:sad: Having trouble introducing fresh food

[AnimalNut]

Help! Seems that Chloe is a little like my human daughter-- picky except for specific fruit! Chloe likes apples (like crazy) and ate a few peas and corn. But overall I seem to be having trouble getting her to eat fresh goodies too (beyond apples). Any advice on how to intro? One veggie at a time? Steamed? Raw? Disguised as something else.... Hah hah-- parental trick, that one!

And an update-- biting and nipping is much MUCh better. She is settling in really well. She lets a good screech out now and again. The other day my 5.5 yr old son and her were having a screech-y conversation back and forth (much to his delight!).

Krista

[jenseits]

Originally Posted by AnimalNut

Any advice on how to intro? One veggie at a time? Steamed? Raw? Disguised as something else....

Yes.

In cubes, julienned, raw, cooked, mixed up, plain, baked into bread, covered with tomato sauce, blended into a veggie smoothie, strung up on a kabob ... try anything, you never know what works.

Two things I've noticed: Persistence does pay off. I kept offering veggies and after MONTHS, I noticed that they were finally getting eaten. I've also taken a break from offering certain food because it didn't get touched and when I reintroduced it after a while, it got a very enthusiastic reception.

And second, make sure you're eating your veggies! If Chloe sees you eating them, she'll be much more likely to try them herself. In fact, for a while, just make a show of snacking on veggies in front of her and don't let her have any. That will definitely get her attention.

p.s. great job with cutting down on the nipping

Good luck!

[Monica]

Have you tried any of the recipes made just for birds??? I've noticed that birds usually like variety and may be more enticed to eat something if it looks interesting! Of course, sometimes you have to entice them by adding a small amount of seeds to the fresh foods so they get the idea that it's food in there! Of course, you can also make one of the "mash" recipes, then put it all through a blender, making a "glop" recipe instead, and adding some seeds to that so they CAN'T pick and choose through the food!
Homemade Recipes - BirdBoard.Com - Parrot Message Board & Pet Bird Owner Forums

Healthy Parrot Diet
Pamperedpeeps Aviary-* Parrot mash
Nutritional Psittacine Diet (The Mash Diet)
ParrotChronicles.com
Parrots Love Good Food Too - Recipes for Pet Birds
Parrots are my Weakness.: Mike's Mana Mash (A Complete Parrots Diet)
Seven Layer Salad - YAPBC

[ndeben]

I cut up into small pieces and mix with a couple of seeds, then slowly reduce the seeds and increase the uneaten veggies or fruits.. there are some veggies and fruits that my guys just dont like.. ( I dont like all veggies, so I gave up on those..)

[Monica]

BTW, you could also try precooked foods such as...
Beak Appetit
Goldenfeast
Volkman's Soak & Simmer Bean Mixture
Volkman's 15 Minute Soak & Simmer
Gini's Birdiebread
Momma Birds Birdy Bread
Crazy Corn
Harrison's Original Bird Bread Mix



Or maybe a sprout mix??? There are plenty of places that sell various sprout mixes for birds!
Organic Bird Food - Dynamo Sprout Mixes - Nature's Choice Essentials 100% Certified Organic Bird Food
Certified Organic Sprouts, Sprout Mix for Parrots, Avian Naturals Preservative free parrot foods.
Sprouts for pets
Parrots are my Weakness.: Sprouting for Parrots
Avian FRESH Diet Parrot Food
Birdcamp Sprout Mix Information
http://www.thebirdbrain.com/html/FoodForUs.cfm
sproutmix
Parrot Sprouts and More
Parrots on the Porch
FOOD - SPROUT SEEDS AND MIXES
Bird Food, Organic Sprouts, Parrot Food, Bird Seed. Bulk Bird Food. Grey Feather Toy Creations.
Blake Aviary Soak Seed Mix
Diet
HolisticBird and HolisticBirds
Bird Food_parrot seeds, treats and nuts for parrots
Beane's Birds - The Charlene Beane Company

This is a step by step How to pictures from food & drink photos on webshots
Winged Wisdom magazine ezine e-zine - Sprouts, first aid kits, cultures articles - pet parrots pet birds & exotic birds care

[geekasaurus]

ive found that if boogie doesnt want to try something - and i stand there where she is looking at me and eat some of it, make a big deal out of it 'mmmmmmmmmm gooooooood' she will then try it
also i have to give her these minuscule pieces or shes like UHHNO

[DarwinTheSun]

We also make a big deal about eating new veggies (or anything new for that matter). You can also try to sprinkle millet on it or cayenne pepper too. Both are pretty enticing!

[Monica]

Have you tried mixing a variety of finely chopped foods together? Such as cooked grains, cooked legumes and lentils, and various fresh/frozen/lightly steamed veggies? With maybe a little fruit and some sprouts?

Or you could take all that and just put it straight through a food processor so she can't pick and choose!

Or maybe try various fruits and veggies in some corn bread!

[AnimalNut]

I got some sprout mix, now I just have to get her eating that once it sprouts! I just got a sprouter from my health food store-- I figured that would be okay and this way I also know the seed quality is good.

Still having a hard time transitioning her on to a pelleted diet. Cannot get Harrison's locally. Will have to try and order it online. tried Avian Entrees (veggie version) by Zupreme and must say, it smells delicious to me but not sure Chloe thinks so. She prefers the Tropimix the breeder fed. Not sure it is really the most healthful choice and I would like the complete nutrition of a pelleted diet supplemented with fresh food. She does love birdie bread, and fresh carrots and apple. I have been clipping a carrot stick in her cage and she nibbles away all day at it.