A Couple Food Questions

[OutlawedSpirit]

So Aria is getting much better about eating her veggies, and some fruits. Did you know blackberries are evil? Of course, not as evil as bell peppers, but close.

Anyway, I have been mixing her pellets in with her chop and she has been still picking them out first, but then she does eat most of the chop. Would it hurt if I soaked her pellets and mashed them, then mixed in with her chop? Then they would "coat" all her veggies and maybe persuade her to eat all of them and not pick out the pellets, but she would still get the nutrition from them until she is eating her veggies more consistently.

Also, I am sure it is not going to hurt her, but is it okay for her to have 2 sunflower seeds a day? I don't put them in her food, but rather use them as treats when I am working with her on letting me lift her wings. She loves them, and is much more willing to let me lift and open her wings when she knows I have them.

 

[chris-md]

Nash away and yes, giving a few sunflower seeds here and there is fine. People use them for training treats often. I use crushed walnuts for my training sessions since they are the only thing Parker doesn't take hours to finish chewing. Popcorn for speech training.

 

[camo]

Another handy hint with touching her wing, is to try give her something that she loves, but takes a while to eat. I have been getting my two used to touch by doing it while they are eating the treat (Gizmo, my male used to bite if you tried to touch him, even got to the stage that we had issues offering our hand to him to step up). I can now touch Gizmo without food (although it is still a work in progress), basically he was too focused on eating the treat to consider biting me when I was touching him. The sessions with food, have helped desensitize him to being touched without food.

Cheers,

Cameron

 

[chris-md]

Another handy hint with touching her wing, is to try give her something that she loves, but takes a while to eat. I have been getting my two used to touch by doing it while they are eating the treat (Gizmo, my male used to bite if you tried to touch him, even got to the stage that we had issues offering our hand to him to step up). I can now touch Gizmo without food (although it is still a work in progress), basically he was too focused on eating the treat to consider biting me when I was touching him. The sessions with food, have helped desensitize him to being touched without food.

Cheers,

Cameron

This must be an individual thing. I wouldn't get away with this withy Parky-doo. While I can generally touch him whenever wherever for short bursts, he would totally drop what he's eating to nail me if I tried touching him at the wrong time.

 

[camo]

Another handy hint with touching her wing, is to try give her something that she loves, but takes a while to eat. I have been getting my two used to touch by doing it while they are eating the treat (Gizmo, my male used to bite if you tried to touch him, even got to the stage that we had issues offering our hand to him to step up). I can now touch Gizmo without food (although it is still a work in progress), basically he was too focused on eating the treat to consider biting me when I was touching him. The sessions with food, have helped desensitize him to being touched without food.

Cheers,

Cameron

This must be an individual thing. I wouldn't get away with this withy Parky-doo. While I can generally touch him whenever wherever for short bursts, he would totally drop what he's eating to nail me if I tried touching him at the wrong time.

Interesting, just goes to show how individual our guys can be. I certainly can't get away with it forever, and I certainly can't just jump in and start opening his wings, but it was certainly night and day between what I could do with the treat and without it. For example initially with Gizmo a touch on the chest meant 100% chance of a bite, but when he was busy with his treat I could get away with a few strokes down his chest.

I guess the other factor could also be that Pebbles is there quite willing to pick up and steal the treat if Gizmo drops it to go for a bite.

Cheers,

Cameron

 

[Brittany741]

My suggestion is not to mix the pellets. Are you drizzling coconut oil on the mash? None of my birds can resist this at all. It makes a HUGE difference. Without it, they seem kind of bored and eat a lot more slowly.

I'd sit with her when she eats her mash and give lots of praise and feedback. It's amazing how much value this has. Then, I suggest using the pellets as treats.

Sunflower seeds are not great. I would go with almonds or pistachios.

Eventually, with this method, hopefully she will become more interested in the food that's good for her and drop the pellets down to a reasonable amount.

It can be difficult but with the right ingredients in the mash, she will learn to love it. Just takes time and patience.

 

[ortootto]

Dear Experts, Breeders, and experienced Ekkie owners,

Need your advice yet again.

Just got a hen, 3-3,5 months old, a cuddly snugglebird, eats everything, sleeps-a-lot.
Wants the apple and egg, but if having to chose goes for the seeds at first (as far as I know seeds wont do much good to the eclectus).

Can you share your views on what a largely okay breakdown of % of veggies/fruits/seeds could be for her in general?

Thanks

 

[Brittany741]

Zero seeds unless they are sprouted seeds with 1/4" tail.

Veggies 65% and fruit 35%




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