This bird won't touch anyting but seed. She is SO picky, acts like i'm trying to poisen her, turns her nose up to every thing...
The lady I got her from gave me a huge box of different foods, and treats but she wont eat them, well except the bag of black seed and parrot food but she picks through it for the seed. There are A LOT of stuff unopened to-does bird food/treats expire? She will eat millet
I'd like to gradually introduce some really irristable yummies so she will be more inclined to try stuff. My goal is to eventually replace a large portion of the seed for pellots, and other bird foods or treats, as well as human foods such as pastas, fruits & veggies
Appreciate any idea!
Full Version: What Are Some Yummy Treats That Won't Be Resisted?
To get her to try different things, sit and eat in front of her and she'll probably be dying to try what you are.
It's good that you want to get her on pellets, that's important. Other good treats are almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts.
You can also get her to eat fresh fruit and veggies, pasta, rice, sweet potato or yam. Just remember no avocado, apple seed or fruit pits.
It's good that you want to get her on pellets, that's important. Other good treats are almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts.
You can also get her to eat fresh fruit and veggies, pasta, rice, sweet potato or yam. Just remember no avocado, apple seed or fruit pits.
Just keep trying!! It takes time for them to accept new foods but eventually they will. I agree that eating WITH her is a big help. Try veggies, especially corn and peas, fruits, strawberries, blueberries are favorites of my fids. Popcorn is a big hit as is birdie bresd, Good luck!!
I know what helped with mine was I sprinkled some millet on the foods I was wanting them to try and that seemed to help, and also with petey and missy I sprinkle some baby bird formula on it as well i do that for other reasons as well...
But try the millet first and see what happens..
But try the millet first and see what happens..
My birds are addicted to dried hot peppers, especially the really big ones that I get at the Latino market. Birdy bread with a dab of cashew butter on top is another favorite. Try sprouting some seed. Mine like it just as a tiny tip of root appears, which is about 24 hours after soaking it. I use GSE to inhibit bacteria and rinse frequently. They also love nuts, especially pine nuts. I buy bags of frozen organic corn and peas and just run hot water over it in the morning.
Casey's favourite "treats" are almond slivers, pumpkin seeds and Gerber baby rice crackers (they're just 100% whole grain rice with nothing else!) But she also loves getting a piece of raw fruits or veggies like melons, broccoli, strawberries, cauliflower or peppers (with the seeds). Her favourite foods that she goes crazy for and will actually bit my fingers to get it, lol, would be chicken, salmon and hard boiled eggs 
Overall it's best to get her switched over from seeds to pellets. Have you tried the conversion at the top of the diet and health section?
In general there is a crazy amount of foods for them to try, so sometimes it's just a matter of figuring out what they like. But since he sounds like quite the little stubborn seed lover, lol, it might just take him a while to aquire new tastes, but with some time and patience hopefully he'll learn!
They love their grains, brown rice is great, there are also a bunch of other grains you can cook up... millet, quinoa, amaranth, oats (whole, not rolled or cut), hulless barley (not pearled), spelt or kamut, teff, brown rice, wild rice, buckwheat. I usually use 5-6 grains (along with quinoa/kamut pasta) and 5-6 veggies, make a big batch of food each month, blend it and freeze it in mini portions to thaw each night for dinner, it might be a good way to introduce some foods to him as it's all blended up and he can't pick out individual things but will give him a flavour of a variety of foods!
Some foods to try...
Veggies like pumpkin, carrots, acorn or butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, kale, dandelion greens, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, spinach or chard, broccoli, celery, cucumber, peas, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, bokchoy, carrot tops, okra, kohlrabi, spaghetti squash, cauliflower, corn, radish, brussel sprouts, escarole, endive, corn, beet root. Fruits like papaya, mango, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi, oranges, cantaloupe or other melon, nectarine, cherries, apricot, grapefruit, banana, pears, apple, figs, pineapple, etc.
Hope that helps!
Overall it's best to get her switched over from seeds to pellets. Have you tried the conversion at the top of the diet and health section?
In general there is a crazy amount of foods for them to try, so sometimes it's just a matter of figuring out what they like. But since he sounds like quite the little stubborn seed lover, lol, it might just take him a while to aquire new tastes, but with some time and patience hopefully he'll learn!
They love their grains, brown rice is great, there are also a bunch of other grains you can cook up... millet, quinoa, amaranth, oats (whole, not rolled or cut), hulless barley (not pearled), spelt or kamut, teff, brown rice, wild rice, buckwheat. I usually use 5-6 grains (along with quinoa/kamut pasta) and 5-6 veggies, make a big batch of food each month, blend it and freeze it in mini portions to thaw each night for dinner, it might be a good way to introduce some foods to him as it's all blended up and he can't pick out individual things but will give him a flavour of a variety of foods! Some foods to try...
Veggies like pumpkin, carrots, acorn or butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, kale, dandelion greens, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, spinach or chard, broccoli, celery, cucumber, peas, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, bokchoy, carrot tops, okra, kohlrabi, spaghetti squash, cauliflower, corn, radish, brussel sprouts, escarole, endive, corn, beet root. Fruits like papaya, mango, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi, oranges, cantaloupe or other melon, nectarine, cherries, apricot, grapefruit, banana, pears, apple, figs, pineapple, etc.
Hope that helps!
QUOTE (Glowbird @ Sep 29 2009, 06:58 AM) 
My birds are addicted to dried hot peppers, especially the really big ones that I get at the Latino market. Birdy bread with a dab of cashew butter on top is another favorite. Try sprouting some seed. Mine like it just as a tiny tip of root appears, which is about 24 hours after soaking it. I use GSE to inhibit bacteria and rinse frequently. They also love nuts, especially pine nuts. I buy bags of frozen organic corn and peas and just run hot water over it in the morning.
What sort of seed? I have spinach and salad green sprouting right now.
I've tried feeding her what im eating, tried introducing new stuff by taking her seed bowl out for a couple hours. NOTHING!
QUOTE (Casey's Mom @ Sep 29 2009, 11:40 AM)
Casey's favourite "treats" are almond slivers, pumpkin seeds and Gerber baby rice crackers (they're just 100% whole grain rice with nothing else!) But she also loves getting a piece of raw fruits or veggies like melons, broccoli, strawberries, cauliflower or peppers (with the seeds). Her favourite foods that she goes crazy for and will actually bit my fingers to get it, lol, would be chicken, salmon and hard boiled eggs
Overall it's best to get her switched over from seeds to pellets. Have you tried the conversion at the top of the diet and health section?
In general there is a crazy amount of foods for them to try, so sometimes it's just a matter of figuring out what they like. But since he sounds like quite the little stubborn seed lover, lol, it might just take him a while to aquire new tastes, but with some time and patience hopefully he'll learn! They love their grains, brown rice is great, there are also a bunch of other grains you can cook up... millet, quinoa, amaranth, oats (whole, not rolled or cut), hulless barley (not pearled), spelt or kamut, teff, brown rice, wild rice, buckwheat. I usually use 5-6 grains (along with quinoa/kamut pasta) and 5-6 veggies, make a big batch of food each month, blend it and freeze it in mini portions to thaw each night for dinner, it might be a good way to introduce some foods to him as it's all blended up and he can't pick out individual things but will give him a flavour of a variety of foods!
Some foods to try...
Veggies like pumpkin, carrots, acorn or butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, kale, dandelion greens, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, spinach or chard, broccoli, celery, cucumber, peas, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, bokchoy, carrot tops, okra, kohlrabi, spaghetti squash, cauliflower, corn, radish, brussel sprouts, escarole, endive, corn, beet root. Fruits like papaya, mango, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi, oranges, cantaloupe or other melon, nectarine, cherries, apricot, grapefruit, banana, pears, apple, figs, pineapple, etc.
Hope that helps!
Overall it's best to get her switched over from seeds to pellets. Have you tried the conversion at the top of the diet and health section?
In general there is a crazy amount of foods for them to try, so sometimes it's just a matter of figuring out what they like. But since he sounds like quite the little stubborn seed lover, lol, it might just take him a while to aquire new tastes, but with some time and patience hopefully he'll learn!
They love their grains, brown rice is great, there are also a bunch of other grains you can cook up... millet, quinoa, amaranth, oats (whole, not rolled or cut), hulless barley (not pearled), spelt or kamut, teff, brown rice, wild rice, buckwheat. I usually use 5-6 grains (along with quinoa/kamut pasta) and 5-6 veggies, make a big batch of food each month, blend it and freeze it in mini portions to thaw each night for dinner, it might be a good way to introduce some foods to him as it's all blended up and he can't pick out individual things but will give him a flavour of a variety of foods! Some foods to try...
Veggies like pumpkin, carrots, acorn or butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, kale, dandelion greens, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, spinach or chard, broccoli, celery, cucumber, peas, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, bokchoy, carrot tops, okra, kohlrabi, spaghetti squash, cauliflower, corn, radish, brussel sprouts, escarole, endive, corn, beet root. Fruits like papaya, mango, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi, oranges, cantaloupe or other melon, nectarine, cherries, apricot, grapefruit, banana, pears, apple, figs, pineapple, etc.
Hope that helps!
The items you listed under "some foods to try" can they be cooked or raw??
Mine love potatoes. Mashed. Fried. Baked. Scalloped. They don't care how you cook 'em, they LOVE them. That's one thing you could try and eat some in front of them. I'm the Quakers' royal taster, and neither of them will consider touching something they haven't seen before until they've watched me eat it and I've proved it's not a monster or filled with arsenic or something. Even at that, I couldn't get Clyde to touch taquitos last night, though Jade finally tried a bite and after that, wouldn't STOP eating it.
My favourite way to get them to make the switch from the dreaded seed only diet is to take a nice ripe hunk of banana and roll it in the dreaded seed. Put that in the cage for 2 hours hung on a bird kabob. Remove the seed only. Basically, they HAVE TO try the banana when they go for a mouthful of seed and find that lo and behold its YUMMY. Now, I do this because eating infront of birds that cower in the back of the cage a la I've been in a corner and ignored all my life fashion wouldn't have the slightest positive effect! I know once they like and trust me, pretty much I just get animated and say OH YUMMY! GOOD and smack my lips etc etc, have some and I couldn't get the NOT to try it!
At any rate, if the banana thing works out.. then start mashing banana and course grating other things with the cheese grater. Mix banana mush into the grated goodies and if necessary lightly sprinkle with a touch of dreaded seed.
I give mine raw for breakie, cooked for supper. I also find that sometimes lightly steaming things works better at first. Also the old, give them some large leafy greens that are wet- that will work for a bird that likes to bathe. Kale is a big hit. Experiment with sizes. Hiding stuff in nut butter is great too.. smear that on one of the dreaded honey seed sticks (that is really a carrot, zucchini, apple etc etc, just about the same shape). As are dried raisins and figs. Banana chips. Anything with beans/lentils/legumes (I think they have the little shells which is reminiscent of the dreaded seeds).
Does anyone "get" yet that I HATE SEEDS! It just makes me cringe to think of eating, say mcdonalds, all day everyday. I don't go there EVER. What dorkus actually got the idea that birds SHOULD eat only seeds? I actually had a VET tell me that once, many moons ago.
J
At any rate, if the banana thing works out.. then start mashing banana and course grating other things with the cheese grater. Mix banana mush into the grated goodies and if necessary lightly sprinkle with a touch of dreaded seed.
I give mine raw for breakie, cooked for supper. I also find that sometimes lightly steaming things works better at first. Also the old, give them some large leafy greens that are wet- that will work for a bird that likes to bathe. Kale is a big hit. Experiment with sizes. Hiding stuff in nut butter is great too.. smear that on one of the dreaded honey seed sticks (that is really a carrot, zucchini, apple etc etc, just about the same shape). As are dried raisins and figs. Banana chips. Anything with beans/lentils/legumes (I think they have the little shells which is reminiscent of the dreaded seeds).
Does anyone "get" yet that I HATE SEEDS! It just makes me cringe to think of eating, say mcdonalds, all day everyday. I don't go there EVER. What dorkus actually got the idea that birds SHOULD eat only seeds? I actually had a VET tell me that once, many moons ago.
J
It is so funny that you are all talking about this. I was just about to ask the question what is your birdie's favorite food... lol
This is something that I read about on this forum. To be patient and KEEP TRYING! My birds (babies 3 & 4 months old) would have NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY KIND of food. They RAN FROM IT! Thought it was a predator!!! lol. I just kept trying and trying just like they say to do and pretty soon they started to come up and stick out there tongue and put it right on the food to taste it and then walk away. Still nothing, but I kept trying. The next thing I knew they started to get EXCITED to see what I was bringing to taste. Like it was a fun game or something. I just kept saying, "do you want to taste". Now they are excellent tasters, they LOVE to taste and have certainly found their favorites.
NUMBER ONE FAVORITE: Cashews, Almonds (These are such a big hit that I use them for treats)
NUMBER TWO ABSOLUTE FAVORITE: BROWN RICE!!!!!
AND.. They are even eating pellets now!!!!!! Lots of them!!!! THIS IS A MIRACLE!!!
So far they also like cheerios, eggs, peanuts, chicken, we are still working on vegetables but they do like banana and apple, and so far that is pretty much it. I will just keep trying and trying... Slowly but surely, it IS WORKING!
This is SO EXCITING for me! If it wasn't for this forum, I would have never kept on trying and trying. I would
have given up a LONG time ago!!! And just figured that my birds didn't like any of that stuff so owe well...
Good luck to you!
It is so funny that you are all talking about this. I was just about to ask the question what is your birdie's favorite food... lol
This is something that I read about on this forum. To be patient and KEEP TRYING! My birds (babies 3 & 4 months old) would have NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY KIND of food. They RAN FROM IT! Thought it was a predator!!! lol. I just kept trying and trying just like they say to do and pretty soon they started to come up and stick out there tongue and put it right on the food to taste it and then walk away. Still nothing, but I kept trying. The next thing I knew they started to get EXCITED to see what I was bringing to taste. Like it was a fun game or something. I just kept saying, "do you want to taste". Now they are excellent tasters, they LOVE to taste and have certainly found their favorites.
NUMBER ONE FAVORITE: Cashews, Almonds (These are such a big hit that I use them for treats)
NUMBER TWO ABSOLUTE FAVORITE: BROWN RICE!!!!!
AND.. They are even eating pellets now!!!!!! Lots of them!!!! THIS IS A MIRACLE!!!
So far they also like cheerios, eggs, peanuts, chicken, we are still working on vegetables but they do like banana and apple, and so far that is pretty much it. I will just keep trying and trying... Slowly but surely, it IS WORKING!
This is SO EXCITING for me! If it wasn't for this forum, I would have never kept on trying and trying. I would
have given up a LONG time ago!!! And just figured that my birds didn't like any of that stuff so owe well...
Good luck to you!
This is something that I read about on this forum. To be patient and KEEP TRYING! My birds (babies 3 & 4 months old) would have NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY KIND of food. They RAN FROM IT! Thought it was a predator!!! lol. I just kept trying and trying just like they say to do and pretty soon they started to come up and stick out there tongue and put it right on the food to taste it and then walk away. Still nothing, but I kept trying. The next thing I knew they started to get EXCITED to see what I was bringing to taste. Like it was a fun game or something. I just kept saying, "do you want to taste". Now they are excellent tasters, they LOVE to taste and have certainly found their favorites.
NUMBER ONE FAVORITE: Cashews, Almonds (These are such a big hit that I use them for treats)
NUMBER TWO ABSOLUTE FAVORITE: BROWN RICE!!!!!
AND.. They are even eating pellets now!!!!!! Lots of them!!!! THIS IS A MIRACLE!!!
So far they also like cheerios, eggs, peanuts, chicken, we are still working on vegetables but they do like banana and apple, and so far that is pretty much it. I will just keep trying and trying... Slowly but surely, it IS WORKING!
This is SO EXCITING for me! If it wasn't for this forum, I would have never kept on trying and trying. I would
have given up a LONG time ago!!! And just figured that my birds didn't like any of that stuff so owe well...
Good luck to you!
It is so funny that you are all talking about this. I was just about to ask the question what is your birdie's favorite food... lol
This is something that I read about on this forum. To be patient and KEEP TRYING! My birds (babies 3 & 4 months old) would have NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY KIND of food. They RAN FROM IT! Thought it was a predator!!! lol. I just kept trying and trying just like they say to do and pretty soon they started to come up and stick out there tongue and put it right on the food to taste it and then walk away. Still nothing, but I kept trying. The next thing I knew they started to get EXCITED to see what I was bringing to taste. Like it was a fun game or something. I just kept saying, "do you want to taste". Now they are excellent tasters, they LOVE to taste and have certainly found their favorites.
NUMBER ONE FAVORITE: Cashews, Almonds (These are such a big hit that I use them for treats)
NUMBER TWO ABSOLUTE FAVORITE: BROWN RICE!!!!!
AND.. They are even eating pellets now!!!!!! Lots of them!!!! THIS IS A MIRACLE!!!
So far they also like cheerios, eggs, peanuts, chicken, we are still working on vegetables but they do like banana and apple, and so far that is pretty much it. I will just keep trying and trying... Slowly but surely, it IS WORKING!
This is SO EXCITING for me! If it wasn't for this forum, I would have never kept on trying and trying. I would
have given up a LONG time ago!!! And just figured that my birds didn't like any of that stuff so owe well...
Good luck to you!
Oh yes, something I forgot to mention.. just in case you don't know.
No seeds/pits ever. I was told a long time ago to never give birds the part of fruit that has touched the pit/seeds. Peaches are in season right now here, my guys LOVE them. But, I only give them the fruit part (no skin, I don't know if that is habit or something I got told- birdbrain is the term for ME, not the fids!) that has not been next to the pit.
If someone out there knows what I am talking about- am I just wasting a lot of time? I can't remember the exact details (TBI) but, I think it was something to do with arsenic or something that is in the pit that leaches into the flesh and can build up toxicity over time in the birds?
At any rate, I can't remember exactly why or who told me to ask for details again, but that is what I was told to do so I do it. If it is correct info, I thought it worth passing on.
Oh yes.. brown rice is a great fav here too. And green/yellow long beens. Also, freeze dried mango and pineapple.
Cheers
J
No seeds/pits ever. I was told a long time ago to never give birds the part of fruit that has touched the pit/seeds. Peaches are in season right now here, my guys LOVE them. But, I only give them the fruit part (no skin, I don't know if that is habit or something I got told- birdbrain is the term for ME, not the fids!) that has not been next to the pit.
If someone out there knows what I am talking about- am I just wasting a lot of time? I can't remember the exact details (TBI) but, I think it was something to do with arsenic or something that is in the pit that leaches into the flesh and can build up toxicity over time in the birds?
At any rate, I can't remember exactly why or who told me to ask for details again, but that is what I was told to do so I do it. If it is correct info, I thought it worth passing on.
Oh yes.. brown rice is a great fav here too. And green/yellow long beens. Also, freeze dried mango and pineapple.
Cheers
J
You asked about the seeds I use for sprouting. The mix I use has mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, adzuki beans, barley, radish seeds, and others I can't remember. It is popular with all the birds, including my finicky budgies.
Pepper seeds are ok though. They are often a BIG hit with Quakers.
racal hated lafeber pellets and would grind them up he loves roudybush that was something i found out by accident i just had read so many here use it so I had to return something i bought at petsmart and exchanged it for the roudybush because he was a seed only lil munchkin he loves it didn't complain or gripe and even went right to it.my mother said Tami make him stop grinding his teeth 
the happy grinding noise i said mom he has no teeth she said well it sounds like it!he even wants to share lol he says want some?
the happy grinding noise i said mom he has no teeth she said well it sounds like it!he even wants to share lol he says want some?
Here is the recepe link ..My guys love sweet potato puffs....and Birdie bread is great too..
http://www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.p...amp;s=&f=29
Dried figs and unsalted cashews are another favorite..
Mine get raw in the am and cooked in the evenings..
http://www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.p...amp;s=&f=29
Dried figs and unsalted cashews are another favorite..
Mine get raw in the am and cooked in the evenings..
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.