Running out of breakfast ideas

[katie_fleming]

Hey guys

I'm sitting here trying to make a list for Jasper's breakfast this week and I feel like it's always the same old. I was hoping you might be able to help me add to the list I have (usually pick 7 or 8 items from it). Everything is RAW so I can leave it in his cage all day while I'm at work.

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Hot peppers
• Sweet potato
• Sprouts (various ones...alfalfa, sunflower, pea, etc)
• Green/yellow beans
• Corn
• Snap peas
• Peas
• Pomegranate
• Celery
• Tomato (he doesn't really like tomato)
• Turnip
• Asparagus
• Cranberries
• Radish

Anything you can think of would be great. Thank you!

 

[weco]

Was just wondering if Jasper had been complaining about the fare he's been served? Considering that in the wild, our feathered friends eat the same things throughout their flowering/fruiting periods, usually without change, you've already got a fare sized smorgasbord to create his weekly menus from, without serving the same thing until at least next week ! ! !


Just wondering ! ! !

 

[Hawk]

Hey guys

I'm sitting here trying to make a list for Jasper's breakfast this week and I feel like it's always the same old. I was hoping you might be able to help me add to the list I have (usually pick 7 or 8 items from it). Everything is RAW so I can leave it in his cage all day while I'm at work.

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Hot peppers
• Sweet potato
• Sprouts (various ones...alfalfa, sunflower, pea, etc)
• Green/yellow beans
• Corn
• Snap peas
• Peas
• Pomegranate
• Celery
• Tomato (he doesn't really like tomato)
• Turnip
• Asparagus
• Cranberries
• Radish

Anything you can think of would be great. Thank you!

I bake from time to time, cornbread muffins with raw shelled pumpkin seeds, raisins, dates, chopped mango, sprinkle of parsly and bay leaf, mix together, put in cup cake pan and bake....they love it.

 

[RavensGryf]

Was just wondering if Jasper had been complaining about the fare he's been served? Considering that in the wild, our feathered friends eat the same things throughout their flowering/fruiting periods, usually without change, you've already got a fare sized smorgasbord to create his weekly menus from, without serving the same thing until at least next week ! ! !


Just wondering ! ! !

I agree with Walt on that! Jasper's wild cousins would be 'green' with envy :11:!

Okay, I got ONE you didn't mention .... Kale!! (Or collard greens). I buy a big bag of usually Tuscan variety kale cause that's what I like to make my salads out of. I think it tastes better than regular kale, and I think Raven and Griffin agree. They love it too.

Side note: besides the birds (they don't eat much lol), I also use it in spaghetti sauce, soups, sautéed as a side dish, as a main salad green, even adds healthy benefits to "quick and easy" meals like Velveeta mac n'cheese!

 

[Kiwibird]

Can ekkies not have a lot of fruit? I notice he doesn't have any like grapes, berries, apples & pears (spritz with some lemon juice and they're fine to leave for a while), citrus??? I give Kiwi his fruit in the morning and veggies in the evening so he's not all sugared up before bed

 

[strudel]

Definitely Kale. It's delicious (and the animals like it too).

One of my budgies is very keen on curly endive, she loves it. Otherwise, I also give them some asian greens (pak choy, bok choy, whatever), although it's mainly for the bunnies.

 

[Scott]

Some fruits Angel enjoys that are not on your list include banana, melon, melon seeds, apple, and grapes. I am very careful to source only pesticide free grapes! Also, cooked 100% whole wheat or whole grain spiral noodles. Once a week she gets a small bit of string cheese and some 100% whole grain bread.

 

[JamJar]

not a lot of fruit atal there is that normal for electus?

 

[katie_fleming]

Hey guys!

Thanks so much for all of the replies. Good to know Jasper is already getting a good variety Sometimes though he happily sits at his dish picking out all the things he doesn't want to eat before he gets going. He does know how long it takes to cut that all up, right??!!

Kale! Sounds good. I have no idea what it was so I google searched it. Should be able to find it at the grocery store I think. I'll have to find the French word for it since the grocery store by my apartment only labels in French....

With regards to fruit, he gets that all with dinner. I'm afraid of it spoiling so I save that until I'm home. I've been making him birdy kabobs. He loves fruit.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Scott]

One thing I have learned is to ignore their selective dumping of "gross" foods and offer continuously! Someday they may find something serially rejected interesting, try a bite and get hooked.

Exhibit A: Last week, after about 25 years of refusing a bit of string cheese, Peanut finally got curious and ate it entirely! Will be interesting to see the response this week....

 

[katie_fleming]

25 years?! lol Congrats on the breakthrough!!

Yeah, he seems to hate broccoli all of a sudden. I still put it in anyway. Same with peas. Normally when I come home his dish is nearly empty except for a pile of peas LOL

 

[strudel]

Yeah, he seems to hate broccoli all of a sudden.

I suppose like us, they might not like the particular piece. I love broccoli, but when it's "old" and the stems are really fibrous, it may not be nice, and you really need to steam the stems to make them edible. The broccolini (if you get that where you are) is nice and tender, stems and all, maybe go for that instead. I don't get it much, it's too expensive, and mine still manage to turn their nose up at it. Same with peas, if they are young, they are nice and sweet, if they are a bit "old" they can be a bit "bitter".

(Kale is not only yummy, it's cheap, and it doesn't wilt or go yellow or anything before you have a chance to use it. We never used to get it here, it's kind of "new" in our shops, but I love that stuff. I could be the head of a kale fan club. )

Seriously, your bird eats better than I do.

 

[RavensGryf]

...but I love that stuff. I could be the head of a kale fan club.

You can be head of the Australia fan club.. me too for the US . I do love my kale. Since I discovered it, I've eaten a lot of it on a regular basis. I put it in with so many dishes both cooked and raw. Had some tonight in fact .

 

[thekarens]

Plus one on the kale. That's something the birds get most days and the humans too.

 

[strudel]

Apparently, if you bake it in the oven it goes crispy like potato chips/crisps. I'm gonna try that.

 

[Anansi]

Hey guys

I'm sitting here trying to make a list for Jasper's breakfast this week and I feel like it's always the same old. I was hoping you might be able to help me add to the list I have (usually pick 7 or 8 items from it). Everything is RAW so I can leave it in his cage all day while I'm at work.

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Hot peppers
• Sweet potato
• Sprouts (various ones...alfalfa, sunflower, pea, etc)
• Green/yellow beans
• Corn
• Snap peas
• Peas
• Pomegranate
• Celery
• Tomato (he doesn't really like tomato)
• Turnip
• Asparagus
• Cranberries
• Radish

Anything you can think of would be great. Thank you!

Hey, Katie!

You serve the sweet potato raw? I could be wrong, but my understanding was that all forms of potato had to be cooked.

Now, onto my suggestions: jalapeno peppers. Jamaican hot peppers, chili peppers, squash (butternut, green and yellow), blueberries, cactus pears, starfruit, dandelion, red and colorful Swiss chard, granny smith apples, papaya, African horned melon, hominy, oatmeal (unflavored), chocho beans and garbonzo beans, as well as the aforementioned kale (I can sense Julie and Apple both nodding their heads in vigorous agreement from opposite sides of the globe! ), grapes, and bananas.

 

[katie_fleming]

Yes, for his breakfast I've been giving him the sweet potato and turnip raw :S

Thanks for the other suggestions!! I had forgotten about jalapeno peppers, been awhile since I gave him any. Does the squash have to be cooked? All the fruit I give him at night, but I guess some of it wouldn't go bad through the day?

This weekend I'll see if I can track down some kale for sure.

I had read starfruit wasn't good....same with pine nuts, papaya, and basically everything else I give him :S I'd have to find the link again...the list seemed a bit overkill.

I tried giving him cooked plain oatmeal before but he wouldn't eat any of it. Maybe I'll try sneaking some more in there...

Thanks

 

[RavensGryf]

You serve the sweet potato raw? I could be wrong, but my understanding was that all forms of potato had to be cooked.

That's not true raw yams are one of the favorites of everyone. One of the few veg Robin absolutely loves. His vet knows he eats it raw. I, on the other hand, need mine cooked well!

 

[Anansi]

All of the most trustworthy websites and sources I've checked claim that starfruit and papaya are just fine. Pine nuts too... in moderation. Like other nuts, they can be fattening. So I only use them for treats.

As for oatmeal, like barley I use it as a base. Then I can mix in lots of yummy stuff that she loves while sneaking in things that are nutritious but not as appealing to her. (Like carrots and broccoli!)
Squash can be cooked, but it doesn't have to be. I personally don't.

Here's my favorite ekkie diet website: fruitandveg
It's full of helpful info.

 

[Anansi]

You serve the sweet potato raw? I could be wrong, but my understanding was that all forms of potato had to be cooked.

That's not true raw yams are one of the favorites of everyone. One of the few veg Robin absolutely loves. His vet knows he eats it raw. I, on the other hand, need mine cooked well!

Weird. I've never seen anything in reference to yams specifically, granted, but I've read in two or three places that potato and sweet potato need to be cooked for birds. I usually like to see something corroborated in more places before accepting it as likely fact, but after seeing it more than once or twice I prefer to err on the side of caution, you know?