Food and Toys Questions

[Darkly_Innocent]

I feed Clover a mix of Zupreem Natural and Fruit pellets as that's what he was being fed from his breeder. Should I try to switch him over to just the Natural or is it ok to continue to use the Fruit mixed in? I've read some don't like the dyes used in the Fruit variety.

Also, what are some of your Conure's favorite toys? Clover has some but I'm wanting to get some more so I can switch them out over time to help keep things exciting for him.

 

[Flboy]

Bells! Not the round Christmas kind!
I also give TOPS pellets, but they are a bit hard to find, and have seen a price swing of $13 to $37!
If your babies like the Zupreem, so be it!

 

[Loz]

Dora started on a different diet to her current one. It was a gradual process and she has transitioned well! She is now on TOPS pellets but like stated, they are difficult to obtain. At least where I am and for a reasonable price lol. She also has fresh fruit/veg in a separate dish and tends to go between them.

She LOVES swinging although, there are other toys in her cage... Idk if she knows how to use them?

 

[Jen5200]

My two conures love both Zupreem fruit and TOPS, so they alternate between them. They also eat chop daily and a few sprouts and seeds for fun. If yours likes Zupreem, I’d roll with what he likes . I wanted to have mine used to more than one pellet so that it’s not a fight if one is out of stock and I can change things up for them occasionally.

Both of my conures love bells - I have a couple of larger stainless steel bells that are their absolute favorite things. They are also big fans of shredding bird kabobs (yucca chips) and demolishing wood toys (smaller sized chunks of wood). My two didn’t play with toys much for the first few months they lived with me, and then out of the blue they started taking interest in them.

 

[bill_e]

Any brand of pellets is better than seed. My Nike was on see when I got her, I cold turkeyed her to Zupreem colored and she was on that for 2 years and I just cold turkey switched her to Harrisons.

At least with the Harrisons her poop is natural colored making it a bit easier to see what's up with it.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I feed Skittles the Harrisons HP Fine and I give him the Harrisons Power treats. He gets pasta as a 'treat' whenever I eat it, and on the 'rare' occasion he gets pizza crust. I do feed him various fruits and veggies and he does get his 'morning juice'

I'd avoid seeds for anything other than a rare treat. An 'all seed' diet is a prescription for problems. They don't provide much nutrients and are high in fat.

Skittles actually loves the Harrisons and the Power Treats so that is the bulk of his diet.

As for toys, truth is every bird is different and you are likely going to 'waste' some money on toys they won't use until you find out which ones they do. Skittles likes the chew up 'yucca' chips and also he loves the boing bungee perches.

Aside from that, I actually will give him qtips, toothpicks (both under supervision) and I will give him empty tissue boxes (plastic and glue parts removed) and I also give him paper towels to chew on. Those are cheap and creative toys he likes. Given how quickly he chews through things, its much more economical for me.

 

[Carl_Power]

Keep on the Zupreem mix, its a great healthy diet. My Quaker loves original with some fruit juice in. I might try add some fruit blend myself for variety x

 

[MonicaMc]

I don't personally like the dyes nor the sugars in Zupreem. With the Zupreem Fruiblend, I noticed inconsistent/runny droppings and well... rainbow poop. This concerns me because what if my bird is bleeding internally? How would I be able to tell if there is blood in the droppings when the poop is dyed?

And sugar? Birds can get diabetes, too... I'd rather feed sugar in the form of fresh foods (with fiber!) than table sugar...


I primarily feed Harrison's, but I've tried Roudybush, Lafebers and Pretty Bird.


Yucca toys have been a big hit with my birds. Craft sticks have been loved, too! (except I can't find the ones I've used in the past - they were given to me)

 

[wrench13]

Salty's fav toy is one of those tubular stainless steel bells. Its a rare day that he doesn't play with his for awhile, trying to attack it. With other toys, you should buy a few different kinds and types, sized for your bird of course, and see which ones he prefers. Small birds like conures tend to prefer softer woods, or thinner pieces, like popcicle sticks. Stay away from cheap ells, especially if they can get to the clapper, which they will try to get at.

 

[Darkly_Innocent]

Thanks for all of the recommendations! I've searched around online and found a bird store called My Safe Bird Store. Thinking I will be trying out some different toys for Clover from there. Looks like they have a lot of different types to choose from.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Thats a great choice. I've order from MSBS before several times. I actually get my Harrisons from them. They have a LOT of 'bird-safe' bird toys to choose from.