My bird is eating everything he finds, help!

[Safamirza🤍]

Hello, this will be a “short” forum but I need some advice with my male cockatiel named Kiko. I posted about him eating a piece of a hot cheeto (he’s fine.)

KIKO IS EATING ANYTHING HE FINDS! He was never this curious and only ate HIS food. Now he wants ANYTHING we are eating. I cant eat anything with him near anymore. Every second I look away he slowly creeps to the food and tries to eat it If he ends up putting something in his mouth that he shouldn’t, he runs or flies away from us so we don’t take it out of his mouth.

PLS HELP ME! Idk what to do about this. I don’t want him to eat something he shouldn’t bc he might eat something that could kill him. I monitor him all the time and never leave him unsupervised, but when he sees something he wants even from far away, he gets really hyper and runs towards it.

Things like chips, rice, and fries attract him the most. (I heard that it is OKAY to feed ur bird rice but the rice we make has spices in it.)

Thanks to anyone who replies and thanks to all the sweet members of parrotforums that have always been kind and helpful.

 

[StormyPica]

A bird wanting to eat what you're eating is normal, they're flock animals. I suggest you keep him in his cage while eating, or keep him in a separate room.

 

[clark_conure]

my advice.....snack on a strawberry, honey mellon, grape, broccoli, pepper etc. before dinner, (just one and let the bird eat the crap out of that. Then have your real snacks or dinner.

Protip.... say "no" at first and "they can't have a grape or a cauliflower" then let them win.

 

[Cottonoid]

So I haven't told you before that the bird that made me fall in love with parrots is a cockatiel named Keiko (pronounced like Kiko), so I really love all the updates and questions you've posted recently.

It sounds to me like Kiko is well on the way to being a very happy, confident, social bird!!

Maybe have a little food Kiko can eat on the side of your plate for him to "steal" - or make a little plate for him and see if that's good enough to sneak food from

 

[Safamirza🤍]

So I haven't told you before that the bird that made me fall in love with parrots is a cockatiel named Keiko (pronounced like Kiko), so I really love all the updates and questions you've posted recently.

It sounds to me like Kiko is well on the way to being a very happy, confident, social bird!!

Maybe have a little food Kiko can eat on the side of your plate for him to "steal" - or make a little plate for him and see if that's good enough to sneak food from

Aww that’s really sweet! Sometimes I put some treats or his fave veggies beside me so he’s distracted but he’s always interested in what I’m eating and wants it with my brother, after he’s done eating, Kiko will lick his mouth or lips and it’s so weird to watch him do it lol

 

[Cottonoid]

Well he sure knows what he wants, doesn't he?!

If he is pressuring you for food he can't eat when you are offering him things he can eat, that sounds trickier. Putting him in his cage with some food you can share is an option. Letting him eat with you but just moving him back to his own plate/bowl/place is another option. I'm guessing it will be a lot of repeating what you want him to do (redirecting him to what you want him to eat) and probably some sass along the way, but he'll get there!

 

[HeatherG]

I am having the same problem with Willow. He doesn’t like his current pellets. I have to eat away from him or leave him in his cage with something else while I have dinner.

 

[MayMaroa]

IS EATING ANYTHING HE FINDS! He was never this curious and only ate HIS food. Now he wants ANYTHING we are eating. I cant eat anything with him near anymore

you remind me of sky my floofy ball

 

[Safamirza🤍]

I am having the same problem with Willow. He doesn’t like his current pellets. I have to eat away from him or leave him in his cage with something else while I have dinner.

Another thing with Kiko is that he wants to eat what IM EATING. If I give him something new to eat he won’t eat it, or he will try it if it’s cut very small. I’m guessing that he thinks that what I’m eating must be tasty or safe to eat? Basically: he’s scared of food that is “big,” meaning he likes it chopped very small, but he will even eat the things that look big if I’m eating them. It’s like if I eat it, he’s suddenly not afraid of it anymore ?

 

[Laurasea]

My parrots all want to steal food from me even if they have the exact same food. They are flock creatures, its what they do.

I hope you will start eating healthier! I know I have ! I'm eating tons more veggies, soaked cooked legumes, whole grains, quinoa, lentils so we can share healthy meals.

It wonderful to share a large selection of parrot safe foods! Keeps them so healthy and vibrant feathers and mental stimulation. Win win

 

[HeatherG]

I have had some luck by setting aside portions of my dinner (before salting or buttering) to share with my birds.

Sometimes that’s acceptable to them. It seems if they see it is served at the same time as I eat or from the same plate.

 

[HeatherG]

I found some “ghost Pepper cheese curls” and they were so hot I had to throw them out. The jalapeño ones were good, though. The spice slowed me down so I can’t eat ‘‘em as fast.

I did not share with birds for fear that’s all Willow would eat once introduced.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

LOL! That's how I taught my cockatiel how to eat crackers. I'd eat it, then feed the dog, then offer him some. Worked like a charm! But it's frustrating when they won't take no for an answer!

 

[HeatherG]

LOL! That's how I taught my cockatiel how to eat crackers. I'd eat it, then feed the dog, then offer him some. Worked like a charm! But it's frustrating when they won't take no for an answer!

Willow doesn’t like saltines. I gave him one and said “Polly want a cracker?” And he threw the cracker.

What’s wrong with crackers?

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Nothing's wrong with crackers . Unless you have a bird hanging off your nose trying to get some!