Introducing veggies to birds

[HeatherDesigns]

This week I'll be taking in my FIL's 2 birds, a Sun Conure about 12yo and a cockatiel about 10yo. They have been badly neglected the past year at least because of FIL's failing health so I'm not sure what shape they will be in when I get them. They have also never seen a fresh fruit or veg for as long as my FIL has owned them.

How is the best way to go about introducing them to fruits and veg? Should I just give them the chop mix I give to my Linnie's from day 1 or do I need to do something else?

Thanks

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

It's going to be a LOT of trial and error finding what they do and don't like. I would try different chop mixes, cutting, chopping, shredding, cooking, raw, mashed, even frozen veggies & fruits just to get a feel for what they might like. If they don't try it at first it doesn't mean they never will, it's been lots of putting the same foods in day after day after day before Zilla will try them. I use many different chop mixes, birdie breads, and mashes to get the "good" stuff into her. I also sit in front of her, or with her on my shoulder and eat the foods I want her to eat. I make a HUGE deal about how "yummy" it is and refuse to give her any until she is jumping up and down and begging for it then give her a taste.

Good luck!

 

[weco]

Amanda's got it down pat, companion birds learn to eat what their flock eats, so part of your new endeavor will be establishing yourself as part of their flock, then you'll find a lot of things easier.....

Since you've already got a flock with your linnies, you'll want to introduce your FIL's birds to you Linnies as the newcomers, bringing the new birds to meet your existing birds, much like you do children to adults...your FIL's birds will probably be a bit reserved for a while, new humans & new home, but their watching how you & your birds interact should help.....

Good luck.....

 

[Dieseldoctor]

My birds never had fresh veggies before I got them. I just made sweet potato n corn beans and give them some every day. After a while they eat most everything (they don't. Are for carrots though). They also love apples and grapes.

 

[Hawk]

Amanda said it best, involves trial and error. Different chops different approach. For example my birds at first didn't like plain chopped veggies raw. So took the same type of veggies the next day and soaked them for a bit in cool water. They ate them. Another way is a kabob skewer ( they make them for birds) and cut up veggies and put on the skewer, they peck at them.

Believe it or not, my birds love BBQ'd veggies. When I'm doing stuff on the grill, i'll do veggies in tin foil, nothing added to them, and let them cool then offer to my birds, they dive in their bowl for these veggies cooked this way. Corn on the cob grilled is a favorite for them. And they love a bit of chicken off the grill. Parrots love meat, just only give them white meat, not red meat, cooked egg whites, and homemade bread (toast).

Some people worry about their birds getting vitamins, My trick, My birds love their breakfast, I put kettle on, make a bowl of Total cereal which has 100% vitamins and mix a bit of that in with steel cut oats. add the hot water, Put your blueberries, raisins, in it, or other fruit. let cool to taste. 2 of my birds come down off their cage and eat at the table from a bowl. The other 2 prefer their cage. All love this mix, and occasionally it's not a bad idea to break open a fish oil capsule into that oatmeal mix. Keeps their oil glands lubed for preening feathers in the dry months of winter. The glands get plugged you'll have a vet call to un plug them.