Won't try food

[2manypets]

Rio refuses to try any type of food. The breeder said he would eat pretty much anything they gave him. I have tried strawberries, kiwi, cucumber, bread, pickles, and even a tortilla chip. He only tried the chip (only gave him a tiny piece, he chewed on it then dropped it). I have tried putting them in a bowl, setting them on a perch, hanging them on a piece of wire, handing it to him, cutting them up and leaving them whole and he won't touch them. What can I do to get him to try something?

 

[Bobioden]

What kind of bird is Rio? Maxx my GCC is somewhat leary of trying new things, at first, I usually eat a bit myself, say YUM, YUM and he will then try anything. I got him to eat radish, carrot, watermelon, cucumber, blackberries, and Apples this way.

 

[2manypets]

He is a GCC.

 

[Rennagade]

Is he eating seed or pellets??? My birds will try anything that goes in my mouth first (in fact they demand some if they catch me eating in front of them!) Sometimes they are just finicky too! for weeks they will eat heaps of apple and then all of a sudden won't touch the apple and corn is their new favourite!

 

[oled]

Just have patiance and provide only one ned veg at the time day after day, soner or late she will try it

 

[Spiritbird]

Please leave out the pickles and chips - too much salt. My conure was started out on pellets by the breeder at my request. It is so critical on what they are used to eating. Like was said be patient and keep offering the foods. Frozen mixed vegies is a good one to try. Just pour a little boiling water over top and let sit for about 15 min. You can try to make mashes with grains and vegies stirred in. don't forget the spices they like. Where are you feeding the bird? sometimes they eat better out of the cage with you.

 

[2manypets]

He is eating seeds currently but I am hoping to try and switch him to pellets or maybe keep both in the cage. I tried eating with him last night and today with him in and out of the cage (tried strawberries) and he didn't try any. I will keep trying thought.

 

[Spiritbird]

He will come around, I am sure, unless there is a medical issue.

 

[2manypets]

He will come around, I am sure, unless there is a medical issue.

What kind of medical issue?

 

[merlinsmom13]

He is eating seed??? Are you saying that he is not eating or he is just very picky?

 

[2manypets]

He will only eat his seeds and will not try and fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, etc. Just seeds.

 

[merlinsmom13]

I'm going thru the same thing. You have to find how he likes the veggies, cooked, raw, diced or whole. Experiment, make veggie scewers & hang in the cage. Try a variety of veggies, fruit. They are like us, they have different tastes & likes. It takes a long time. Merlin won't eat wet food, bananas, etc. He loves banana chips, but bananas are icky. lol Eat in front of him, show him how yummy the veggies are. Do it every day, maybe feed the veggies when he is hungriest, morning before he gets anything else. If you are patient & consistant, he will try something eventually. Merlin now eats celery sticks & squash, something he would not even try before. I'm not there yet, but I've made progress.

 

[Spiritbird]

Here is a bit of info for you. Check out the fruity oatmeal.

It is kinda like tough love-- You should gradually decrease the amt. of seed you give the bird and have pellets in the cage all day in a separate dish. Have you had him checked by an avian vet??
Parrot Nutrition. Grey Feather Toy Creations. Parrot Nutrition, Parrot Care, Bird Articles, Education.

 

[Sami]

I have the same problem, my Red-Lored will only eat seeds or nuts

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Have you tried putting any 'new' food items in with his regular seed?

Often just seeing it there with their food and getting used to it will get them to try it. It may mean changing it out several times before he takes a bite (for fresh food), but this is often the easiest.

 

[2manypets]

I have tried putting it in his seed but he just moves it over and eats the seed instead. Still no luck on getting him to try anything new.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

Take the seed away. It sounds mean, so get a scale to keep track of his weight. We never feed any seed at all here. I get lots of seed eaters here, and as long as they still have access to seed they often (not always) decide they prefer seed. Like setting broccoli and chocolate cake in front of and eight year old.... most of them will eat the cake. Nutritionally same situation for parrots seed = chocolate cake (very tiny amount should ever be offered). Some birds get something akin to seed addiction, and can be quite tough to break them of it. Of the 40 birds I have here, every last one came to me on a seed diet, and not a single one eats seed now. Monitor his weight, and ask a vet about the safe weight range (so you know when to be worried), offer a couple types of pellets, and a full variety of fresh foods (chick peas/ garbonzo beans are well received by most birds). Frozen peas (thawed of course), and whole wheat pasta, and sweet corn are all the normal favorites. Green beans, broccoli, greens, kale, bok choy, tofu, squash, green apple, carrot, and sweet potato are a little tougher and take longer to transition them to. There is a Yahoo group called feedingfeathers that can answer a lot of specifics, and can provide some excellent well accepted mash recipes, along with explaining when and where seed is appropriate in a psitticines diet. Good luck!

 

[2manypets]

I will pick up some pellets and frozen vegetables tomorrow and take the seeds away. Thanks for everyones help!

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

Remember to watch his weight closely! If he starts getting on the thin side, then you'll have to give in. If you give in, try saflower seed (not sunflower) or maybe millet spray on occasion if he continues to refuse. But give him a full day of no seed and see what he eats (pellets or veggies). First and foremost pay attention and be careful!

 

[GCally]

I just switched my GCC over to pellets. I tried to do it slowly at first, like only giving him seeds right when he woke up and went to sleep. For the majority of the day he had pellets available. To my surprise he actually started eating them. Within a few days I had to through all the seeds out cause there was some kind of yucky bug in them.
So he pretty much was forced to eat the pellets. But he does really well with them now. I get Harrison's Organic from a Parrot Adoption organization here.
He usually wants whatever I'm having to eat or drink especially. He climbs up to my shoulder and tries to climb in my drinking glass to get a sip. Make it look like eating the strawberries or other stuff is the best thing ever! Make loud happy noises while eating it haha. Gizmo wouldn't try anything until I have him a grape split it half. He loves grapes, although I don't give him that barely anymore. Too much sugar. But at least it got him started on trying new things.