Sunflower Seeds as a training tool....and minor diet suppliment

[ToMang07]

So currently I feed Willow (my U2) a mixed diet of Pellets and a parrot mix. (all sorts of stuff in the mix.) I pull the peanuts out, but I leave the sunflower seeds as there really aren't many, however there are 2 kinds, smaller black (like wild bird seed) and the larger striped ones (like we eat.) I do supplement fruit/vegetables where I can, but she's picky, and won't east much outside of select fruit. (Won't take shelled nuts at all, waiting for the autumn harvest for shelled nuts.)

It appears she only eats the black oil sunflower seeds. She's active, and spends most of her day out of the cage, she's in great health overall.

I need a food that I can give her as a treat for training. I tried pine nuts, she just drops them. Only other thing I can think of (that I can give her more than once in a session) is sunflower seeds, since she loves them.

So what's my best bet here? Buy high-end wild bird food? I haven't seen black sunflower seeds ANYWHERE except as wild bird food.

I'm open to ideas and suggestions.

 

[ToMang07]

Bump.......

 

[Aquila]

You can try slivered or sliced almonds, my birds love them, but I use sunflower seeds too. Pumpkin seeds are good too, especially because they're bigger.

 

[Allee]

Pumpkin seeds are a favorite with my flock.

Poppy will happily work for hugs too!

 

[ToMang07]

You can try slivered or sliced almonds, my birds love them, but I use sunflower seeds too. Pumpkin seeds are good too, especially because they're bigger.

Haven't tried pumpkin yet, although they are just now showing up in the supermarket. I've given her all assortment of whole shelled nuts, and she won't eat any of them. :52:

I'll try sliced....but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

Pumpkin seeds are a favorite with my flock.

Poppy will happily work for hugs too!

Willow will to an extent, but I want to train her to fly on command, as well as recall train her. That's gonna take more than hugs, lol

 

[Aquila]

I also found out that my grey loves soda cans, and my amazon caught on. I pulled the ol switcharoo and have seltzer instead. They still go for the can and take a few sips though!

Maybe try some dried fruit, like cranberries or raisins, or even banana if they like it. Maybe a little spoon with applesauce too! Just keep trying foods until you find something she goes crazy for!

 

[ToMang07]

I do, so far the list is apples and grapes. She won't take pine nuts, raisins, raisins, or fresh banana.

She likes to dip my coffee given the chance....like that's something a Cockatoo needs, lmao