No more Sugar!!

[LoveMyConlan]

I recently took my over active jenday Conure, Kellan, to the vet for a basic check up. He's great! Perfect in every way... Except for the fact he has the Conure version of ADHD.

Kellan never stops unless he's sleeping. He's got plenty of toys, which are switched out often, lots of play time with me (he LOVES chasing fingers), and I purchased specific toys to keep him busy. It doesn't seem to be enough. He gets loud when I'm not at he isn't out when I get home, which we are working on fixing that behavior, and he is constantly hanging upside down and swinging. Sure he plays with his toys but he spends more time being destructive and spazztastic than playing.

I've tried working on target training with him like I have with the others, but he's so wound up he won't pay attention lol. I'm waiting for him flight feathers to grow back, he's clipped currently, to hopefully let him fly his energy off in his bird safe flight room.

My vet recommended I cut as much sugar from his diet as I can. Which means limiting what fruits he can have. The vet said lots of veggies(as always) and a little fruit here and there. He's on Lafebers pellets mixed with Higgens Sunburst Parrot seed as well as his daily fruit and veg.

What are some good fruits he can have that are low on sugar? I want to make sure he gets all the nutrition he needs while hoping this calms him a bit lol. If not the vet recommended AviCalm. I would rather face this challenge without that of needed. I'd feel like I'm drugging him

Any suggestions welcome!!

 

[LoveMyConlan]

I forgot to add... Kellan is 1 year old and a sweetie who loves people. Even when he's wound up and playing with his mouth, he's never drawn blood and is gentle

 

[plumsmum2005]

It may be worth you researching Bach Flower Remedies. Also you can get pet plug ins which my friend used for her RB2 for a period when he was plucking and anxious, it seemed to calm him. Low sugar fruit Low Sugar Fruits | New Health Guide. It could be worth just limiting the higher ones to tiny, tiny amounts as this way you are not cutting out some of the benefits that some of the other higher sugar fruit provides. Veggies are top of the list so no sweat if fruit is not given very often, use it as treats?

Have you tried sprouting btw?

 

[LoveMyConlan]

Thank you for the link! I haven't tried sprouting yet. My guys are super picky little brats. Most of the time I have to puree their veggies to trick them lol.

He dosen't pluck or over preen. His feathers are full and beautiful I can only hope it stays that way. It just seems no matter how much I wear him down with play, he gets a second wind not long after. Once the lights go off he grinds his beak and falls asleep without fuss. But when the lights come on? He's comes to life lol

 

[Piasa]

I agree with sprouts - wonderful.

Limes are low sugar. Not sure on sugar content of these, but they make the cut for many of the antifungal diets I've researched and are nutrient dense: blueberry, carrot, bell pepper, yams, winter squash.

Probably sugar in the manufactured diets, maybe more than in fruit. Any fruit juice is going to have way more sugar than the actual fruit because of how many fruits are needed to get the juice (and as obvious as that is, I JUST learned it! so sharing just in case).

 

[GaleriaGila]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Birds of a feather...
Sounds like MY conure!
I was just recently ranting about him. May I share?
http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/65210-rickeybird-rant.html
Oh and by the way, his diet is pretty sugarless, and he's 32... so...
There may be some enduring personality characteristics at work...
I really enjoyed your story!