How much cheese is too much cheese?

[MissSissy]

I found my adopted GW's (Maxie's) weakness! Oh she loves cheese!! So, I have been using it for positive reinforcement. I cut the cubes into 1/4" square pieces and want to know at what point is too much? I want us to become "best buds" but don't want to potentially harm her in the process.

She does like pine nuts but no where near as much as cheese... I think I could get her to stand on her head for cheese. LOL

Please let me know your thoughts... I'll hold off on the cheese until I get some feedback.

PS - So far today she has had five 1/4" square pieces.

Another question..

She will be talking away and I will call back to her. Now, if I don't immediately call back she will scream. So, I wait until she talks again and then walk over to her. Sometimes when I get half way there, she is screaming again. So, I turn around and walk away, give her a minute or until she talks again and then walk back. Again, she will sometimes scream when I start to return and sometimes not. I can certainly keep walking away if she does scream, but I just would like to make sure I am ignoring the unwanted behavior correctly. Please let me know what you think... keep doing what I am doing, or is there something else I should be doing or doing differently?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Please cut down with the cheese.

My Hunter (YN Amazon) is a cheese head, NO doubt about it. She goes ballistic whenever she sees anybody with cheese. Over a year ago she had 3 surgeries to remove a recurrent Xanthoma on her third eyelid. Xanthomas are believed to be caused by high cholesterol. After I cut out ALL cheese, ALL peanuts and ALL sunflower seeds, the Xanthoma has not returned.

Now that we've been in the clear for well over a year, I do give in occasionally, and will give her a super tiny sliver of cheese, but never more than once a week.

Birds can't properly digest cheese. And I'm not saying your GW will get Xanthomas, I'm only saying that cheese will raise the cholesterol if given in large amounts. Just look at her size. You've given her 1 square inch of cheese, so for a human that would be like eating an entire block - or even more. :11:

Moderation is the key.

Does she like almond slivers? Or sliced pine nuts (so they last longer??)

I think you are doing a mighty fine job at training her not to scream. Sounds like you're getting a whole lotta walking done, too.

 

[MissSissy]

Please cut down with the cheese.

My Hunter (YN Amazon) is a cheese head, NO doubt about it. She goes ballistic whenever she sees anybody with cheese. Over a year ago she had 3 surgeries to remove a recurrent Xanthoma on her third eyelid. Xanthomas are believed to be caused by high cholesterol. After I cut out ALL cheese, ALL peanuts and ALL sunflower seeds, the Xanthoma has not returned.

Now that we've been in the clear for well over a year, I do give in occasionally, and will give her a super tiny sliver of cheese, but never more than once a week.

Birds can't properly digest cheese. And I'm not saying your GW will get Xanthomas, I'm only saying that cheese will raise the cholesterol if given in large amounts. Just look at her size. You've given her 1 square inch of cheese, so for a human that would be like eating an entire block - or even more. :11:

Moderation is the key.

Does she like almond slivers? Or sliced pine nuts (so they last longer??)

I think you are doing a mighty fine job at training her not to scream. Sounds like you're getting a whole lotta walking done, too.

Thank you Wendy! I'll just eliminate the cheese then... I don't want to take any chances. She does like pine nuts.. I'll continue with those.

Yep.. getting a lot of exercise! LOL

Thanks again!

 

[MarciaLove]

Sounds like your doing good with the scareaming but yea parrots arent meant to eat dairy so no cheese is best i give my macaw bits of walnuts for training and my conure loves almomds each bird is different try to find what nuts or maybe fruits he likes best for training.

 

[Jlong1989]

As my mom would always tell me. If you have to ask, its probably to much lol. With that being said my birds love cheese too lol

 

[Mirren]

I offered Bo a tiny piece of rice cake the other day. He decided to by pass it and go right for the cheese that was sitting on top of the rest of the rice cake in my hand. Cheeky boy. He goes for my chocolate too, but I don't share that with anyone! Lol

 

[Freespin]

A friend of mine with a mac trains using cashews which he goes mad for =) if you ever want to use cheese for a special training session or extra special reward I would suggest grating it and tearing those pieces up again and feed a teeny bit. If she loves it so much even such a small quantity is a big treat!

 

[leschornmom]

I was actually discussing diet with my avian vet for my B&G Macaw and she told me no dairy. It isn't digestible and can cause serious problems. (life threatening) Good luck!

 

[MissSissy]

She likes grapes so I cut them up into small pieces and use those. I don't want her having too much sugar either so I'll keep searching for something else and alternate. Her previous owners fed her pellets and a few nuts each day.

We have added sprouts, fruits and veggies to her diet and she is slowly accepting them (I pick up a lot of them off the floor). Hopefully it won't be long and she will get excited about all those different fresh foods and I will know what really gets her excited.

 

[JerseyWendy]

That's GREAT!!!! You'll find things that will work for her, NO doubt in my mind. You're doing a mighty fine job with her, I should add!!

 

[MissSissy]

Thanks Wendy.