How can i get my parakeets to eat fruit and veggies?

Question

I want to try and get my parakeets to eat fruit and veggies but they seem scared of them and just avoid that part of the cage.

Answer 1

Get your parakeets hand tamed first so that they feel secured......If they are already hand tamed, then its is better to offer it by hand instead of leaving it in the cage......

Answer 2

First of all, they have to trust you. If they aren't hand trained then you have to gain their trust through feeding and making sure that their environment feels safe and reassuring to them. And, it helps if they are comfortable with you moving around the cage, and touching the cage. If all that works well for them, then here is my suggested plan.

Sit next to the cage several times a day and nibble on small pieces of one type of fruit or veggie. I would suggest pieces of an apple to start with. Have the slices of apple on a little plate and just sit and talk to the birds and pick-up a piece of apple and slowly nibble on it (like birds do) while you talk to them. While you're eating make little happy sounds. DO NOT give them any apple. Do this for several days, not offering them the apple. They will get curious. Once they act interested, ask them if they want some apple and hold it toward the cage. They don't have to totally understand what you say. If they approach closer to the apple you are winning. You will probably have to just hold the apple slice a little way thru the cage bars the first time or two while they taste it. Be prepared to hold it there for up to 5-minutes while they 'think' about it. Make sure that it is not a piece of fruit that you have actually touched with your mouth. That can (rarely) be dangerous health-wise for them.

DO NOT ever rush them when 'training'. Be slow and patient. Once you get them to eat the apple each new food will be easier. It will get to the point where they will want to try almost everything you eat.

NEVER feed parakeets bananas or avocados. They can kill birds in the parrot family.

Answer 3

Try shredding carrots and winding them in the bars of the cage. Even stringing them on a kabob or putting a bowl of wet veggies in the cage can encourage them to eat. It can take as long as a year for some birds to eat veggies. Be persistent! Make sure they see you eating that funny looking stuff ^.^ . And mix the veggies with their regular food. Some bird 'slaves' have found that their birds prefer their veggies in the morning and their regular feed in the evening. That might work for your guys, too. I f you have a dog or even a hamster or turtle, have the pet eat the veggies in front of the bird. I heard a story about turtles that taught macaws how to eat meal worms in one sitting!

Good luck! Some birds can be stubborn about their veggies >.<

Answer 4

You never thought about they eat birds seeds?