Young Sunny Diet Help

I tried to find more info by searching, but I didn’t come up with much, so please feel free to point me to any previous threads with the info I’m seeking!

I brought home my new baby yesterday, he’s about 8 weeks. He’s fully weaned, eating a mix from the breeder of seeds, dried corn, and some colorful pieces that appear to be the Kaytee Exact Rainbow (but I’m not certain). He hadn’t had any fruits or veggies from the breeder yet.

I want to transition him to ZuPreem pellets, and we’ve offered a few different fruits and veggies yesterday and today, with some minor success. Just enough for him to get a taste and then he’s over it.

I assume I should slowly transition to new pellets, mixing a larger and larger portion into the seed mix until it’s all pellets, similar to switching dog food brands?

Is there a time that young parrots are too young for fruits and veggies after weaning? Are there best practices for introducing new produce, or is it kind of trial and error?

I’m open to any and all suggestions [emoji16] thanks in advance!


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

I don't think it's good for them to eat pellets only and no seed at all. Also, I wouldn't really change much right away; the little guy is trying to adjust to his new home and it's stressful enough. You can maybe try switching pellet brands later on?
Anyway, my guys have never really taken to pellets. Remi grabs them by his foot kind of like a handful and tosses them around. Petey runs from them like it's plague. So, they are eating a good seed mix, some nuts and dry fruit, some veggies, and they get some fruit too. They are still alive, lol.

This is an important time for nutrition, as your bird is still growing. Yes get those veggies in the diet. Offer lot and lots of stuff. Babies are programed to learn and try new things right now. It's the best time to start healthy habits!!
Socializing is really important too, things change fast with birds. If you want a harness trained bird start that now to

Weaning article , first six months very important
https://theparrotuniversity.com/arthandfeeding3

Mile stones
Socialization is the process by which the bird acquires its social experience and survival skills. For the baby parrot to become a balanced adult, the same level of attention must be given to its psychological development then its physical development. The young parrot needs to receive an acceptable level of socialization to be able to evolve in its environment.
http://www.parrot-parrots.com/important-stages-life-parrot.php

Two great articles worth a read
https://www.windycityparrot.com/blog/2010/04/13/flight-important-parrots/#ixzz62HloSvKV

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

Laurasea said:

This is an important time for nutrition, as your bird is still growing. Yes get those veggies in the diet. Offer lot and lots of stuff. Babies are programed to learn and try new things right now. It's the best time to start healthy habits!!
Socializing is really important too, things change fast with birds. If you want a harness trained bird start that now to

Weaning article , first six months very important
https://theparrotuniversity.com/arthandfeeding3

Mile stones
Socialization is the process by which the bird acquires its social experience and survival skills. For the baby parrot to become a balanced adult, the same level of attention must be given to its psychological development then its physical development. The young parrot needs to receive an acceptable level of socialization to be able to evolve in its environment.
http://www.parrot-parrots.com/important-stages-life-parrot.php

Two great articles worth a read
https://www.windycityparrot.com/blog/2010/04/13/flight-important-parrots/#ixzz62HloSvKV

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

Click to expand...

Thank you for the articles, I’ll definitely give them a read!


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

You are welcome
Except from first article, might want to do this
"Important: Any time a young weaned parrot changes homes, it should be offered formula for a few days. Even a baby that is completely independent with high self-esteem will benefit from the nurturing component of handfeeding."

You can find baby food formula at pet store. Be careful with handling prepared formula spoils quickly, keep everything very very clean

Babies are weaned too fast in general, they would still be getting an occasional feeding from parents and lots of help finding and eating food. Hand feed the pellets and veggies and stuff too, or play with food with him while he is eating. Lots of flock learning and extended learning happens with these intelligent creatures.

Also are you aware of all the household dangers to parrots? Teflon, nonstick cookware, ironing boards cleaning supplies can all be deadly to parrots. Throw away all non stick cookware!!! Use cast iron, glass , stainless steel.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/12857-top-10-hazards-companion-birds.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/449-toxic-list-our-birds.html

Laurasea said:

Also are you aware of all the household dangers to parrots? Teflon, nonstick cookware, ironing boards cleaning supplies can all be deadly to parrots. Throw away all non stick cookware!!! Use cast iron, glass , stainless steel.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/12857-top-10-hazards-companion-birds.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/449-toxic-list-our-birds.html

Click to expand...

Yes, fortunately I’ve had a parrot before (many years ago), and I do know about the many dangers of cookware. Fortunately, we had a stockpile of cast iron, and are using that until I pick out a new stainless steel set. The pans we purchased last year are not safe [emoji30] but it’s the perfect excuse for a new set [emoji48]


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

Laurasea said:

Also are you aware of all the household dangers to parrots? Teflon, nonstick cookware, ironing boards cleaning supplies can all be deadly to parrots. Throw away all non stick cookware!!! Use cast iron, glass , stainless steel.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/12857-top-10-hazards-companion-birds.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/449-toxic-list-our-birds.html

Click to expand...

Also wanted to add: perfect excuse to continue refusing to iron [emoji81]


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

RemiBird said:

I don't think it's good for them to eat pellets only and no seed at all. Also, I wouldn't really change much right away; the little guy is trying to adjust to his new home and it's stressful enough. You can maybe try switching pellet brands later on?

Anyway, my guys have never really taken to pellets. Remi grabs them by his foot kind of like a handful and tosses them around. Petey runs from them like it's plague. So, they are eating a good seed mix, some nuts and dry fruit, some veggies, and they get some fruit too. They are still alive, lol.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info I don’t want him to eat pellets only, I just want to make sure he’s eating a high quality diet that I can control more easily because it wouldn’t be an unknown mixture (though, I imagine this mix is good enough quality, I just don’t think I could recreate it). I don’t plan to switch him immediately, as I have a gallon of the mix he’s been eating and want to slowly transition him. I figure I’ll start slowly adding a new food to his current mix until he’s eating only the new food (but I’m waiting to start mixing until speaking with our avian vet). All that being said - if he runs from the pellets like your Petey, then something else will have to be selected [emoji81] I can do all of the planning I want, but Loki could foil all of that!

I had rescued sugar gliders for about 10 years, so I am at least familiar with the ridiculously picky eating of exotic animals, and I think the tedium of the gliders has (hopefully) prepared me for parrot personality, but I could be severely wrong [emoji28]


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

Hi there! Congrats on your new sun. When I got my sun, she was primarily on a seed diet. I slowly transitioned her over to pellets, just like you describe. At first she wouldn't touch the pellets, but she slowly developed a taste for them. Now she mostly eats a combination of two different pellets, and she gets seeds as treats. I use seeds to reward good behavior (giving her a small palmful when she has been quiet for a while) and if I need to keep her busy for a while. I like to hide them in some of her foraging toys, as it takes her longer to eat them and gives her more enrichment. I have had very little success with vegetables. Fruits she likes and gets as treats, but making chop for her has been hard.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

You don't have to make chop.
Give a handful of raw green beans. Use frozen veggies from the store that you thaw out a few a day. If you eat salad share some lettace. If you eat veggies , cut a piece and share with your bird.
Get those little red hot chili peppers and give a while one to your bird. Veggies are so important. And easy to give.

When I was hand feeding produce this morning, Loki ate all of the broccoli I offered, until I offered apple, and then the broccoli was old news. So I think I’ll continue to offer veggies first, just to try to make sure he gets those in, and then maybe I’ll be able to identify some favorite veggies.


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

My Sunny likes Harrisons pellets, which I believe are reasonably good for her. I mix them in with her regular food, and she eats some of them. (Her regular food is a good seed-mix, mixed with veggie-mix from Avian Naturals.) She also has a separate small dish of pellets-only, which usually runs out & gets replenished a couple times per week. (She seems to like the pellets best as a random snack.) I fill up her ring-a-bell with green beans and clip her favorite produce (carrots, orange-bell-peppers-etc) around the cage as chew toys; some clearly goes inside her and most ends up in little pieces on the cage-floor.

fiddlejen said:

My Sunny likes Harrisons pellets, which I believe are reasonably good for her. I mix them in with her regular food, and she eats some of them. (Her regular food is a good seed-mix, mixed with veggie-mix from Avian Naturals.) She also has a separate small dish of pellets-only, which usually runs out & gets replenished a couple times per week. (She seems to like the pellets best as a random snack.) I fill up her ring-a-bell with green beans and clip her favorite produce (carrots, orange-bell-peppers-etc) around the cage as chew toys; some clearly goes inside her and most ends up in little pieces on the cage-floor.

Click to expand...

Those are great ideas to tuck away (clipping veggies around and whatnot)! What do you use for a clip?


Loki - Sun Conure [emoji169]

These are the best clips:
https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-81682-Cage-Hold-All/dp/B0006JM21U
At the moment looks like amazon price is good but looks like regular price high. I got mine locally inexpensive at a discount pet supplies shop. The one drawback is they're a little hard to re-position. But, they hold produce well & firmly.

I also make generous use of these clips, which can be found in various sizes & designs at dollar stores & basically anywhere pretty cheaply:
[/url]https://www.amazon.com/Scunci-No-Slip-Clips-3-5cm-Count/dp/B00H95T0Z0/ref=sr_1_2?hvadid=78065400621863&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=scunci+claw+clip&qid=1575592572&s=beauty&sr=1-2[/url]

This is the ring-a-bell, in which I thread green beans thru the holes:
https://www.amazon.com/JW-Pet-Company-Activitoys-Hol-ee/dp/B0002DJVAA/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=bird+toy+bell&qid=1575592897&sr=8-10