Pellets Other Than Harrison's for Picky Grey?

[Tobi]

I wonder if she mourns or feels the absence of her 15 year roommate who passed last week? They were always separated and when Monet flew close to her cage Tobi snapped at her. so scary! But she's probably feeling off. Oh lord its never a good idea to get a bird under duress!! Right?

 

[Tobi]

I wonder if she mourns or feels the absence of her 15 year roommate who passed last week? They were always separated and when Monet flew close to her cage Tobi snapped at her. so scary! But she's probably feeling off. Oh lord its never a good idea to get a bird under duress!! Right?

this is Monet napping

 

[osklvste49]

thank you! I will look for recipes here and try different things. i got an organic salad mix that was maybe 2 or 3 human salads woth, but it has things that are safe: cauliflower, broccoli, carrots along with green and red cabbage. Its all chopped up..not minced, but chopped small. Thats one mistake i was making: not cutting her food up enough. Alot if it was ending up on the paper below. My wife started feeding her and not much fallig now because she chops it small enough.. If Tobi doesn't want to step up I can coax her by getting food and nibbling it in front of her. Sounds like its a common trick! Anywho..ive attached a Pic of Tobi and hope to have some good news to share with folks here soon.

She's beautiful. But I love CAG's. Just keep trying. Moods and tastes change without warning.

 

[Tobi]

We rescued a 35-year-old macaw several months ago whose elderly owner mostly fed him people food along with a seed mix. He's still pretty picky and gets tired of things quickly, but now he eats pellets and chop reliably.

We had the most luck with roudybush California blend. He doesn't absolutely love pellets, but at least he'll eat those. His chop can be hit or miss. We just keep trying different things to see what takes. He doesn't particularly like green vegetables, either, but he happily eats sweet potato and bell pepper (we've been pushing things with vitamin a because our vet suggested it), and he at least tries fruit and chop (he likes apples and bananas but we don't give him those often because of the sugar). We've had some success with sprouts with our other birds, so that also may be worth a try. Also try different textures; we thought the big guy would like his vegetables in chunks because our other south American birds do, but it turns out that he prefers finer chop like our small birds. Good luck! Diet conversion can be a slog.

"we thought the big guy would like his vegetables in chunks because our other south American birds do, but it turns out that he prefers finer chop like our small bird", I discovered this as well when my wife stepped in to help with feedings. We see much less on the bottom of the cage now! The common theme I am seeing in all the responses is the attention given to the birds. Good attention with good intentions seems to eventually find the way on alot of these issues.

 

[Mulligan]

I think the bit on seeds is because most birds are not free flying. ust as a high protein/high carb diet isnt good for counch potatoes. I agree with alot of the sentiment though. We've brought them indoors and they should enjoy their lives as much as possible, as long as we don't lean into willful neglect, which, to me, the avian vet giving that advice comes pretty close.

They can be picky. Just keep putting fresh pellets in daily. Small amounts until he gets used to seeing it. Eventually, he will ge inquisitive. Anything new will be off limits. Or, put some pellets in with his usual food. Don't give up. I serve a variety of seed in one cup. Pellets in another, and cooked bird food in a third cup. My bird loves spaghetti noodle (no sauce). A little bit when we have spaghetti. small pieces of steak, no salt or spices. Small bits of pizza. She is 28 years now and actually comes to dining table when we have dinner. She wants to eat out of my plate. I put small bits on a napkin for her. This is new that she is doing this. Never happened before.