First batch of chop!!!

[Ducatimom]

Today has been one happy day for this mom!!! Ducati finally started flying to me from his cage. I felt like I was cloud 9 after that!! Granted he was doing it because I was ignoring him since he was screaming at me while I was getting his dinner ready, the little turd, but I'll take it!! He even gives kisses and lets give him kisses on his chest when he's on my shoulder (he's so soft lol). Speaking of dinner I finally made my first batch of chop. We'll see if he likes it. He's kind of picked at it a little bit but hasn't really tried it yet. I was too excited not to post.

 

[Dinosrawr]

That's awesome! Looks yummy it's actually a lot of fun preparing food for birds, I've never understood why I have the ability to slave away for hours making something for my birds but when it comes to myself I'm like, "hmm, cereal is good". You'll have to experiment here and there until you discover something he'll go wild over! Avery and Shiko love their chop. They're great eaters, though

 

[Terry57]

That looks amazing! Sometimes I will make something new for the fids, and it isn't until the second or third time I serve it that they realize it is food, and hey! it tastes good

 

[Ducatimom]

I love cooking. Depending on how hot it is I'll usually try a different dish every day. Pinterest is amazing for that! I was telling Will that Ducati's food looked and smelled good enough that I even wanted to try it.

I just signed up for an organic produce delivery so I can get him the best stuff without having to spend a fortune at Whole Foods for organic produce.

That also poses another question. I'm supposed to get corn in the batch coming next week ( I was going to make two different kinds). Should i boil the corn first or is it ok to give to him raw?

 

[Selestine]

I give all my guys raw corn on a skewer and hang it in their cages. They go BONKERS.

 

[Terry57]

My guys love it raw on the cob and cooked as well

 

[Ducatimom]

Awesome! Thanks. I thought corn might be a weird veggie were you have to cook it first.

 

[Superxdude]

Can you post a recipe for that?

Thanks!

 

[Ducatimom]

http://www.parrotenrichment.com/images/ChopRecipe_2.pdf

I used couscous, just original with no salt or butter like it says to make it on the package. Then I had a red bell pepper, cilantro, and some broccoli for the produce and top it all off with some oats.

The couscous was easier to find than the stuff listed on here. I plan to try it with a bunch of different stuff. As you can see from the picture I was able to fill a gallon size ziplock bag with it. I got little portion pack baggies at walmart and filled them to 1/4 cup to make it easier on myself for meal times.

I used maybe about a cup of everything since I only have the one bird. Should be enough to last him for a little while.

 

[Ducatimom]

Gave him the chop for breakfast this morning. He still hasn't really tried it. I haven't given him anything else but that. Thinking the old "eat it or go hungry" method might work. Is that an ok approach? I've debated mixing a little of his seed in it but I know he'll just pick those out and that'll be the end of that. Should I just keep some in there all day? Just change it out around lunch and again at dinner. Or take it out completely then give him some for dinner.

 

[Selestine]

There are birds who will choose the path of going hungry and starve themselves.

I'd offer the chop first thing in the morning when he's really hungry (and you could put some of his seeds in there -- helps him realize that the chop is food, and as he digs through looking for seeds he'll get some of the chop and hopefully realize it is tasty).

If he isn't eating it, though, I'd then also give him what he's used to eating to make sure he doesn't go hungry. It could take a while for him to give the chop a chance.

 

[Ducatimom]

I think he's getting to the point where he'd rather starve himself than try it. I just gave him a few treats since he was really good in the shower and he almost made a bee-line for the other hand that was holding them. I'll try mixing some of his seed in with it real quick at least so he doesn't go hungry.

 

[Ducatimom]

Thanks Selestine!

I think he likes it now. He's eating right now and I only hear seeds cracking every once in a while. He's still picking at it. I can't tell what he's picking for just yet lol.