Sunny Hollow Aviaries, Minnesota
Hand Tamed Budgies and Parrot Toys
Simple Tricks To Get Your Bird Eating Healthy!
What does your bird eat regularly? If you're bird is on a seed-only diet, chances are 99% that your bird is what is referred to as a "seed-junkie" and will therefore only eat his seeds, because seeds are like candy to birds. And Millet is like a candy bar! If you're offering mass amounts of seed or millet; your bird is likely not going to want to try your Yam Puffs or Apple Oatmeal.
1. Simple Trick Number 1 includes converting your Parrot onto Pellets as a base for their diet.
This does not mean that Pellets are the 'best' food, or that a Parrot can live on Pellets alone. It simply provides a healthy alternative to the dry seed mixture that most Companion Parrots are fed. Please consult your Certified Avian Vet for more information on what brand/type of Pellets are best for you particular species, as each species has different nutritional requirements. Toucans, for example, require diets low in Iron; so they would need a significantly different diet than an African Grey Parrot. But if you already know the Pellets that your parrot should have, and are having trouble converting; try pouring the pellets on top the seed, forcing the bird to dig through the seed in order to get the pellets. Or try serving ONLY pellets for the first 30 minutes of the day, when they are the hungriest, and then replace whether they were eaten or not afterwards so as to not starve your bird. (Birds will NOT eat on a forced basis!!!!!) The benefit to switching your parrot onto pellets, instead of seeds, for the purposes of getting her to eat healthier foods is that birds who are offered seed mixtures won't likely feed the urge to try anything new. Seeds are like CANDY to birds. Birds who are on a seed-only diet are referred to as "Seed Junkies." And for good reason!! Imagine serving a child a plate-full of ice cream garnished with Snickers bars, and then asking her to eat the spaghetti you've just slaved over.
2. Simple Trick Number 2 includes the monkey-see, monkey-do approach.
Parrots are very social animals. They will often times not eat a certain food because they are unaware that the item is edible! Some may think the food is toxic, some may just be unaware that the food is food at all! Some owners have to resort to eating the foods they are trying to get their birds to eat; or fake-eating them. Put on a show of how AMAZING the food tastes. Don't give your bird attention at this point, and put on your best award winning performance of how GREAT that food is and how much FUN you're having eating it! Your bird should begin to crave a better idea of what is so darn good about whatever it is that YOU are enjoying so much, and may pop in for a little taste.
3. Simple Trick Number 3 includes the Interactive approach.
I simply can't take credit for this one.. This GREAT idea was given to me by a very smart Parrot behaviorist/dietitian that I am lucky enough to know. This approach is the one that actually turned my picky Quaker, Sparx, into a healthy-food craving machine!! This approach involves making food into toys and games. Take what your bird already loves to do/eat, and apply the food you're trying to get your bird to eat! For example; my Quaker was in love with Apples at one point. And try as I might, she simply wouldn't give her birdie breads and pizzas a chance! So this bird-lady I know suggested that I try cutting an apple in half and hollowing out the center, like an apple dish! Then I was free to cram whatever I wanted into that 'dish,' (In this case, it was Birdie Muffins) and garnish with Millet seeds, another of her favorite treats. Sparx was lured near the muffins by her love of Apples, and "tricked" into tasting bits of the muffin by her love of Millet seeds! Voila! My Quaker, from then on, turned up her beak at Apples and fell head over heels for my Birdie Muffins.
Another interactive approach for birds who aren't eating their fair share of vegetables or fruits is making toys out of foods. Try shaving a long carrot and wedging it in the cage bars, like a perch. Or tying Broccli to a string, along with some millet. Give a whole head of Kale, chilled & wet to your Parrot while he is outdoors playing, to bathe on. Get creative!
*Under Construction* --Please check back soon!!
1. Simple Trick Number 1 includes converting your Parrot onto Pellets as a base for their diet.
This does not mean that Pellets are the 'best' food, or that a Parrot can live on Pellets alone. It simply provides a healthy alternative to the dry seed mixture that most Companion Parrots are fed. Please consult your Certified Avian Vet for more information on what brand/type of Pellets are best for you particular species, as each species has different nutritional requirements. Toucans, for example, require diets low in Iron; so they would need a significantly different diet than an African Grey Parrot. But if you already know the Pellets that your parrot should have, and are having trouble converting; try pouring the pellets on top the seed, forcing the bird to dig through the seed in order to get the pellets. Or try serving ONLY pellets for the first 30 minutes of the day, when they are the hungriest, and then replace whether they were eaten or not afterwards so as to not starve your bird. (Birds will NOT eat on a forced basis!!!!!) The benefit to switching your parrot onto pellets, instead of seeds, for the purposes of getting her to eat healthier foods is that birds who are offered seed mixtures won't likely feed the urge to try anything new. Seeds are like CANDY to birds. Birds who are on a seed-only diet are referred to as "Seed Junkies." And for good reason!! Imagine serving a child a plate-full of ice cream garnished with Snickers bars, and then asking her to eat the spaghetti you've just slaved over.
2. Simple Trick Number 2 includes the monkey-see, monkey-do approach.
Parrots are very social animals. They will often times not eat a certain food because they are unaware that the item is edible! Some may think the food is toxic, some may just be unaware that the food is food at all! Some owners have to resort to eating the foods they are trying to get their birds to eat; or fake-eating them. Put on a show of how AMAZING the food tastes. Don't give your bird attention at this point, and put on your best award winning performance of how GREAT that food is and how much FUN you're having eating it! Your bird should begin to crave a better idea of what is so darn good about whatever it is that YOU are enjoying so much, and may pop in for a little taste.
3. Simple Trick Number 3 includes the Interactive approach.
I simply can't take credit for this one.. This GREAT idea was given to me by a very smart Parrot behaviorist/dietitian that I am lucky enough to know. This approach is the one that actually turned my picky Quaker, Sparx, into a healthy-food craving machine!! This approach involves making food into toys and games. Take what your bird already loves to do/eat, and apply the food you're trying to get your bird to eat! For example; my Quaker was in love with Apples at one point. And try as I might, she simply wouldn't give her birdie breads and pizzas a chance! So this bird-lady I know suggested that I try cutting an apple in half and hollowing out the center, like an apple dish! Then I was free to cram whatever I wanted into that 'dish,' (In this case, it was Birdie Muffins) and garnish with Millet seeds, another of her favorite treats. Sparx was lured near the muffins by her love of Apples, and "tricked" into tasting bits of the muffin by her love of Millet seeds! Voila! My Quaker, from then on, turned up her beak at Apples and fell head over heels for my Birdie Muffins.
Another interactive approach for birds who aren't eating their fair share of vegetables or fruits is making toys out of foods. Try shaving a long carrot and wedging it in the cage bars, like a perch. Or tying Broccli to a string, along with some millet. Give a whole head of Kale, chilled & wet to your Parrot while he is outdoors playing, to bathe on. Get creative!
*Under Construction* --Please check back soon!!
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