What foods are totally "of limits" for conures?

[nelly&jake]

Does anyone know what foods are totally off limits for our little friends? Someone (a vet tech) once told me that broccoli was off limits for many small animals because it causes gas, and that all food that causes gas is bad for birds. Then I have read here many who feed their bird broccoli regularly and that they love it. It is very confusing. Are there any foods that we really shouldn’t feed them? My Jake will try anything; he doesn’t like a lot of veggies and sort of has a sweet tooth. He loves scrambled eggs, and i tried to make him some birdie bread, the recipe here was great; however, he picks out all of the goodies and just eats the cornbread. I am going to put the veggies in a food processor next time so that he can’t do that! I just want to make sure that when he begs to try something that I have, I don’t feed him something dangerous. He only gets seed balls as treats and his favorite treat is dried papaya which I have to limit or he won’t eat anything else!

[BirdzRmylife]

Hello Nelly,
I would say brocolli is fine to feed your bird in proportion. In fact, brocolli is very bennificial and healthy in proportion.

Foods completely off limits are;
- Chocolate
- Any kind of caffeine
- Alchol
- Uncooked meats
- Salty foods(chips, pretezels, salted nuts, etc)
- Fatty foods(chips, etc)
- Sugary foods(pop, gummies, etc)...Natural sugars such as those in fruits are fine in proportion
-Avocodo/Rhubarb

[kensbuns]

Dont forget onion. Alot of fruit is not good either. Veges especially greens and oranges!!!!

[BirdzRmylife]

Thanks Kensbuns... Also Mushrooms... However I'm not sure what you mean by greens and oranges?

[peeker]

Originally Posted by BirdzRmylife

Thanks Kensbuns... Also Mushrooms... However I'm not sure what you mean by greens and oranges?

Dark leafy green and orange veggies like chard, kale, collard greens, and carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, etc. These are very nutritious and high in vitamin A. :)

[The Outlaw]

Also, don't serve raw white potatoes. Cooked whites are fine. NEVER allow any bird access to the leaves or stems of any potato.

THE OUTLAW

[klriano]

Good info for new conure Moms! But here's the million $$ question. How do you get them to eat the good stuff?

My Jacobi (5mo GC) had only ever had seeds when I bought him as far as I know. Over the past couple weeks he has progressed enough to eat some parts of his birdie-bread, nibble on the tops of fresh broccoli and become addicted to raisins. Although seeds are still his primary diet.

He won't touch fresh fruit, I've tried pears, apples and bananas..he tosses dried fruit out of his food dish (mangos, pineapple, cherries, blueberries, papaya)

He won't eat fresh vegetables of any kind. I've tried salad greens to no avail...won't eat kashii rice, tears up his granola, etc.

Another question, if you give them prepared food...like Beak Appetit, do you just put it in a dish for them? Mine won't even go near new foods in his dish, he ignores the whole dish and heads straight for his seed/pellet mix and then digs the seeds out.

Help?

[birdfreak2]

I'am going through the same situation you are with my conure. The person who had him before me only gave him seeds and dryed fruits, I can barely get him to eat anything esle.I have tryed everything I can to give him wet foods that are good for him, he just looks at me as if I'm crazy. :eusa_wall I have tryed making a game out of it, but he just hides in back of his toys until I go away. He likes hard dry food, but won't do wet foods. He will nibble alittle oatmeal, but that's about it. :eusa_clap If you find a solution to get your conure to eat better foods, PLEASE let me know so I can help my conure to eat better as well. Thanks and good luck.

[birdfreak2]

I also tryed the birdie tweet, he won't do that as well even tho I tryed mixing it with some seeds. :eusa_wall

[nelly&jake]

Sometimes, Jake won't try something unless he thinks I like it. I make a big deal out of eating it, trying to make him "jealous" and thinking that it is so yummy that he would want to try it. It might also help if he was very hungry, you might try not leaving a full bowl of seeds in his cage (lots of H2O) but, keep the food out of it for a the day, then in the afternoon or evening, try offering the new foods. When they are hungry, they are more likely to try different things. Sometimes they will try different things if they don't have another choice. I just give Jake seeds (nutraberries) as a treat now.