Tips on Food

[JustineBird]

When Justine was at the store before I took her home she was eating correctly. They had sliced oranges and other fruits for all the birds and Justine ate them. Now at home I can't get her to eat fruits. I tried Grapes, Pineapple, apples, Watermelon and others but she does not want to eat them. I got her to eat a piece of corn but that was only one time. She eats normal mixed feed and sometimes Pistachios. I give her one peanut butter pretzel a day but sometimes skip one day. I put them in one of the food bowls and she does not touch it. If I put it in the normal food bowl she will scoop it out.

Any Ideas on how I can persuade her to eat more fruits? I don’t want her to get sick due to lack of certain vitamins. I know she is eating the normal feed but she seems very picky.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Here are a few awesome threads for you:

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

 

[Christinenc2000]

Hi
I got my Mac eating better by eating it myself He would want to eat anything I did.

 

[Siobhan]

Parrots are picky eaters in general. You just have to keep trying different things prepared and presented in different ways (think of Mr. Spock: Infinite diversity in infinite combinations, LOL) until you hit on the magic formula. I tried a multitude of treat options for Rocky 'Too because he is so underweight and doesn't eat enough for a budgie, never mind a bird his size. I finally found a treat he likes. It was NOT easy. He still won't touch fruits or veggies. I'm hoping he'll eat home grown tomatoes when we have some. That's about the only veggie the other parrots will touch, and they must be home grown. They won't eat store bought tomatoes.

 

[Scott]

In addition to Wendy's excellent links, these are a few favorites enjoyed all or most of my Toos:

Peas, lima beans, garbanzo beans, apple, pomegranate seeds, melon seeds, endamame in the pod, cooked yam and sweet potato, banana, cooked whole-grain spiral noodles, corn*, pear, whole grain bread, small piece of string-cheese once a week. A few like orange, blackeyed peas, kidney beans, and red or green peppers. None are fond of leafy greens, squash, zucchini, or carrots. Plain Cheerios are offered weekly as a snack, but I never give patently "junk food" items that are high in sugar/fat/sodium.

Regardless of how much disdain they show for a particular food by tossing it overboard, keep offering the "offending" item. You'd be surprised at how many years go by and one day.... they give it a try and are hooked. It took 26 years for my mother Goffin to like string cheese!

A good strategy is to offer a new food by hand, and if applicable, eat some yourself! (separate piece of course!) They are flock creatures and show intense interest in what you, as a "flock member" eat.

I try to source organic when practical, particularly foods that cannot be separated from a tough skin. I will never offer grapes, apples, or peppers that are not organic as the pesticide risk is high and they cannot be aggressively cleaned.


*Corn is not particularly nutritious, but beloved by most parrots. Mine reject the frozen loose niblets and prefer "on the cob." I take a frozen ear, cut it into round "wheels" and further cut each into either 2 or 4 wedges depending on size of the bird.

 

[Dopey]

Patience. What they eat one day they may not eat the next. Mine was on a seed diet when they left the store and the very first day they preferred the pellets. They are also offered a veggie chop in the morning -which one eats and one doesn't - and a fruit chop in the afternoon. I try to give them access to pellets all the time but sometimes they finish the bowl before I realize it is empty.

I also try to have them eat while I am eating. That usually helps them eat.

If you've only had your Too a little while just be patient. Pretty soon they will be eating the whole house...if you let them.

 

[JustineBird]

Thank you scott, ill try those variations. the reps at omar's said to take toilet paper rolls and stuff a treat it to it and pinch the edges so they would have to break it open to get the treat. She played with them in the beginning when I first took her home but it looks like she plays for a short time and looses interest.

Right now my mom is taking her out during the day and playing with her but I asked her to leave her in the cage for short times so she eats.

 

[gracebowen]

If you've only offered raw food try cooked. My fids won't eat raw except lettuce. If I cook it they will eat it.