Which treats?

[T00tsyd]

Hi all

Which treats do you use with a green cheek when training. Syd will kill for a sunflower seed but I don't like to give him too many. At the moment I can't seem to strike on anything else that treats him the same way.

I am working very slowly on harness training and want to treat him with each step so could use some suggestions as what your birds really love.

 

[LordTriggs]

my previous conure would do anything short of global domination (I tried several times, apparently the UN disproves of that) for a raisin or a bit of apple (even though he got some apple with his breakfast each morning)

if possible try cutting up the seed into little chunks. I would tear raisins into tiny bite-sized pieces as I was worried about the sugar and it made training a lot easier as he would be distracted less by the food

 

[clark_conure]

As far as treats go you just have to figure out what your bird likes. Mine couldn't care less about sunflower seeds, usually he chews on the shell and leaves the seed. And Yes...usually I eat it.

Fruits and those papaya treats work best for him...it's all a matter of taste and experience.

If your using it for training a few sunflower seeds isn't going to hurt, it's not like you are leaving a dish out for him. There's nothing inherently wrong with them, alot of pet store food include them. It's just more fatty and etc. it's just not the best diet. If your kid cleans his room for an ice cream cone...isn't it worth it? Just make sure he has a healthy main diet of pellets.

 

[plumsmum2005]

You could try different nuts in tiny pieces, this then gives him some of these in his diet also.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I use millet. Most smaller parrots like it, but I guess some don't. I have never tried sunflower seeds, mostly because I don't want my birds to start getting addicted to fatty foods. Sunflower seeds should only ever been given as treat just because of the fat content and no nutritional value.

 

[T00tsyd]

LOL Well he definitely showed me what he thought of raisins! He took it ok, looked at it then at me and side swiped it at me. Treat? No way!

Still experimenting. Perhaps nuts next. He will usually take nuts from me and munch.

 

[wrench13]

Salty and I use pine nuts , cut into little slices. 3 or 4 slices per pine nut. If your Sid loves sunflower seeds, they slice up nicely too, just use a really really sharp knife.
Harness training huh? that can be a slow go, took us almost year before Salty was comfortable putting it on. But you are right, treat at every step, even tiny improvements.
Good luck!

 

[T00tsyd]

Salty and I use pine nuts , cut into little slices. 3 or 4 slices per pine nut. If your Sid loves sunflower seeds, they slice up nicely too, just use a really really sharp knife.
Harness training huh? that can be a slow go, took us almost year before Salty was comfortable putting it on. But you are right, treat at every step, even tiny improvements.
Good luck!

Slow and easy is the way to go. He is learning so much I am aiming for our first trip out next Summer when it's warm enough. So at present he plays with it a bit and manages to let it drape over his back, and that's fine. He is a really cheeky hombre and suddenly started saying 'good morning' yesterday which was quite a surprise.

I will try cutting sunflower seeds and nuts, I just hope I manage to keep my fingers!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Salty and I use pine nuts , cut into little slices. 3 or 4 slices per pine nut. If your Sid loves sunflower seeds, they slice up nicely too, just use a really really sharp knife.
Harness training huh? that can be a slow go, took us almost year before Salty was comfortable putting it on. But you are right, treat at every step, even tiny improvements.
Good luck!

Slow and easy is the way to go. He is learning so much I am aiming for our first trip out next Summer when it's warm enough. So at present he plays with it a bit and manages to let it drape over his back, and that's fine. He is a really cheeky hombre and suddenly started saying 'good morning' yesterday which was quite a surprise.

I will try cutting sunflower seeds and nuts, I just hope I manage to keep my fingers!

Magic! It is great when something like this happens, makes you smile all day.