Fussy Lorikeet - HELP

[BigBird]

Does anyone know any tricks to get a really really fussy bird to try new foods?????

Hector is a scaley breasted lorikeet and I bought him off a breeder who hatched him in an incubator so he has never had any "how to be a bird" lessons ever.

Anyway Ive had him for a few years now and often wondered how he survives because he wont eat or try new foods and basically has been fed the same thing for 3 years. All IVe been able to get down him has been Apricot nectar, multigrain bread with honey water mixed through it and the lorikeet dry/wet mix he was handreared on. He wont touch fruit and veg and if i put dry mix or anything new in his cage he just uses it as a toy and buries himself into and kicks it out of the bowl. He is now starting to develop tapping toe, Id never heard of it before until recently, we thought he was just waving at us. But now know its his diet. But what do you do if he wont eat anything!!! I have quite a few birds so fresh fruit and veg get handed out to the aviaries everyday, so its not like im too lazy or busy to give him anything fresh, cause Im making it everyday anyway. He just wont try it, now he's getting sick.

Desperate to know any tricks to make him start eating properly. IVe tried asking the breeder when I first got him, she just told me what he was reared on and Ive been using it ever since, but obviously not enough for him.

Any help appreciated.

[Ashling]

Oh dear lord me and Ash LOVE drinking apricot nectar together- sorry, just had to say that. Anyway, if he's tame you can use methods such as pretending that you are really enjoying something, and "eat" it close enough for him to be interested in it, or even take a nibble. (works a charm with my lorikeet) Also, offer some to another family member or bird- nothing works better than jealousy! I know another good method but it's slipped my mind :/
If nothing ends up working, you might have to start adding tasteless supplements to the original mix, or the water, or apricot nectar so that he gets all his needed nutrition.

[BigBird]

Thanks for that will try, but the problem is he is not interested in food. All he is interested in at the moment is humping. Humping his perch, humping my hair, humping my arm etc etc. Food has never been an interest for him. My superb parrot, lived for food, couldnt eat anything without sharing it with him. But Hector has never been interested in it. Yesterday went to pet shop and bought a yummy mix of dried fruit, pellets and nuts and some dry mix that my outside lorikeets cant get enough of. He sniffed it and went back to humping his perch, didnt ever lick it once. He is a really hard case, is basically living on nothing.

I agree with you about Apricot Nector, its my fave juice as well. Glass for me, glass for them.

[Ashling]

Wow. He is in great need of a lady. That's not why you have him though, is it?
Man, this is a tough one. I really can't imagine a lorikeet not wanting to eat things... have you tried mashed potato with apricot juice on it? Scrambled eggs with orange juice? Make it look as much like his normal food as possible.
Have you ever simply fed him ONLY the thing you want him to try, so he has no choice but to eat it? If it doesn't go to plan, a day without food is better than a severely shortened lifespan. Maybe wait till he's over this humping stage :p How old is he? Perhaps you will have to resort to using his love of humping to manipulate him somehow. It's hard to delve into the mind of a hormonal lorikeet though!

[BigBird]

Ive tried putting only foods he hasnt eaten before ie an apple some corn kernels or just the dry mix and no nibbles were taken on anything he just went a whole day without eating.

No Im not only keeping him to breed him, he has been part of the family and a house bird for 3 years, he's a very clingy bird and doesnt know how to amuse himself by himself, when he is out he has to be in your face all the time. If you put him on the play gym, on the other side of the room, within 5-10 minutes he has made his way across the room and on your shoulder. Now he has taken to humping and its chronic. Getting another one dna tested at the moment so if its a hen I will set the two of them up. Will keep them separated for a few months as she is only young and dont want him harrassing her til she is old enough to start a family. They can have play dates until then. Im also hoping that since she apparently is a big eater that she might teach him some bird/eating skills. Skills that he obviously missed out on growing up in a cooker!

[bubbalori]

Originally Posted by BigBird

Thanks for that will try, but the problem is he is not interested in food. All he is interested in at the moment is humping. Humping his perch, humping my hair, humping my arm etc etc. Food has never been an interest for him. My superb parrot, lived for food, couldnt eat anything without sharing it with him. But Hector has never been interested in it. Yesterday went to pet shop and bought a yummy mix of dried fruit, pellets and nuts and some dry mix that my outside lorikeets cant get enough of. He sniffed it and went back to humping his perch, didnt ever lick it once. He is a really hard case, is basically living on nothing.

I agree with you about Apricot Nector, its my fave juice as well. Glass for me, glass for them.

ummmmmm i think he needs a mate. but i pity the mate he has she will be all worn out in a day hehehhe

i use baby food in my handrearing mix to get them use to the taste of fruit n vege so maybe put a little bit in a small bowl and try that all our birds love it as a treat.

[Ashling]

Good idea he really did need a girlfriend. She will probably teach him to be more adventurous with food. Hope he enjoys his playdates! :D

[LGood22573]

Wow that is hard to imagine. My lory ate everything and anything. Just keep trying new ways and new things. My african grey was the same way. I finally, just found out that she will eat a "mash" I make of fruits and vegetables. Try not to get discouraged. Maybe try hanging them or different areas other than the food bowl. Try different sizes too, like cutting up really small or really big. Also, have you tried cooking them?

As for the humping, I feel for you. My lory was IN LOVE with my foot. Every time I turned around, he was on my foot doin' his thing. Maybe it is worse right now because of breeding season?

I have never heard of "tapping toe", I'm going to look that one up.

Lisa