Macaw food question about nutriberries

[Sambamama]

Hello,

I have been owned by a blue and gold macaw of @10 years for only about 2 months now. This not my first parrot, but he's my first big guy....... i have had orange chinneds, lovebirds and quakers in the past; in addition to many other types of birds. This is a new ball game being in the USA and having so much available to chose from at the pet stores! Not to mention having real avian vets!


I have gotten him transitioned from crap seed to pellets and fresh veggies and fruits already. It was not too hard, thankfully. I would like to know if any of you have suggestions for me about how to feed lafabers nutriberries: My guy seems to love to crunch and crush them, but I don't see him actually ingest anything. I give him about 7 in his morning food bowl. I also have another bowl with pellets of both fruity and nutty favors. I offer zupreem, higgins and roudybush pellets. He loves the fruity the best so far. I give him a Bowl of fresh stuff as well. This varies daily. I give all sorts of tropical fruits and cooked veggies and starchy things. He does not lack for nibbles.


I have Harrison's on order as I type as well. I will try him on their pellets and bird bread as soon as it arrives.


Is it too early for my guy to know that nutriberries are food instead of shredding toys? I only have this doubt with the nutriberries and not with any other feed.....


Ideas? Comments?


Gracias.

 

[Gator]

My macaws do not technically eat the nutriberries either, however, I have found through the years that using them as a positive reinforcement reward, they do ingest some of them albeit quite quickly because they are wanting another. When I fix chicken breast for them, I can sometimes rub the nutriberries in the chicken and they will eat them. That being said, feeding commercial food is more a matter of personal preference more than anything else. As long as your guy has a well rounded diet, I wouldn't worry about it. I like to make my own treats for mine and have found that to work out well. He may also be wanting something to shred. Have you tried giving him toys that he can shed?

 

[Sambamama]

That being said, feeding commercial food is more a matter of personal preference more than anything else. As long as your guy has a well rounded diet, I wouldn't worry about it. I like to make my own treats for mine and have found that to work out well. He may also be wanting something to shred. Have you tried giving him toys that he can shed?







Ah yes, thank you for the reply. If he doesn't begin to eat them then I guess that I can start use the nutriberries as treats too. They are not cheap so i can invest that money into shred toys. My guy seems to like to chip wood..... Any recommendations for toys hat yours like? So far he loves the bird kabobs. So much $$$$$$ for 5 minutes of shredding........








I would like to know what treats you come up with for your own macaw? I would like to try my own on things that are bird approved .


If I feed only fruits and veggies is that a real macaw diet?






Gracias,

 

[Turquoise]

Welcome to the forum & I'm guessing by your first post, welcome to the US, & Texas. I too live in Texas, but I was born & raised here. May I ask where you are from? Just curious. I like to know about other countries & your experiences there with our feathered friends.

My boys have never liked the nutriberries, but since I have a big tub of them & like you said, they are pricey I still put them in their bowls. Most of them get tossed to the floor. Both my boys' favorite treat is unsalted pistachios. They love them more than any other nut or treat I have offered them. I have been fortunate to find them in the super WalMart out my way, so I have not had to order them as yet.

You will find that with the big boys (macaws) it is much cheaper to build your won toys. At least for the majority of the toys. I still buy one for variety & color as I haven't really colored my wood for mine yet. I mainly use 2X4 pine studs & cut them into small blocks that I drill holes in to thread the rope for hanging. Even tho my hubby has a drill press & band saw, I bought one for myself just to make my feathered kids toys. I need to get a few new ones made now that I am through making Christmas gifts for the human flock. My next project for the kids is to make natural limb & rope ladders for them to climb & chew up.You can be as creative or as simple as you like when making toys for them. Their main goal in life is to tear them up as fast as they can! LOL

 

[goalerjones]

I suggest using your junk mail. My Hahns loves shredding the cardstock mailers that come in. I cut them into squares and then attach them to the toys I am learning to make.

 

[Sambamama]

Thank you all for the ideas about toy making. I see there is a spot in this forum with lots of suggestions for making them too. Wow. This is a great site. I think that the original question about the nutriberries that I had is answered. My guy may never look to them as sustenance but only as shredding toys. Oh well.

I am now living in the metroplex of DFW, but I used to live in Costa Rica. There are many birds there, and thankfully now there are real laws to protect them. The scarlet macaws breed in the coastal areas of the country, and i have seen them in the wild. To see them in a cage you must go to the avian zoo there. Here in the USA it's a matter of $ to acquire one. (by the way, my blue and gold came as a needy bird to me. I didn't set out to buy one. I could not turn him away. )




I remember when you could walk down the street and find wild caught baby parrots, never macaws though, for sale from ambulatory street vendors. Times are different and there is protection now for the wildlife. That said, there are now many rescues that come up to help these animals who are being dumped, cruelly left to fend for themselves in the wild after being pets for many years, since it is illegal to own them now. I have a friend who runs one. I like to help her as I can.


There are now many organizations that will bring her animals, not just birds, for rehabbing too. For Many of the birds now she must build flight cages for those who have needed wing amputations and can never be left in the wild again. But if she can release, then that is her prime goal. Her name is Leslie, and she runs the Toucan Rescue Ranch. Look her up if you ever go to Costa Rica and want a birdie bed and breakfast experience. She has a nice website and blog too.


Anyway, if you go to the country go to see the Zoo Ave too!

 

[Turquoise]

That is an awesome story of your friend's rescue. I probably will never be able to go to Costa Rica, but it sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I'd love to be able to see our feathered ones in the wild as they were meant to be.

Thanks for sharing & I live about 200 miles west of you, 60 miles north of Abilene, TX.

 

[horsesculpter]

Sambamama, Welcome to DFW. We are here too. My macaw loves to destroy wood toys so we make most of them. I also use child safe wooden toys and blocks. Just watch what you are getting.