Rio my new lovie

[Catalina]

Well I have had Rio onlyn 5 days and he will only eat the bird seed. I have put fresh fruits and veggies every day in a separate container and he will not try any of it. I also put it in his seed and still won't eat it. Also put some bits treats and he won't eat that either. What should I do? Any suggestions?

 

[cdnbirdlover]

Some members on this forum have voracious fruit and veggie eating lovebirds. And others, like my Basil, are the pickiest eaters ever. Basil will only eat broccoli, cooked peas and occasionally fresh spinach. He will not touch fruit. I've mashed, chopped, sprinkled with seeds and no luck. He would gladly subsist on millet or sunflower seeds. He does eat pellets (Harrison's) with generous millet treats. Sunflower seeds are rationed for training only.

Good luck. I am always interested in hearing about other picky eater lovebird success stories!

 

[Catalina]

Rio won't even eat the millet.

 

[Empath]

Sometimes if you make the food seem like a toy they play with it and eat it. Try wrapping millet through cage bars or have it sticking out of an envelope.

I've had birds try and get to food I make harder to reach. It's like a reverse psychology thing

 

[MarciaLove]

just try and try again mix pellets with his seeds and keep offering the fruit and veggies try putting them everywhere in his cage and on a stick!

 

[SoCalWendy]

I made My Rio her first sweet potato mash. I used 1 medium sweet potato, pealed and cut up and boiled. While that was cooking I cooked up this 7 bean soup I had like 1/4 cup. Added that to the mash then added hemp seed, millet, raisins, apple, and raw oatmeal. Rolled the mixture into lil balls and froze them. I take two out a day, let them defrost (in no time) serve her some and some to Kiwi. Rio is up to eating one whole ball herself, she loves it.

 

[Mayden]

Dont panic about diet conversion yet. He's JUST moved in with you, be happy he's eating anything right now

 

[nial8r]

i started to stress a bit with my 4 new love birds as they still haven't gone anywhere near the fruit or veggies but its only been about 5 day since i have had them home and in the Avery. i think there still checking the Avery out as they were all from tiny little cages.

what i did with my last blue black mask was wired fruit right the way along his fav perch that he slept on every night, he soon got the willies with it and started trying to move the fruit so he could have his sleeping perch back and believe it or not a week later he was eating everything even veggies maybe worth a go ??

 

[JerseyWendy]

May I suggest you offer it to Rio in a different way?

You could try fruit and veggie pieces on a kabos/skewer, such as this: Scooter Z Stainless Steel Skewer Small - CAGE ACCESSORIES by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Or shuff some goodies into something like that: JW Pet Nut Case for Birds - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

And most importantly, don't give up.

 

[Catalina]

Thank you Jerseywendy
I just ordered the skewer. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing

 

[Fersie]

have some patience and offer those fruits and veggies almost everyday.. who knows when will the bird give it a try

 

[walterbyrd]

Have you tried corn? Try it cut off the cob and the kernels separated.

Try some apple cut into small pieces.

Also, try small pieces of banana.