My rainbow lorikeet won't eat fruit or veggies?

[luckythelorikeet]

I have a young rainbow lorikeet (I don't know exactly how old because I rescued him) and he will refuse to eat fruit or veggies. I have offered him slices of apple, pear, blueberries, kiwi fruit, banana and carrot. He just nibbles on it a bit then licks it and then just walks away. I don't know if he's too young to be eating fruit & veggies. He loves both his wet & dry mix. Please help as I don't want my bird to get sick because he's lacking vitamins.

 

[LoryLover]

Congrats on your new rainbow lory!

We have had our chattering lory for 15 years. Her main diet is Nekton-Lori, which is a complete diet as far as all nutrients she needs. If you are also feeding a nectar power that is nutrient complete, then you don't need to worry about your rainbow refusing a fruit or veggie. Find something he likes... they're very fussy eaters.

They love the taste of the "juice" in the fruit or veggie, thawed frozen corn or peas is usually eaten by them, just the juice, they will leave the pulp. Grapes, for instance, cut in half, let him taste the juicy part of the grape. You just have to try a few different fruits or veggies to find what he will like. Eat it in front of him, exaggerating the pleasure while you're eating and that will encourage him to try it. You can also get a metal skewer and put half an apple on it... they usually love that. Again, they will usually spit out the pulp, while swallowing the juice from the fruit.

I will put the info for the Nekton-Lori nectar powder in my next post in case you'd like to check into it. I feed it dry in one cup with a cup of water right next to it. My lory dips her beak into the dry and then dips her beak into the water cup. She goes back and forth like this. It can get messy since they will shake their head to get excess globs of nectar off their beak, so I do it in the kitchen.

 

[LoveMyParrots]

Hi and welcome to the forum, hope you have a good time here!

How long has you had him for? Do you know if his old owner use to give him fruit and veggies? When parrot are in a new environment, most likely to refuse to eat stuff that they never ate.

Is he tame? If he is, have dinner with him! You'll need to eat fruit and veggies infrount of him, and tell him it's so good. And offer him some. Most bonded parrot will eat it.

Try mixing fruit and veggies into his daily food. Also giving fruit and veggies as reward treat.

The best one works for me is to eat infornt of my alexandrine. Luckily for me, Ozzie is not picky and will eat everything.

Just keep trying, you'll get there. Good luck!

 

[LoryLover]

NEKTON-LORI
Complete diet for lories and hanging parakeets
Birds | NEKTON USA

Based on years of experience in breeding and rearing these demanding varieties of parrots.

Lories are among the most specialised of all the parrots in their feeding habits as is seen by their brush tongues and digestive systems. Breeding successes in the past few years, particularly with species known to be difficult to breed, have shown that the nutrition must be as close to the natural sources as possible.

This carefully thought-out combination of carbohydrates, fatty acids, protein, vitamins and mineral elements is entirely suited to the nutrient requirements of lories and hanging parakeets.

All ingredients are in human-grade quality and in such a form that they are easily synthesised and absorbed by the body.

Just add tepid water to the powder, stir slowly and you have a complete diet.

 

[luckythelorikeet]

Thankyou for your help! and LoveMyParrots : yes he is tame & I have only had him for about five days! :09:

 

[1eyd]

My Lori, Bella is the same way unless I hold it for him. He does like tangerines and green grapes. I actually clip a branch with two or three grapes on it with a clothes pin to his play area on top off his house. I think this makes him feel like he's "hunting & searching" for his own food. In a bowl he walks away as well.

 

[MikeyTN]

I dunno how I missed this post but here's what you can do to get him to eat fruits and veggies, I know this post been around for a couple months but I hope you read this.
Cut the fruits and veggies up in his dish and sprinkle some nectar over his fruits and veggies. That is the only way for me to get Malachai to eat it.

 

[MarciaLove]

just keep trying my lorikeet love any veggie or fruit I put in his bowl! I got lucky he was also a rescue Some of my birds refused to eat any fruits and veggies for months but I kept trying and now they all eat them! so don't give up it will waste lots of food and it will be annoying but its worth it in the end cause your baby eventually will eat them and live a healthier life.