Does your IRN try and steal ALL your food?

[Crayfish066]

I've noticed an odd little quirk of my IRN, whenever I'm eating
and he's out of his cage he will try and steal my food from me.
This isn't just limited to typical parrot foods, earlier he
tried to steal a BBQ rib burger from me, for the entire duration of
my time eating it. He was running up my arms and flying while
trying to land on my hand holding the burger too. Is this normal IRN behaviour?
Pretty funny to witness regardless.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I think Plum would chance his arm, well wing really at having a go at snuffling something he shouldn't have if given half a chance. So at meal times he is put in his cage but given a small treat that is appropriate. Don't set bad habits now that you may regret later.

You could just give him some of his own food, as long as they see you eating they will too.

 

[Kiwibird]

Parrots are opportunistic omnivores, or more accurately put, avian garbage cans. They'll eat just about anything they can get their beaks on in nature and can develop a real taste for human junk food (and are smart enough to feign hatred/fear of nutritious foods, the little stinkers!).

Whether or not you should share table food or how regularly really depends on your diet. They shouldn't be given highly processed foods or food that could be considered "junk food" or would be considered a high sugar/salt/fat food for us. My bird has a "hearty" appetite and eats his healthy bird food so he gets some table foods too because I know he's eating enough of what he should be. We eat healthy though, like crazy health nut healthy, mostly fresh/homemade and don't really keep "bad" foods in the house. We share all the time, but we don't eat like most people. Someone who eats mostly boxed, canned and pre-packaged foods likely wouldn't have as much to share with their bird. Common sense should apply. The occasional junk snack is ok, but be honest with yourself and if you can't honestly say you eat a SUPER healthy diet, you probably shouldn't share too much of it with your bird.

 

[SilverSage]

Pretty typical lol.


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[BeatriceC]

All of my birds have the same favorite food. It's "whatever's on Mom or Dad's plate at the moment".

 

[gracebowen]

My tiel was the same way and my Lovbird is developing the habit lol.

 

[LordTriggs]

a short fight with my conure over a beef stew resulted in him going inside the cage when it was dinner. Other normal food he was intrigued at best, but something about stew set him off. I was more worried about him burning himself really

They'll eat anything, especially whatever you have!

 

[LeaKP]

Our grey sits with us often at mealtime and I give him a plate of what he can eat (we always have some vegetables, pasta, baked sweet potatoes, roast chicken on the menu that he can have) and he noshes away with gusto.

We exist to make them happy, right?

 

[clark_conure]

There's nothing wrong with a little healthy human food. No salt, no sugar, no chocolate. I know it's normal conure behavior....from the look of the comments it's pretty normal all around behavior. If he gets bite of rib it's probably a little healthy for them, a burst of protein, not everything has to be greens.

 

[Crayfish066]

He thought the only meat they were allowed was chicken?

I guess it's a good idea not to eat any hard to conceal food around him then
lol.

 

[clark_conure]

If it's just a bite or two he sneaks then it's not going to hurt. I wouldn't let him gnaw on anything like that over time or allow more than a bite or two.