New Quaker is a stubborn eater

[SamanthaJane]

Well I got my little Quaker and got NO information about his previous care. All I know is he was with his parents until he was 3 months old and lived alone in a parakeet cage after that. So, I got him some awesome Zupreem pellets with bits of dried fruits and vegetables mixed in.. well he won't touch any of it. In fact he kicks it out of his bowl and is very persistent about letting me know he's unhappy and hungry. He LOVES spray millet though, it's the only thing he goes crazy for so I was using it for training but it was all he'd eat. SO.. I broke down and got him some seed/pellet mixes. I got Avi-Cakes.. seed (no sunflower or pumpkin) with little pellets smashed into soft cubes. He seems to like these. I also got some nutri-berries and break them up for food.
1.. is this diet okay for him.
2.. He won't TOUCH veggies or fruit. I've tried leaving a bowl in the cage. I've tried eating them in front of him. And I've tried mixing them in with food.. no luck. I've tried lots of different fruits and veggies.. nothing.

Advice is NEEDED! Thanks all!

 

[melinda]

How long have you had your Quaker? When i get a bird that has been on a all seed diet i make the change over to pellets very slow. I start mixing the pellets in the bowl with the seeds. That way they see them and start understanding that they are food too. They may throw them out of the bowl for a month but sooner or later they will start eating them. When you see that he is eating the pellets slowly add more pellets and less seed. It could take a week to a year. But it is well worth it in the end when you know your baby is getting a good diet. As far as the fruit and veggys go just keep offering them. You can change how you cut them, or try cooking them , Mashing them, Put them in toys. or skewers Just keep trying and when you offer them to him eat some your self making a big deal out of it. I just takes time for a bird to learn to enjoy health foods and it gets the owner eatting healthy too. Wish you luck

 

[cnyguy]

Quakers are typically fussy eaters, and lots of patience and persistence is needed when introducing them to new foods. As melinda suggested, offering vegetables and fruits prepared in different ways is a good approach to take; usually, a Quaker will eventually discover something he/she likes. Sometimes it helps to eat a little of the same foods you're offering your parrot in front of the parrot, and make a big fuss about it-- act like it's the most delicious food you've ever tasted (even if it isn't ). Parrots usually want to try what we're eating and enjoying.

Some parrots prefer pellets that are on the mushy side, so try soaking some in some spring water or unsweetened fruit juice, and maybe your Quaker will like them that way too. Ralph thinks he's getting a special treat when I give him some soaked pellets. You might try experimenting with other brands of pellets too. Lots of parrots like the ZuPreem pellets, but some prefer other kinds, like Roudybush, Harrison's and Pretty Bird.

 

[SamanthaJane]

Thank you for your advice. I will keep trying.

I've had him for 4 days now. We are already in love. Lol.

 

[Garnet]

I've had my quaker since the day he was hatched, so I am lucky cause he eats anything I offer him since I weaned him using fresh fruits and veggies. His two favorite foods are pieces of cooked shredded chicken and jalepeno's. He will eat the seeds first then eat the rest of the pepper with gusto. Try giving him the pepper whole so he can have fun ripping into it. Any hot pepper is a treat for him.
Personally I think nutriberries and avicakes are great and I offer them to my flock all the time, mainly as a treat but then I do not feed an all pellet diet either.

 

[birdmama61]

Yes I feed my quakers a mixture of seed , zupreem fruit flavor pellets and avian entree ,garden goodness . i also give them daily fruit mainly blueberries , their faves and some fresh brocolli , they also have apples and carrots . My avian vet said he has never seen healthier quakers so I must be doing something right .