Food

[hootx3]

I have a question about how to get my quaker parrot more interested in her food. She is currently fed Harrison's pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables. She's always been a picky eater. From what I've heard, other people's parrots will devour their food and go nuts for fruit, while my Quincey prefers veggies. She's been checked by the vet numerous times and is healthy, she even has probiotics (bene-bac). She had foraging toys too. I've tried everything, but she never seems keen on eating. I check her weight every morning just after I wake her up and it stays normal, so she isn't dropping drastically in weight (my vet says that if it drops 5 grams or more I should be worried.) so I was wondering if there were any ways to get her more interested in eating, because I feel like she doesn't eat enough at all. (My vet also showed me how to check the Choanal papillae, I think that's what they're called, the spiky things at the back of her throat that are spiky when she has enough vitamins and dull when she is lacking, and they're always spiky so that's good). For feeding directions, it says to give her at least 3 table spoons of pellets a day , so I measure it out and at the end of the day she definately does not eat that much. I also supplement her often with veggies and fruit, which she'll pick at. I change her variety of fruits and veggies often so she doesn't get bored. Any suggestions on getting her interested in her food better? Should I give a set time period for eating and if she doesn't eat in that set time her fruits and veggies get taken away? I do not have time in the morning for that, though. I've thought about taking her to the vet again to get to the bottom of this, maybe it's an underlying sickness we haven't tested for or I'm doing something simple wrong and it will fix everything (I don't think she's sick though, the only thing I've noticed that doesn't seem normal about her is her appetite, and its always been that way and she's been tested several times and nothing has ever really come up that hasn't been fixed). So yeah I'd liked some opinions. I'd prefer not to go to the vet yet, though. Vet visits aren't cheap and I'd rather save that money for emergencies.

And also, if anyone had any suggestions for some good Quaker sized foraging toys that would be great, since Quincey has figured out all of hers.

 

[hootx3]

Ugh I realize that this post is long so basically:
Is her picky eating normal?
Is there something I could do to get her more interested in at least her pellets?
Good Quaker sized foraging toys?
(Sorry for posting twice, I just wanted to be clear)

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Do you feed her the fine sized pellets? That may be easier than the course. Rosie doesn't like fresh food all that much, but she loves her chop mix.

 

[hootx3]

When I first got her, she was on tropican, which isn't as good as Harrison's so my vet sent me some samples of super fine and fine. She preferred the super fine, so we kept her on that, but I thought that maybe if i switched her to fine she' d find it easier to eat, so I've been in the process of gradually switching her to fine from super fine to try and make eating pellets easier for her so I'm in the middle of that now. I've seen her eat both fine and super fine, so I'm not sure which one she prefers. The vet says it doesn't matter, they're made of the same stuff, but I thought Quincey might like eating the fine better. She's never been on coarse. (Oh and I didn't ask for advice because I happen to be switching her pellet size, that's just a coincidence, she was a picky eater before, I'm trying to change to a size bigger pellet to try and fix the problem)

 

[cnyguy]

Quakers often are fussy eaters. My QP Ralph isn't much for eating fruit either, but he does enjoy a variety of vegetables. It can help to try preparing them in different ways-- both raw and cooked, larger pieces, finely chopped, mashed up, and so on. Among Ralph's favorites are fresh peas (raw, sliced in half-- how's that for fussy? ), cooked broccoli (finely chopped), cooked corn and green beans (cooked and mashed up). He also likes chopped up raw kale and dandelion greens (cultivated and store-bought-- not picked from the yard). Cooked grains are a good choice too-- brown rice, quinoa and barley. You have to be persistent and keep offering the same things over and over-- and you will be throwing out a lot of uneaten food along the way.

You might try soaking some pellets in spring water or unsweetened fruit juice and offering some to your QP. Ralph loves the mushy soaked pellets and thinks they're a special treat.

 

[hootx3]

Quincey is so picky that one day she'll like something a certain way one day and then she won't eat it for a long time. Cooking things and changing their textures (I've never tried finely chopped before) seemed like a good idea. I'll try wetting the pellets like you said, and maybe she'll like them better. Today though she dropped a wing feather, which means soon she'll be due for clipping her feathers soon (much as I dislike doing so, having two dogs and a cat, I don't want her to be able to fly within their reach) so I think I'll put off the changing of the pellet sizes and ill ask my vets advice when we go in about the pellets, if wetting them won't help. Thank you so much! Im So glad that Quincey isn't the only picky eater. I've heard stories of people's parrots who have dived into their bowls of fruit salad for their fair share. Quincey will just turn her beak and walk away at such a thing!

 

[momto3]

I think I have tried everything for our Quaker and she is still a picky eater and on the small side. She eats much less than our Blue Crown Conure. I actually hand feed her chicken or scrambled egg in the morning so that I know she gets some protein. She only eats a couple of veggies and one fruit (apples). I keep trying, however, in the hopes that some day she will actually find something appealing. As long as your bird is maintaining weight and is healthy, I would not worry and just keep trying. Every day I throw out lots of food. If your bird is eating Harrisons you are doing pretty good because mine won't eat any pellets and Harrisons she picks up and throws out of the cage! I do mix the fine and coarse for our conure and I even break the coars in half too just for size variety. I find my conure likes to eat the different sizes at different times.

 

[mrgoogls]

wow. cooper isnt picky at ALL. he eats almost everything, except fresh bananas and fresh oranges(but loved dried both). if it helps cooper prefers bigger pellets. he likes to be able to grab the food with his feet. he is on roudybush not harrisons but i get the african grey/ eclectus sized and he eats it great. he obvoisly loves most seeds/nuts. he goes crazy for most fruits and veggies. as far as i can see he likes both fruit and veggie equal amount. just depends on the individual one. as far as for quincy, just try serving something she shows ANY interest in as many different ways as you can think.

for example. if she takes a bite or 2 of carrot. over the next few days try carrots EVERY way ou can think of. cut it different sizes, put it on a skewer, put it in a dish, cook it, dont cook it, and anything else you can think of. then if you find a way she likes it keep doing that and try the same way with different food.(i mean, some things you just cant cook but try your best) she might like a carrot in tiny peices but apples in big ones. its all about testing what she likes. then just serve that food the way she likes it with the rest of the food however she likes it. it might be a pain to cook half the food, cut different sizes and ect but if it gets her eating more then its worth it!

sorry for such a long post

 

[Tuukee]

i can't get Tuukee to eat his zumpreem (spelling?) pellets for the life of me-- plain. but i use a rolling pin wax paper and smash them into a powder. i add them to yogurt- i use OIKOS Greek nonfat yogurt. i use the honey one the most- ill switch it to a berry one like blue or rasp. Tuukee loves fruit and veggies- if i put it down he'll eat some- but if i hold it and feed it to him he'll eat a lot. so try holding the food- make it look like you like it, i also explain the food im preping for him. i tell him about it. i also have a healthy food list that i left boxes to be filled in with a happy face, frown face, tongue out face meaning he loves it. that way i know for sure what he loves and dislikes- he hates kiwi but will beak my finger off for pomegranate, mango, pineapple, peaches, strawberries, he likes fresh bananas not the dried in his seed mix. veggies- i should say what he doesnt like thats easier- he also watches me make it- that too i think helps 'beak' the curiosity and appetite. if and when you can also try eating at the same time with your her. when you eat dinner- make her her food and have her nearby (Tuukee actually sits on my shoulder and i hold his dish with one hand so he eats as with me and we flock together strengthening our bond.) and maybe that will help her too if she feel that you two are eating together. downside to that or at least with me- Tuukee has learned my food smells and tastes differently, and has to eat every time with me --even when im only snacking and he cant have any i.e guacamole

sry my response is soo long =]

 

[mrgoogls]

i can't get Tuukee to eat his zumpreem (spelling?) pellets for the life of me-- plain. but i use a rolling pin wax paper and smash them into a powder. i add them to yogurt- i use OIKOS Greek nonfat yogurt. i use the honey one the most- ill switch it to a berry one like blue or rasp. Tuukee loves fruit and veggies- if i put it down he'll eat some- but if i hold it and feed it to him he'll eat a lot. so try holding the food- make it look like you like it, i also explain the food im preping for him. i tell him about it. i also have a healthy food list that i left boxes to be filled in with a happy face, frown face, tongue out face meaning he loves it. that way i know for sure what he loves and dislikes- he hates kiwi but will beak my finger off for pomegranate, mango, pineapple, peaches, strawberries, he likes fresh bananas not the dried in his seed mix. veggies- i should say what he doesnt like thats easier- he also watches me make it- that too i think helps 'beak' the curiosity and appetite. if and when you can also try eating at the same time with your her. when you eat dinner- make her her food and have her nearby (Tuukee actually sits on my shoulder and i hold his dish with one hand so he eats as with me and we flock together strengthening our bond.) and maybe that will help her too if she feel that you two are eating together. downside to that or at least with me- Tuukee has learned my food smells and tastes differently, and has to eat every time with me --even when im only snacking and he cant have any i.e guacamole

sry my response is soo long =]

creative way to get him to eat pellets btw its "zupreem" the only thing is even thought its nonfat yogurt i dont think hat much dairy is good for them. i could be wrong but i would try to cut back on yogurt. the fruit ones are probably better too.

 

[Tuukee]

ive been adding more zupreems and less yogurt but i'll do that. thanks for the advice. and the spelling correction. i wasn't even saying it right lol. if you have any other ways to suggest eating them i would much appreciate it! thanks again mrgoogls!!!

 

[MBL]

Hi everyone! This is my first post, and I'm new to sharing my life with a Quaker. I was having similar trouble with Louis (pronounced Louie), until I began standing next to his home eating my food. Oh man, was he interested then! But only in what I was eating. So now I've worked out some creative ways to 'eat' the things I want him to have. Mostly, I begin by pretending that he can't have it, then gradually let him take it over. just the way you might with a fussy child. Perhaps your young lady might be motivated that way too?