Feeding Habits

rangerktc1 · Nov 13, 2017

When I rescued Bianca 6 months ago, she was primarily on a seed/nut and nutri berry diet (not many fruits or veggies). I immediately put her on a pellet diet, but supplement everyday with nutri berries and fruits/veggies (with an occasional peanut as a treat). She actually switched over pretty well.

One thing I noticed that with the pellets, since they are fairly dry, when she would chew, she'd lose a lot. She'd maybe get half and the rest would fly off. About a week ago, i noticed something different. She would take a pellet out of her cup, scoot on over to her water cup and dunk the pellet (sometimes a double dunk-lol). When she eats the pellet it doesn't crack apart and she gets the whole thing down. She repeats this with every pellet. Has anyone else observed this feeding behavior?

itzjbean · Nov 13, 2017

Yep I've seen this before, the conure I used to own did this to his food, it made for a lot of daily water changes lol!

Oliver17 · Nov 13, 2017

Oliver does it all the time, and I change the water very often

Scott · Nov 13, 2017

Fantastic transition for Bianca!!

I've noticed a variety of pellet eating habits. Some eat them dry while others will moisten in the water bowl. Most take a bite or two, drop the rest, and grab another. I found by switching to the medium Zupreem size they are more efficient eaters.

LordTriggs · Nov 14, 2017

all the time from my conure

though he wouldn't do it with every pellet, just ones he wanted dunked. I would often come home to find a few pellets in his water bowl

Notdumasilook · Nov 14, 2017

The first time I saw something like this was 30 years ago. Cookie..my BFA would drop raisins in his water bowl.. let them soak and swell a bit, then fish them out and eat them. And he also dunks his supreme pellets as others described.

rangerktc1 · Nov 15, 2017

So it looks like this is fairly common. I never observed this in the 35 years I had my OWA. I was beginning to think Bianca was a genius :09:

clark_conure · Nov 15, 2017

rangerktc1 said:
When I rescued Bianca 6 months ago, she was primarily on a seed/nut and nutri berry diet (not many fruits or veggies). I immediately put her on a pellet diet, but supplement everyday with nutri berries and fruits/veggies (with an occasional peanut as a treat). She actually switched over pretty well.

One thing I noticed that with the pellets, since they are fairly dry, when she would chew, she'd lose a lot. She'd maybe get half and the rest would fly off. About a week ago, i noticed something different. She would take a pellet out of her cup, scoot on over to her water cup and dunk the pellet (sometimes a double dunk-lol). When she eats the pellet it doesn't crack apart and she gets the whole thing down. She repeats this with every pellet. Has anyone else observed this feeding behavior?

Clark does this with most his pellets...the question I have is how does she get the whole thing down? Clark probably looses half of even a mushy pellet because he's to stubborn to grow lips around his beak.

Siobhan · Nov 15, 2017

Rocky is totally a dunker. So is one of my Quakers, Jade. Makes a mess of their water dishes, but neither of them dunks every pellet they eat. Just sometimes. BUT ... if I dunk their pellets and offer them a selection of pre-softened pellets, they look at me as if I'm trying to poison them. Just change the water as often as necessary and don't try to help. LOL

rangerktc1 · Nov 15, 2017

clark_conure said:
rangerktc1 said:

When I rescued Bianca 6 months ago, she was primarily on a seed/nut and nutri berry diet (not many fruits or veggies). I immediately put her on a pellet diet, but supplement everyday with nutri berries and fruits/veggies (with an occasional peanut as a treat). She actually switched over pretty well.

One thing I noticed that with the pellets, since they are fairly dry, when she would chew, she'd lose a lot. She'd maybe get half and the rest would fly off. About a week ago, i noticed something different. She would take a pellet out of her cup, scoot on over to her water cup and dunk the pellet (sometimes a double dunk-lol). When she eats the pellet it doesn't crack apart and she gets the whole thing down. She repeats this with every pellet. Has anyone else observed this feeding behavior?

Click to expand...

Clark does this with most his pellets...the question I have is how does she get the whole thing down? Clark probably looses half of even a mushy pellet because he's to stubborn to grow lips around his beak.

Bianca doesn't eat them whole. After she dunks in her beak, she takes it by the claw. What she does is takes very small bites at a time. Because the pellets are moistened, they haven't been breaking like when dry. About 3 to 4 bites and she gets the whole thing down.

rangerktc1 · Nov 15, 2017

Siobhan said:
Rocky is totally a dunker. So is one of my Quakers, Jade. Makes a mess of their water dishes, but neither of them dunks every pellet they eat. Just sometimes. BUT ... if I dunk their pellets and offer them a selection of pre-softened pellets, they look at me as if I'm trying to poison them. Just change the water as often as necessary and don't try to help. LOL

Oh yes i change the water several times a day!

clark_conure · Nov 15, 2017

rangerktc1 said:
[
Bianca doesn't eat them whole. After she dunks in her beak, she takes it by the claw. What she does is takes very small bites at a time. Because the pellets are moistened, they haven't been breaking like when dry. About 3 to 4 bites and she gets the whole thing down.

Clark holds them too, in his left claw, I read that most parrots are left handed and clark seems to be....

but regardless he still looses about half, heck maybe it's a tenth but it's still a mess.....

:gcc:

Teddscau · Nov 15, 2017

I'm not sure what the heck my kākāriki do with their pellets, but I have to keep wiping splatters of pellet off the wall behind the waterdish on the left side of the room. I only ever see them eating dry pellets, so I'm not sure what it is that they're doing to plaster my wall with brown goop. Plus, my guys seem to like their pellets dry, as they've never touched pellets that I've pre-moistened.

GaleriaGila · Nov 15, 2017

You people and your smart birds, again!

The Rickeybird eats a pellet until it crumbles away, or until he feels like throwing it, or until somethig else catches his eye and he drops it! He eats Harrison's Fine now... used to eat Coarse, but wasted so much I downsized him. He still wasted, so I tried Extra Fine, but he developed a habit of swiping them out of the bowl with his beak AND feet, so I went back to Fine and there we are. The water is less for pellets and more for toys or splashing at our house.

tanyamitchellrn · Mar 10, 2018

My U2 is a dunker. [emoji4]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Carl_Power · Mar 10, 2018

Add water to the pellets. Mine will only eat them soggy x

Scott · Mar 10, 2018

Since my last post, the flock transitioned to Harrison's. The square pellet is a bit softer, and in addition to dunking, I'm finding them do some grinding. Once consumed, the bowl has a layer of course grains.

Feeding Habits

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itzjbean

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