dehydrated greens and fruit.

[hacatta]

So a while ago i bought an dehydrator.
Mainly so i can use dried greens and fruits in foraging.
Now i discovered that my mothers gala love the dried green,we have been trying to get her eat greens and fruits since we got her.
Which is 3 years ago,nobody knows how old she is.
The avian vet thinks really old,but she has probably never seen pellets and greens.
We actually got her to try pellets now and then,through we trick her with cookies and such,she was eating seeds for budgies when we got her.
But my question is how long will the dried greens and fruit stay good when put in zip lock bags.
Since i recently used low quantities is wasn't an issue.
But now we wan't to feed her everyday ,i am going to have to make in bulk.

Thank you for reading.

 

[CrazyEyes]

if they are completely dry, they should keep indefinitely. as for feeding her pellets, there was a post in another thread about making a mash with the pellets and warming them slightly. Worth a shot......

 

[hacatta]

We tried that didn't work.
Only when you can's see them at all and you put them as a treat like cookies or bread she will eat it.
We have book with all kind of recipes to work them in.
But next week we are going to try a different brand,again hopefully she will like it.
But she doesn't behave like a bird too,she just sits in a corner and that's it.
We give her new toys all the time and she will only play with them when you do,when we walk away or turn around she drops it immediately.
We can't figure her out.

 

[NightProwess]

I warm the pellets and mush them up. River gobbled it up. Loved the warm mash. Mix some pellets, a little of her seed, and the dried veggies. If she doesn't eat it after a hour take it out.
Maybe add just a little Apple or orange juice to entice her?
I'm trying to convert RiverSong roudybush but she likes her zupreem.

 

[MamaFuzz]

Quoting from my Ball Blue Book of Preserving's dehydrating section. "Store dried foods in a cool, dry, dark place. The best storage temperature for dehydrated foods is between 50 and 70F. Most fruits and vegetables can be safely stored from 6 months to 1 year depending on storage temperature, humidity and storage container. Check dried fruits and vegetables occasionally for moisture. If moisture is apparent, dispose of food." It also says vacuum packaging can extend shelf like 3-5 times. Hope that helps.

 

[Mishcka]

I dry veggies too. I went and got myself a food saver. It vaccum seals the bags and the food lasts for alot longer and it never gets that funny smell i find it does with zip lock bags. Almost a musty smell. Just thought i would pass it on. I love my food saver.

 

[MonicaMc]

hacatta, have you taken a look at this thread?
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

Also, has your mother or you ever encouraged the galah to forage? This can help her start interacting with her environment more by giving her something to do. Lara Joseph has a great foraging item she calls the "Starburst Foraging Toy". It's a bunch of straws tied together in the center, then attached to the cage via plastic chain or zip ties. You then stuff the ends of the straws with food. Any kind of food!
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

You can also do things like cover the top of the food dish with paper and poking a medium sized hole in it. If she takes to that ok, you can slowly decrease the size of the hole until she's able to make her own hole.

You can also buy muffin cups, put some food inside of them and then twist them up. May need to open them up at first before she gets the idea she can destroy the paper to get at what's inside.

If you can get a hold of them, buy the "birdy kabobs" made out of yucca and shove some seeds into it.


Just start out with simple stuff. If you are lucky, she may find the job of foraging so fun that it may not matter what you give her to forage out, she may try it anyway! Thus expanding her diet.

 

[Starlit_Night]

Haven't had my dehydrator long enough to know how long things will last (and everyone seems to eat the fruits before a week is out). Aleta loves the pineapple and blueberries I make, but I can't seem to get the hang of any veggies to dry. She doesn't seem intersted. What do you dehydrate for your birds?