Feeding and entertainment advice please

[gabbie923]

well we have gotten over the biting ( so far so good) but now we are running into another problem. She seems to be very picky about what she will eat and I am running out of ideas as to what to feed her. She is not a big fan of trying new things so we only have a small list of what she will eat and I think she is starting to get bored with the stuff she will eat. I also have a hard time getting her to eat her "Parrot food". Does anyone have an ideas of what I can try? or how they have gotten their bird to try new food? And any advice on how to keep her entertained? She has plenty of toys that she refuses to play with and I have gone to the craft store and made her things to play/destroy and she doesn't want anything to do with any of it. Thank you!

 

[Scott]

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best staples of their diet. Most of my Toos enjoy peas, garbanzo beans, black-eyed peas, corn on the cob (sparingly) apple, banana, pear, various peppers, orange, yams, sweet potato, melon seeds, watermelon, endamame, cooked whole-wheat noodles, etc. For variety they are given Zupreem Fruit Blend pellets and some seed mix, no sunflower seeds.

It is helpful for YOU to eat these items in front of your bird as they are flock-creatures and can consider you as one of them. Even though an item may be ignored or tossed from the dish, keep offering as they may one day try and enjoy.

Soft wooden chew-toys are enjoyed, as well as various fibrous items. Be careful with stranded material as some birds will consume them to great distress. I'm not a fan of bells, even with the clanger removed as bits of questionable metals can be ingested.


Good luck, keep us advised!!

 

[Siobhan]

The human is always the Royal Taster. Birds are suspicious of new food unless you are eating it. Try eating it and NOT sharing, but sitting close enough so your bird can demand a taste. If you offer a taste, that gives her the opportunity to say "no." If you just sit nearby, curiosity will overwhelm her and she'll come insist you give her some. Toys are the same way. You have to play with them and pretend you don't know she's watching you. Eventually, she'll come and take it from you. The first rule of Bird is "MINE! MINE! MINE!"

 

[Dopey]

Since you are into making toys...my cockatoos like leather knotted and cork. The cork chewing does make a mess but they are very happy once they have chewed it.