It seems these birdies have been raised eating seed only. Whenever I put fruits and vegetables they leave it untouched. Can some one guide me how to get them to eat fruits and vegetables? I shall be grateful.
2006-08-30 14:44:32 · 14 answers · asked by rajeshchaubey 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
Seeds are pretty fatty, and a bird has trouble processing so many fatty oils. Lots of birds fed all-seed diets come down with an irreversible condition called fatty liver disease, and most are vitamin deficient, even though the seed bag claims it's "vitamin fortified".
If you have a hard time supplying so many veggies, and you want to start your birds on a better diet, start using cockatiel formula pellets. It can be hard to select the right one. You may want to do some research. We use Zupreem. Mix some into your tiel's seed at first, and gradually reduce the seed until their diet is all pellets. Offer a cup of frozen veggies every now and then.
Also, if you do like to prepare hot foods, the Healthy Bird Cookbook has a lot of really cool recipes.
Oh, don't feed him:
Avacadoes (totally bird-unfriendly; poisonous)
Head lettuce (romaine and red leaf, etc, are just fine)
Human-grade fruit seeds and pits (farming chemicals stay in them)
Uncooked potatoes, and green potatoes (solanine; related to deadly nightshade)
Old tomatoes (also solanine)
2006-08-30 16:02:29 · answer #1 · answered by Em 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try mixing 1/3 cockatiel pellets with 2/3 seed. That's a little healthier than all seed. Offer some finely chopped hard boiled egg, but if not gone after an hour throw away. Try Chinese pea pods (just a couple) that have been washed and hung up in their cage. Try UN-salted peanuts in the shell...they love to work at getting them out! Keep trying the fruits and veggies...eventually they will take them. Also an occasional treat of millet spray (1 X week) will be like candy to them! Good luck!
2006-08-30 16:19:04 · answer #2 · answered by KathieJo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought the same thing about my cockatiel. Did you just get it? (Don't know if it's a girl or a boy) Alberto (My tiel) took about a month to even want to eat anything other than his seed mix. The other day though when he was sitting on my shoulder he reached over and took a bite of my corn, so I left some in his cage and he practically attacked it. I also discovered that if I get anything into a small enough piece and offer it to him he'll taste it. Just a few pointers:
Birds don't like the skins of fruits. If you try giving your tiel grapes or apples or peaches, deskin them first, much more appealing to birdy mouths.
I also found that introducing him to new foods outside the cage works best. I have no idea why though.
2006-08-30 18:08:12 · answer #3 · answered by Sushi B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
since cockatiels are prone to being overweight and having liver and kidney problems, a balanced diet is a must. vets recomend that 50% of their diet be pellets. cockatiels are usually easy to convert to pellets. mix the food, and every week, put a little less seeds and a little more pellets. they will know it is food and will eat it when there are no seeds.
25% of his diet should be fruits and vegetables. to get them to eat fruits and veggies, start with something yummy, such as lettuce or spinach. you have to stick to it every day. but a small amount in a seperate dish. also, when you take him out, offer him some. put it up to your lips and act like you are enjoying it. hold it near him or next to him and curiosity will take the better of him.
the other 25% should be seeds and nuts. offer a variety of treenuts and a little bit of package seeds. this leads to a healthy bird and minimizes the risk of obesity or fatty liver conditions.
good luck with your bird!
2006-08-30 16:11:12 · answer #4 · answered by emilymarie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just keep trying. put a little in at a time or try a small piece of cut up apple and roll it into the seeds and give them that when they eat the seeds they will pick some of the apple. also if they just plain refuse they have seed food that is fruits and veggies buy a small bag of that and mix with their regular seed then you will know they are getting a healthy diet.
2006-08-31 05:04:56 · answer #5 · answered by parrotsarenoisy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can get premixed food that has veggies and dried fruits in it along with the seeds at Walmart and other large stores. Also pet stores. This works better for cockatiels. Because it comes mixed and looks like what they are used too. Try a small bag and i bet they will eat it. They have to be trained to eat fruits and things when they are little.So this is a good way to get them a balanced diet.
2006-08-30 14:59:03 · answer #6 · answered by soeur_deux_de_ny2005 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most tiels don't like fruits. Try dark green leafy vegies like kale, mustard greens, parsley. Clip it to the cage next to the food bowl. They will nibble it. Also, broccoli tops are a favorite. Many love scrambled eggs and cheerios. You can bake corn muffins mixed with canned or frozen vegies, and can add ground pellets as well. Pellets should be a big part of their diet. Try Zupreem or Harrisons brands. Put them in a treat cup next to their seed bowl. Mix a few in with the seeds. You can also sprinkle millet spray seeds on new foods to get them to try. Tiels are suspicious of new foods, so be patient and keep offering them.
2006-08-30 15:21:39 · answer #7 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A varied diet is just as important in birds as it is in people. Fruits and veggies are generally good for birds. Keep them away from chocolate and avacados. Cut up the fruit and veggies into more bite size portions for them, and start out with only one or two types at a time. My parrot loves watermelon chunks.
2006-08-31 12:23:12 · answer #8 · answered by Brenda F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to the ladies above me (Jeez, where were all these intelligent people when i was a vet tech??? lol) They know their stuff. Here's the only thing i didn't read above. Do NOT give up! you may waste $200 in produce and it may take months, but if you are persistant, you will succeed. I was successful in introducing pellets, not as successful at fresh veggies with my rescued tiels, but they should not be on an all-seed diet. thank you for doing your homework ;)
2006-08-30 17:37:15 · answer #9 · answered by Amanda C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cockatiels have their own ideas about what to eat, some only eat seeds, others will eat anything, my pet used to eat people food
try your birds on fresh corn on the cob and cracked or whole wheat bread
get several flower pots and plant some of their seeds, when they sprout feed this to your birds for something green
2006-08-30 19:48:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋