Feeding - mess and waste, portion size

[strudel]

She seems to dig in to everything, she just doesn't seem to make much disappear (other than what goes from her dish onto the floor). As I said, I think I'm giving her too much, I think I have to get used to birdie sized portions, and not people sized.

 

[MonicaMc]

Here's the page that talks about using pistachio shells as a means to create foraging opportunities in the birds dishes.

Healthy Facts


Likewise, large pebbles might work as well as long as the bird can't eat them.

 

[MonicaMc]

And..... if you can make or get your hands on something like this (paper cups could work???), another way to make birds work for their food.

Pet Bird Foraging Toy: Super Bird Creations Bottoms Up Bird Toy

 

[Birdman666]

If you can get them..... mix some pistachio shells in with dry food.

Thanks I can buy some pistachios, and give her the shells, but they have a lot of salt on them usually, don't they? Do I need to wash them, or is the salt ok for her? Can she have the pistachio nuts as well for treats?

I'm not sure how I could easily spread her food about. I had her hanging "treat thing" up towards the middle of her cage (it opens at one end) but I've moved it up near the door because it was too difficult to put her grass in it. I probably need to rethink her cage organisation - I've set up her food and feeding perch right in front of the door, which makes access to the rest of her cage for me a pain because I have to go under her perch - but it's the easiest for access to her bowls... Maybe I'll put it up higher. Maybe make a longer one and put it diagonally instead of across.... hmmm. So many ideas, so little knowledge

I buy the roasted unsalted ones. I don't give them salted nuts.

 

[strudel]

Thanks, any time I've had pistachios they've been very salty. Hopefully they'll also have unsalted at the shop. That hanging foraging toy is similar to the one she has. She just grabs it, she doesn't have any issues with trying to get the lid up. I suppose I could just put some of her food in the foraging cups up the other end so she has to climb over there to have it.