresh foods is to feed them first thing in the morning You can either take out the food bowl at night or put a minimal amount of food in case you are running late.

But first thing in the morning, offer one or two chopped up bits of veggies. Note that you want to limit the fruits and 90% of most of the fresh foods offered should be veggies. You can also try sprouting lentils (the regular tan ones you find at any grocery store). Many seed eaters take to lentils as they have the lentil attached to the sprout and seem to resemble seed a bit.

But time and patience is the most important thing! Just keep trying!

my Tiels all like birdie bread.
It has all kinds of good veggies and stuff in it.
Just made a fresh batch last night, lot of work but worth it.

texsize said:

my Tiels all like birdie bread.
It has all kinds of good veggies and stuff in it.
Just made a fresh batch last night, lot of work but worth it.

Click to expand...

Sounds interesting. I've seen bird bread mentioned in various sources. It's definitely something I'd consider trying since he enjoys foods he can tear at.
If you have a recipe you don't mind sharing it would be highly appreciated.

jenphilly said:

One of the best ways to get a bird to eat or try fresh foods is to feed them first thing in the morning You can either take out the food bowl at night or put a minimal amount of food in case you are running late.

But first thing in the morning, offer one or two chopped up bits of veggies. Note that you want to limit the fruits and 90% of most of the fresh foods offered should be veggies. You can also try sprouting lentils (the regular tan ones you find at any grocery store). Many seed eaters take to lentils as they have the lentil attached to the sprout and seem to resemble seed a bit.

But time and patience is the most important thing! Just keep trying!

Click to expand...

Thank you! I'll try out early morning feeding and the lentils.
He loves seeds so I could see the lentils being something he would be interested in.

Cockatiels don't usually eat a lot of fruit usually so if you stick to the veggies may be best. Also, how finely are you chopping them? Mine will not eat the chop if it is not bite sized.

When I got my birds they were on a mix of Zupreem fruit pellets and Kaytee Fiesta cockatiel seed mix.

To get them trying new foods, I mixed chopped up fruit and veggies with their dry food. It stuck together so they were sort of forced to try it.

Now they eat a pretty good variety -- they get a base of dry stuff (Zupreem fruit and Roudybush pellets with a little kaytee seed mix) and in another bowl they get a mix of CHOP (this week they are enjoying a mix of peas, carrots, corn, green beans, lima beans, and red green and yellow pepper). In the same chop bowl they are served sprouts, which are abundant in nutrients. I highly recommend you give sprouting a try. Here is a great article on sprouting by one of our members here. Cockatiels are normally ground foragers so it is something more natural for them. I was pleasantly surprised at how much my two tiels liked them.

Here are my ideas for somebody with diet questions. Just my three cents...
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.
Harrison's Bird Foods
Another couple of ideas...
My ol' man is an athlete and health nut. He actually EATS all the good stuff, so it's always around. I find that tossing various stuff into the food bowls at random is good... the variations and differences seem to stimulate curiosity and attention.
The other idea... if you can stand it (lol) EAT the stuff in front of the birds, yes. That encourages them. I have also found that if my ol' man eats stuff in front of the bird, the bird WANTS it for himself. Kinda a rivalry thing!

the basic recipe we use is.
3 to 4 boxes of corn bread muffin mix.
4-6 eggs.
sweet potatoes.
carrots.
bananas.
peas and or green beans.
1 cup peanut butter.

we change up the ingredients each time but that is how we make up our birdy bread.

GaleriaGila said:

Here are my ideas for somebody with diet questions. Just my three cents...
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day.

Click to expand...

That is a good idea, I may give that a try. Thank you for the suggestions! ^^

Sprouts and a chop type recipe would be the way to go!


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

MonicaMc said:

Sprouts and a chop type recipe would be the way to go!


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

Click to expand...

This should help out a lot, thank you!
He's a really picky eater. So far the only new food he has tried is dried banana chips, which is definitely a good training treat but not a main part of what I'll be feeding him.