Meeko hates his Veggies

Meekmeister · Nov 6, 2016

Hello! I have had my bird Meeko and white-bellied caique for about a year, he is 6 years old and hates veggies. He was on pretty crappy food before, some colorful seed mix. He is now on Harrisons organic small pellet food. He was never introduced to veggies or fruits in his old home and I'm working with him everyday to introduce veggies. All he does with veggies in fruits is rips them apart, I don't think he likes how wet they are. And I don't want to rely on dried fruits and veggies because they re just high concentrated sugar to me, and doesn't seem like the best option.
I was wondering for possibly an organic powder or supplement that would substitute for veggies and fruits for now, I want to make sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs. Also curious how beneficial calcium powder is and how much should be given, he doesn't like cuttle bone too much. I heard calcium should only be worried about for females and Meeko is male.
Thank you everyone!
P.S not so sure how to reply yet, I am very new!

plumsmum2005 · Nov 6, 2016

Hi have you tried sprouting that crappy colourful seed mix as a start to accepting fresh foods. Sprouting offers excellent nutrition. Dried fruits and veggies rehydrated with a little warm water might be accepted. The thing is start the ball rolling and refine it as it starts to gain momentum. Have you tried warm mush ie like he had as a baby? if liked coat other things in it.

Meekmeister · Nov 6, 2016

Well I have only had him for a year, he hasn't seen that old food and I would rather not reintroduce it to him, it took a few months to get him on the new food. Again, only had him for a year so I haven't tried mushing it up but I will try that next, good idea!
Thank you~

plumsmum2005 · Nov 6, 2016

Here have a look at this

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/57416-sprouting-made-easy.html

Puck · Nov 6, 2016

Lucille hates veggies, too, though she's still a baby. I even tried holding off on giving her pellets until the afternoon (I usually feed in the morning) and giving her a bowl full of veggies, but she refused. Of course, she is a HATER of all change, so I am guessing it will just take time. How long have you been working to introduce him to veggies? He may just need lots and lots of time. Also, I don't think adding just a bit of colorful seed to the veggies will get him hooked on it again, especially if you blend it well.

Meekmeister · Nov 6, 2016

Oh wow, that's pretty cool! Thanks a bunch I will get started on that!

Meekmeister · Nov 6, 2016

Puck, I have only been for the past few months. I add some to another bowl in his cage and leave it out when he is out and offering it to him when I am eating it,he just shake his head and tears it apart lol maybe Meeko is a hater of change too! Do you suggest I offer only veggies and fruits in the morning and but the pellets in later?

Loko · Nov 6, 2016

Meekmeister said:
Hello! I have had my bird Meeko and white-bellied caique for about a year, he is 6 years old and hates veggies. He was on pretty crappy food before, some colorful seed mix. He is now on Harrisons organic small pellet food. He was never introduced to veggies or fruits in his old home and I'm working with him everyday to introduce veggies. All he does with veggies in fruits is rips them apart, I don't think he likes how wet they are. And I don't want to rely on dried fruits and veggies because they re just high concentrated sugar to me, and doesn't seem like the best option.
I was wondering for possibly an organic powder or supplement that would substitute for veggies and fruits for now, I want to make sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs. Also curious how beneficial calcium powder is and how much should be given, he doesn't like cuttle bone too much. I heard calcium should only be worried about for females and Meeko is male.
Thank you everyone!
P.S not so sure how to reply yet, I am very new!

First, about the calcium powder - I wouldnt use it unless instructed by the vet. Vitamins and minerals can also be over dosed as well as under, so if everything is good with him I would not use it as the supplements are usually quite potent and accidentally using too much could have a lot of bad effects.
About the veggies. Loco is also not so fond of veggies. What Ive noticed is, if something I introduce is not the same "shape" as his usual food, he doesnt really like to touch it. Something that might help is finding one veggie he likes, sweet potato works for me since it is sweet and easy to eat when mushy. Grind down some veggies he wont eat to a fine fine chop or even mash. Then mix in double the amount of what he will eat, ie sweet potato. It will have the general taste of the sweet potatoe but he will also be consuming the rest. Slowly cut back until they are all even, if he takes to it, and then hopefully he will eat it all in a normal chop. Im finding out its also a matter of trial and error of what he likes and doesnt like, and hopefully with what I said above, some things he doesnt like he will begin to like normally.

What also sometimes helps is mixing them with normal food so that his beak is going to have to touch them while getting his preferred food. Eventually he might start getting curious and take a bite and like it. I usually leave the pellets for him for him to eat when he gets hingry and give fruits and veggies in the morning and again in the late afternoon depending on the day. I wouldnt only leave veggies and remove his normal food for ling though, some birds are stubborn enough to starve rather than try new food!

plumsmum2005 · Nov 7, 2016

Support Loko's comments re supplements and Sweet Potato is a winner in our house too. My Galah loves to be involved in mealtime so if you have no salt cooked veggies offer some of it to your bird, it is a way to get some into them. Once they accept the taste it is easier.

Yes I have a Galah that can be stubborn and will starve himself. Not a good situation to put your bird in IMO.

wrench13 · Nov 7, 2016

Sweet potato for the win. THat's what got Salty started on veggies. Now, when its 'tater nite, he goes nuts. That and pumpkin are his favorite veggie. Oddly enough, he loves chop too, mixed wit a small amount of Avicakes.

Meekmeister · Nov 7, 2016

Interesting, didn't even think of sweet potato or pumpkin. I have both so I'll try it out!
Thank you!

Meekmeister · Nov 7, 2016

Loko said:
Meekmeister said:

Hello! I have had my bird Meeko and white-bellied caique for about a year, he is 6 years old and hates veggies. He was on pretty crappy food before, some colorful seed mix. He is now on Harrisons organic small pellet food. He was never introduced to veggies or fruits in his old home and I'm working with him everyday to introduce veggies. All he does with veggies in fruits is rips them apart, I don't think he likes how wet they are. And I don't want to rely on dried fruits and veggies because they re just high concentrated sugar to me, and doesn't seem like the best option.
I was wondering for possibly an organic powder or supplement that would substitute for veggies and fruits for now, I want to make sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs. Also curious how beneficial calcium powder is and how much should be given, he doesn't like cuttle bone too much. I heard calcium should only be worried about for females and Meeko is male.
Thank you everyone!
P.S not so sure how to reply yet, I am very new!

Click to expand...

First, about the calcium powder - I wouldnt use it unless instructed by the vet. Vitamins and minerals can also be over dosed as well as under, so if everything is good with him I would not use it as the supplements are usually quite potent and accidentally using too much could have a lot of bad effects.
About the veggies. Loco is also not so fond of veggies. What Ive noticed is, if something I introduce is not the same "shape" as his usual food, he doesnt really like to touch it. Something that might help is finding one veggie he likes, sweet potato works for me since it is sweet and easy to eat when mushy. Grind down some veggies he wont eat to a fine fine chop or even mash. Then mix in double the amount of what he will eat, ie sweet potato. It will have the general taste of the sweet potatoe but he will also be consuming the rest. Slowly cut back until they are all even, if he takes to it, and then hopefully he will eat it all in a normal chop. Im finding out its also a matter of trial and error of what he likes and doesnt like, and hopefully with what I said above, some things he doesnt like he will begin to like normally.

What also sometimes helps is mixing them with normal food so that his beak is going to have to touch them while getting his preferred food. Eventually he might start getting curious and take a bite and like it. I usually leave the pellets for him for him to eat when he gets hingry and give fruits and veggies in the morning and again in the late afternoon depending on the day. I wouldnt only leave veggies and remove his normal food for ling though, some birds are stubborn enough to starve rather than try new food!

Thank you very much, I will do that with his food. Hopefully all of these things will work! I will update on how things work out, thanks again

Scott · Nov 7, 2016

Birds are flock eaters and Meeko may be stimulated if you eat some of the same foods in front of him. Make it a game.... have a small plate near you and try eating the veggies and fruits. Be verbal with "mmmm" sounds, bob your head up and down. Seriously!

Some favorites of my birds include sweet potato, yam, green peas, kidney/black/garbanzo beans, black-eyed peas, red/green/yellow peppers, edamame in the shell, apple, orange, banana, pomegranate, melon seeds. Other items not in the fruit/veggie family include cooked whole-wheat spiral noodles, oatmeal, Cheerios given as treats, bits of whole-grain bread.

Loko · Nov 7, 2016

Meekmeister said:
Loko said:

Meekmeister said:

Hello! I have had my bird Meeko and white-bellied caique for about a year, he is 6 years old and hates veggies. He was on pretty crappy food before, some colorful seed mix. He is now on Harrisons organic small pellet food. He was never introduced to veggies or fruits in his old home and I'm working with him everyday to introduce veggies. All he does with veggies in fruits is rips them apart, I don't think he likes how wet they are. And I don't want to rely on dried fruits and veggies because they re just high concentrated sugar to me, and doesn't seem like the best option.
I was wondering for possibly an organic powder or supplement that would substitute for veggies and fruits for now, I want to make sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs. Also curious how beneficial calcium powder is and how much should be given, he doesn't like cuttle bone too much. I heard calcium should only be worried about for females and Meeko is male.
Thank you everyone!
P.S not so sure how to reply yet, I am very new!

Click to expand...

First, about the calcium powder - I wouldnt use it unless instructed by the vet. Vitamins and minerals can also be over dosed as well as under, so if everything is good with him I would not use it as the supplements are usually quite potent and accidentally using too much could have a lot of bad effects.
About the veggies. Loco is also not so fond of veggies. What Ive noticed is, if something I introduce is not the same "shape" as his usual food, he doesnt really like to touch it. Something that might help is finding one veggie he likes, sweet potato works for me since it is sweet and easy to eat when mushy. Grind down some veggies he wont eat to a fine fine chop or even mash. Then mix in double the amount of what he will eat, ie sweet potato. It will have the general taste of the sweet potatoe but he will also be consuming the rest. Slowly cut back until they are all even, if he takes to it, and then hopefully he will eat it all in a normal chop. Im finding out its also a matter of trial and error of what he likes and doesnt like, and hopefully with what I said above, some things he doesnt like he will begin to like normally.

What also sometimes helps is mixing them with normal food so that his beak is going to have to touch them while getting his preferred food. Eventually he might start getting curious and take a bite and like it. I usually leave the pellets for him for him to eat when he gets hingry and give fruits and veggies in the morning and again in the late afternoon depending on the day. I wouldnt only leave veggies and remove his normal food for ling though, some birds are stubborn enough to starve rather than try new food!

Click to expand...

Thank you very much, I will do that with his food. Hopefully all of these things will work! I will update on how things work out, thanks again

I hope it works out! Take the other recommendation of eating together too, it works very well. I actually enjoy the chop I make too, its basically just a healthy salad of everything. If he sees you take a bite he mught want to also.

Scott · Nov 7, 2016

Oh, and never give up. Keep offering foods that may be tossed or ignored!

Today Alice, my female Citron had a breakthrough! She finally took a claw-full of oatmeal and ate it. I've had her for about 27 years, so you never know!!

Meekmeister · Nov 17, 2016

Don't worry I will not give up! Meeko is doing new things everyday! I ate some warm sweet potato in front of him because he does try stealing my food when I am eating near him... and it worked! He ate the sweet potato and another suggested the sprouting method, I put some on a plate and pretended to eat him, he walked onto my plate and dug in! Thank you for the advice, can't wait to see what other veggies I can get him to eat!

Meekmeister · Nov 17, 2016

Meekmeister said:
Loko said:

Meekmeister said:

Hello! I have had my bird Meeko and white-bellied caique for about a year, he is 6 years old and hates veggies. He was on pretty crappy food before, some colorful seed mix. He is now on Harrisons organic small pellet food. He was never introduced to veggies or fruits in his old home and I'm working with him everyday to introduce veggies. All he does with veggies in fruits is rips them apart, I don't think he likes how wet they are. And I don't want to rely on dried fruits and veggies because they re just high concentrated sugar to me, and doesn't seem like the best option.
I was wondering for possibly an organic powder or supplement that would substitute for veggies and fruits for now, I want to make sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs. Also curious how beneficial calcium powder is and how much should be given, he doesn't like cuttle bone too much. I heard calcium should only be worried about for females and Meeko is male.
Thank you everyone!
P.S not so sure how to reply yet, I am very new!

Click to expand...

First, about the calcium powder - I wouldnt use it unless instructed by the vet. Vitamins and minerals can also be over dosed as well as under, so if everything is good with him I would not use it as the supplements are usually quite potent and accidentally using too much could have a lot of bad effects.
About the veggies. Loco is also not so fond of veggies. What Ive noticed is, if something I introduce is not the same "shape" as his usual food, he doesnt really like to touch it. Something that might help is finding one veggie he likes, sweet potato works for me since it is sweet and easy to eat when mushy. Grind down some veggies he wont eat to a fine fine chop or even mash. Then mix in double the amount of what he will eat, ie sweet potato. It will have the general taste of the sweet potatoe but he will also be consuming the rest. Slowly cut back until they are all even, if he takes to it, and then hopefully he will eat it all in a normal chop. Im finding out its also a matter of trial and error of what he likes and doesnt like, and hopefully with what I said above, some things he doesnt like he will begin to like normally.

What also sometimes helps is mixing them with normal food so that his beak is going to have to touch them while getting his preferred food. Eventually he might start getting curious and take a bite and like it. I usually leave the pellets for him for him to eat when he gets hingry and give fruits and veggies in the morning and again in the late afternoon depending on the day. I wouldnt only leave veggies and remove his normal food for ling though, some birds are stubborn enough to starve rather than try new food!

Click to expand...

Thank you very much, I will do that with his food. Hopefully all of these things will work! I will update on how things work out, thanks again

He has taken a liking to the sweet potato and I have incorporated it into another bowl with his food and he eats it, I will start adding more veggies to that mixture, maybe some type of mashed bean. He is still a little iffy about the different texture on his beak but I will keep reinforcing it.
Thank you!

GaleriaGila · Nov 18, 2016

My story...

I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. 30-ish years ago, Harrison's was still a small company. My vet was actually able to talk to Dr. Harrison about my bird's species and status, and they decided on the High Potency. 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. 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.

Good for you, for researching and reaching out!

Meeko hates his Veggies

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