Introducing new foods?

I hope this is the right subforum, I can't check since I'm on mobile.

Does anybody have any recommendations on introducing veggies/fruits/meats?

I was successfully able to start my cockatiel on pellets a few months ago by soaking them before giving them to her. She seems to like turkey, fish, cheerios, and unfortunately munching on house plants. I attempted to give her kale so she wouldn't eat the plant, and she pretty much turned her nose up at it. (I don't know if the plant is hazardous to her health or not, but both she and my budgie have eaten it multiple times and been fine. I still don't want them eating it though.)

She won't eat apple, grape, banana, raisins, carrots, etc. I know sometimes cockatiels don't take well to wet foods but I'm worried about her overall health. She's currently on a 75% pellet and 25% seed diet.

Is it just a matter of trying a lot of different foods?

(Pictured below is the little demon eating some chicken.)

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For fruits, (or well any food), what I do is just buy the fruits and food I like, then eat them, my bird won't stand for me not sharing. So get what you like and sit him on your shoulder and just eat, sooner or later he will be like, hmmm, I want some. *usually*

clark_conure said:

For fruits, (or well any food), what I do is just buy the fruits and food I like, then eat them, my bird won't stand for me not sharing. So get what you like and sit him on your shoulder and just eat, sooner or later he will be like, hmmm, I want some. *usually*

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I've tried this! She always wants my food but she takes a bite, realizes it's healthy food, and then flees. She refuses to eat food that's healthy for her the little demon.

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I have an anecdote, I bought some Hiigins sunburst true fruits. (still do) and my bird loved the dried banana chips. I was like well I'll get him a banana, I really don't like bananas that much but hey clark will love them!

He could not have cared less for them....he still loves the freeze dried chips and dunks them in water and eats them, but he had no interest in the banana at all, even when I cut it up or whatever.

Maybe try a bag of the freeze dried stuff? then work to fresh? Might work.

clark_conure said:

I have an anecdote, I bought some Hiigins sunburst true fruits. (still do) and my bird loved the dried banana chips. I was like well I'll get him a banana, I really don't like bananas that much but hey clark will love them!

He could not have cared less for them....he still loves the freeze dried chips and dunks them in water and eats them, but he had no interest in the banana at all, even when I cut it up or whatever.

Maybe try a bag of the freeze dried stuff? then work to fresh? Might work.

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Almost the same with me. Iggy's favorite of her pellets is the banana, so I attempted to give her real banana. Blech. Ugh. Spits it right out onto my hand.

I'll try buying some freeze dried stuff, and maybe some birdy dried fruit treats.

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you tried mashing the pellets or even seed into a banana? if you were to mash a banana up and put something she likes into the mash it may get her interested

as for others I'm not too sure, you tried a bird kabob? Rio didn't much care for some fruits unless they were on the kabob. Also try using them as rewards for trick training, even if just for a step-up. Things suddenly seem more precious when offered as a treat

My Ollie is the same way and I have not yet figured it out. he plays with his veggies but doesn't eat much of them from what I can tell. He does enjoy freeze dried peas and corn and some select fruits like grapes, apples and blueberries but he got a slight yeast infection under his wings recently so I had to cut down the fruit to nearly nothing as per vet instructions and am trying to get him to eat his veggies. My thread: http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/71396-ollie-even-eating-veggies-video.html
At least he seems to be sort of eating them..and the dried ones, it's a start. Also, try a skewer kabbob thing because he wouldn't even touch the veggies until I put them on it.

LordTriggs said:

you tried mashing the pellets or even seed into a banana? if you were to mash a banana up and put something she likes into the mash it may get her interested

as for others I'm not too sure, you tried a bird kabob? Rio didn't much care for some fruits unless they were on the kabob. Also try using them as rewards for trick training, even if just for a step-up. Things suddenly seem more precious when offered as a treat

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I've tried putting both pellets and seed on bananas.

I haven't tried a kabob though. She might like that I'll have to try it. Also the training thing might work if she'll hold still for more than five seconds, I'll see.

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You could try making bird bread with some of the stuff in it, fruits an veggies. My cockatiels LOVE birdbread, I put sweet potato baby foodin it and they go crazy. So many recipes online, great for getting them to try stuff that they wouldn't normally like.

Also, what I've found is presentation is everything. With carrots and other veggies, you could try grating it with a cheese grater to make it pretty small and easy to eat, and mixing with the stuff they like. That's what has worked pretty well for me so far. But it is sure a struggle, I feel you on that!!!

itzjbean said:

You could try making bird bread with some of the stuff in it, fruits an veggies. My cockatiels LOVE birdbread, I put sweet potato baby foodin it and they go crazy. So many recipes online, great for getting them to try stuff that they wouldn't normally like.

Also, what I've found is presentation is everything. With carrots and other veggies, you could try grating it with a cheese grater to make it pretty small and easy to eat, and mixing with the stuff they like. That's what has worked pretty well for me so far. But it is sure a struggle, I feel you on that!!!

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Birdie bread is an excellent idea! Here's an excellent recipe by Allee! http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/65841-poppy-s-jolly-jungle-bread.html

You can be creative and try all sorts of substitutions. Vegetable and fruit baby food is an excellent way to sneak nutrients... just be careful of added sugar and salt.

Keep trying veggies and fruits in their natural state. Some birds will toss items for years and eventually decide to try and enjoy.