Feeding problems... (aka, "Your food sucks, mum!")

[Muchi]

Having a bit of a problem - before I got him, Araluen was only fed seed mix for large birds. Well, I have a little of that, but I'm also trying to give him a balanced diet... But when I give him fresh fruit, vegetables, millet, cheerios or anything that's NOT that seed mix, he throws it out of his bowl onto the cage floor. He won't even nibble it, like he doesn't recognise it as food. And if I take that seed mix out of the cage, he eats nothing!
Is there any way I can try and make the rest of the food seem more appealing to him?

On another note - can I give juice to a galah/RB2 and if so, what sorts do you think he may like? Also, what additives to juices could be harmful for him, what should I avoid? Giving him just water seems boring. But who knows, maybe he'll ignore any juice I give him...

[mabird]

Hi! Just picked up Harley on June 16 '08. Her previous owner gave in and fed her a constant diet of seeds.... lots of sunflower seeds. She seems to like pumpkin seeds, but I don't know if they are any better for her... are they? She won't even try anything else... I've never seen a bird that wouldn't eat beak appetite, and she snubs her beak at it. Any suggestions? H-E-L-P US!!

[GlendaNS]

Just eat with them and let them taste what you are eating. Be persistant. LOL

I have to grind up pellets and mix them with warm water to get Maxie to eat them.

Be creative, it takes time.

[dustbunny86]

I eat the foods I am giving to my galah. She always wants whatever I'm having. If it looks like I'm eating it, she'll at least try it! I've tried this when offering her new greens and when I first introduced her to squash. It doesn't work for everything (for example, she hates banana...) but she's developed a taste for some of the foods I've offered her that way! Then there are some foods such as cooked brown rice and whole grain pastas that I never had to coax her into eating at all... and that makes sense knowing that wild galahs are crop pests, lol.

[Tombstone]

If the bird won't eat anything except seeds, try making sprouts. They are very nutritious and good for your bird. You can sprout sunflower seeds, mung beans, lentils, wheat, etc. Many birds on seed only diets will go for these. I would gradually try to replace dry seed with sprouts and other food. I feed Zupreme, and I have a picky U2 who only eats the brown pellets - no colored foods are acceptable to her. Over the years, she has gradually given other foods a chance. It takes a long time. I am currently researching regressive weaning in improving avian eating habits...not sure about it yet but will post if I find out something promising.

[mabird]

Originally Posted by mabird

Hi! Just picked up Harley on June 16 '08.

Oops! Sorry, I made a typo... I picked her up on the 6th.

[KimM]

I agree with Glenda. Eat with them and keep introducing foods. I do this with my macaws all the time and make a big fuss about how good it is, and it usually is.

I'm lucky. I have two really good eaters who will try anything I eat. They may not be wild about it, but at least they do try everything I give them

[Zoe's Mom]

I find that my fids enjoy food if you make it fun. Turn it into a foraging game or make a kabob out of it. Sometimes I just smear peanut butter on something and all mine will eat it