Refusal To Try Fruits

ChocolateChipCookiez · Aug 2, 2019

Cookie, my cockatiel, refuses to try fruits. It's pretty easy to get him to try vegetables, but when it comes to fruits, he never even bothers to take a bite.

When I try to get him to eat veggies I just give it to him as a treat or put it in his food. I tried using the same technique with some fruits but he just refuses to try it. He does show some curiosity when I'm eating it, but when I offer it to him, he goes away.

I've tried strawberries, bananas, apples, and grapes. He refused to try any of them. Though he did chew on the banana peel.

Any tips on how I can get him to eat fruits?

A little off-topic question: will it be okay to give Cookie some radish?

:grey:

Jen5200 · Aug 2, 2019

My cockatiel has always refused fruits, she’ll eat greens though. Nothing that I’ve tried has gotten her to try them - I figure that she probably doesn’t need the sugar and I don’t worry about it.

Scott · Aug 3, 2019

At least you've won 80% of the battle as the veggie requirement is far greater than fruits.

If you can make smoothies with a blender, might try one with mostly veggies and gradually add some fruit. You'll want to make it "bird safe" without added sugars and thickeners. Most of my birds love thick liquids served with a spoon or in a small bowl.

Talven · Aug 3, 2019

Most cockatiels aren't interested in fruit at all. My theory is that originating here in Australia where there isn't much in the way of indigenous fruits they never evolved eating it so have no interest. It's just not part of the wild birds diet and that has been passed on to the caged ones.

ChocolateChipCookiez · Aug 4, 2019

Thank you for the replies

I was wondering if not showing any interest in fruits (or sweet things in general) was an unusual thing or not. I'm glad it isn't.

Also, I have 2 questions:
Will it be alright to give Cookie some radish?
Is chewing on banana peels bad for birds?

Scott · Aug 4, 2019

An old thread discussing radishes: http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies-parakeets/49431-radishes-ok-budgies.html

Unsure about banana peels, but would not let a bird nibble on the outer skin.... difficult to wash, potential for pesticides or residue. I'd imagine the inner flesh might be OK, let's see if others have knowledge.

fiddlejen · Aug 4, 2019

ChocolateChipCookiez said:
Thank you for the replies

I was wondering if not showing any interest in fruits (or sweet things in general) was an unusual thing or not. I'm glad it isn't.

Also, I have 2 questions:
Will it be alright to give Cookie some radish?
Is chewing on banana peels bad for birds?

My Budgies and my Sun Conure all love radishes. They eat them daily, most days, in varying quantities, and seem to do quite well.

My Budgies won't eat any fruits either, and my Sun is QUITE Picky about them. (Although, she does love a little segment of orange or small spoonful of orange juice now & then.)

(Sorry, I don't know about banana peel since my birdies all detest banana anything.)

Hope this helps!

Talven · Aug 5, 2019

I would probably not let them have the banana peel. Too many chemicals are sprayed on our fruits these days. Even washing them some is still absorbed into the skin. Aside from that I don't think it would hurt them. Pretty sure I've seen parrots eat their way into a banana or two when I lived on a plantation in Coffs Harbour. Generally they'd ignore the skin for the fruit though.

Doffy · Aug 24, 2019

As Talven said, it isn't part of their natural diet.

My boys tolerate dried natural banana, and will share an apple or pear with me (but toss it if it is offered in bowl etc)

Refusal To Try Fruits

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