Picky Eater/Treat Ideas

[Xraysrrad]

Hi Guys,
I have a very picky eater. I have tried....and tried....and tried to introduce new foods regularly. So far, he has turned his nose up (or spit out) every type of prepared food known to man. He does LOVE grapes and apples and my son shares chips with him!
I have also bought several "treats" from pet stores. Was wondering if anyone has any suggestions??? I am looking mainly for training purposes. (It gets kinda tricky and messy with the grapes and the clicker....lol) I would like to find something to put in my pocket for a more instantaneous reward.
Thanks in advance!
Robin

 

[gracebowen]

Have you tried dried fruit?

If you only serve cooked try raw. If you've only given raw try cooked. My fids prefer cooked food.

 

[Xraysrrad]

I have tried both.

Was told to keep trying.....and I will.

 

[Doublete]

My gcc doesn't want treats from my hand. Ever.
His training reward is "good bird" in a squeaky high pitched voice. He loves it.

 

[Xraysrrad]

Hi Doublete,

I usually use a tiny little dish and use a plastic spoon to feed him fruit when in training mode. (Not sure if this is the correct approach, just something we started doing and he loves the colorful spoons I buy for my son's lunch box!)

 

[LaurenB]

My GCC gets "junk food bird seed" as a treat when training. It's her old bird food, a cheap 'parrot food' mix. I keep it in a measuring cup, and when recall training, when she lands on my shoulder, I offer her the cup and she picks out a treat, like a treasure chest

If your baby is on a pellet based diet, seeds and nuts make a good reward for good behavior!

BTW... are you an x-ray tech? Just curious because of your user name.

 

[Kyoto]

Kyo will not eat cooked or chopped food. She likes to be the one to rip it apart and shred it into pieces I can understand why though. Try eating things with her. Works for Kyo every time to get her to at least try new things.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Popcorn
So easy to make for them. Put some in a brown paper bag. Pop in the Microwave and ta da .
My Mac loves it.
Also good to just twist up the bag with a little popcorn in it and tie to play stand

 

[Xraysrrad]

Hi Lauren,
I did work in radiology for 23 years or so, then went into administration.
Robin

 

[Xraysrrad]

Hi Christinenc2000,
I woulda never thought about popcorn. I thought we were suppose to keep them away from salted items???? I've gone to about 8 different stores looking for unsalted sunflower seeds.
Thanks,
Robin

 

[PickleMeDickles]

I use a shot glass with cockatiel seed (without sunflower seeds - they take Pickles too long to eat as a reward). My birds might offer a behavior 20-25 times and it's click, hold out shot glass, bird takes a very small seed and we are done. I once helped a friend train her bird and the only "super reward" we could come up with that was quick and easy was millet.

I know that a lot of people are against seed, but I have found that my bird know it's a "reward", not a staple. If they do something incredible I do keep yummy sunflower seeds around as a bonus treat.

Otherwise I feed mine a mostly pellet, bean, fruit & veggie diet. I soak the beans overnight then cook them on the brown rice setting (I buy featherglow fancy and our local birdfarm mix). I then mix this up with veggies. This is one bowl.

I also offer 2-4 different fruits in another bowl.

And of course pellets in another.

You could try "pretend eating" of some of the foods your bird won't eat. I put mine on my shoulder and let them see me eating said food. I kind of ignore my bird at first like this is mine, claws off. The I give them a really small piece but continue to pretend eating it. The bird will usually come over and "demand" more. I do this a few times then start introducing it at feeding time.

I am no expert (at all) but this is what has worked for me. Good luck!!

-Jen