Eating problem?

[Brigette]

I recently purchased a Quaker Parrot from a girl who was not providing proper care for the bird. She was feeding him Cockatiel food (I figured he should have been on parrot food?) I've had him two days and all he is eating is sunflower seeds. I bought him parrot food but he's digging the sunflower seeds out and eating them. He won't eat fresh fruit or anything! I took him to the vet, but didn't ask about this as I didn't notice it. He seems happy, he's talking like crazy! Any suggestions?

[Kiwi08]

what is the "cockatiel" food he was eating? Quakers and cockatiels are similar in size (quakers being a little larger) but most seed and pellet mixes are grouped into size categories, quakers/cockatiels often being grouped together.

My quaker was on seeds, but is now converted to Zupreem "fruity" pellets. They were the only thing he would touch, because they taste fruity. I'm now in the process of converting him to the Zupreem natural pellets. You could try the fruity pellets and see if he'll go for them...at least to get him used to eating pellets instead of seeds.

[becca623]

Some birds can be very stubborn about what they eat. It can take weeks or even months to get them to try new foods. You may want to try serving the food in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes a round shaped food won't be touched but the same food cut in a square for instance might. Also, let him or her see you eating the food. Make a big deal out of how good it tastes. You might want to try some pellets. Several companies offer free samples of their foods for you to try or some stores offer a guarantee on foods if your birds won't eat them. Just keep experimenting. Something will work.

[Brigette]

Thanks, to you both! I'll try that and let you know how it turns out!

[Brigette]

I'm getting pellets tomorrow, but honestly, I don't think he'll touch him. All day off and on I've been trying apples, oranges, bananas, broccli, etc. He nips it, not even enough to get a piece of it, then leaves it alone. I put some in his food bowl and he won't touch it. There is a seed stick in his cage that he has been eating sunflower seeds off of. Now I just read that sunflower seeds can give them fatty liver. I've tried cutting the fruit into different shapes, etc. nothing is working. I'm getting concerned that he is not getting enough food!

[expressmailtome]

It can take a few weeks of trying before a bird will start to eat new foods. Just keep trying.

Matt

[my-africangrey-echo]

I agree it's only been a few days. Let him adjust to his new world then you can work on the diet he is on. Until then add some pellets to the seed and slowly reduce the amount of seed you give him. Also try the new food first thing in the morning when he wakes up hungry. The possibility of him trying something new in his bowl when he has his morning appetite is a good way to get him to try it.

[Brigette]

Will try that. So, I really don't need to worry if he's not eating much for now?

[chapala]

You do need to worry about his weight while he figures out what is edible, so you will want to feed him the food he's familiar with for awhile until he's eating other food. The best time to offer new food is in the morning (no food in the cage at night), then later put in the old food. I wouldn't suggest trying this and that food - it only confuses the bird about what is edible. Stick to a few new foods, including pellets, and continue to offer them first thing in the morning, each and every morning. When he starts trying the new foods is when you can begin decreasing the sunflower seeds that you're offering later. It will happen with consistency, so good luck and stick with it!