IT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT TO GET YOUR PARROT ON A GOOD DIET

It is so easy to fall into the trap of giving your bird what he likes. It feels good to see him relish his grapes, apples, seeds and nuts. Sure, you know you’re supposed  to feed dark leafy greens and cooked yams but “he doesn’t eat those.”

Nothing gets our goat (wherever that  came from!) more than putting a bowl of specially prepared foods in front of your bird only to have him ignore it or worse yet, toss it on the floor of the cage! How rude is that!

So eventually, over time, we get lazy and assume that our bird is spoiled and will only eat “blank.” What you don’t know is that you are short changing your parrot and most likely shortening his life span. To truly have optimal health he needs to have a nutritious diet. Too much seed is way too fattening and lacks the nutrients required to keep him healthy. Too many grapes and he may be getting way too much iron. Feeding peanuts means there is the possibility of ingesting aflatoxin which is a fungus often found on peanuts and they can cause brain tumors! (Did you know that peanuts aren’t nuts? Go figure!) Feeding salty or greasy treats can aggravate feather picking and cause damage to sensitive internal organs. Parrots can’t properly process salt, sugar, or grease.

So what are some of the “secrets” to getting a bird converted to a better diet? First, know that you may need to try these tips frequently for six months before you see successful results! Don’t just try them once or twice and cave! Especially if your parrot has had the same insufficient diet for a long time.

At night, just as you are covering your parrot, put a lock-on bowl high in your bird’s cage (near where he perches) of cooked brown rice w/chopped kale and small cubes of cooked yams. (Or any other food that you want him to try.) He will be most likely to try this new food first thing in the morning and the bowl being high where he is may be a novelty to him and, therefore, something to explore.

Try alternating dark leafy greens, a toy, a slice of apple, a toy, a slice of zucchini, a flat slice of carrot, a disk of corn on the cob,  etc. on a food skewer and hanging it near your bird’s favorite spot in the cage.

Make your parrot a “peanut butter sandwich” but use smashed sweet potato instead of peanut butter! You can also make small “pizzas” using unsalted crackers as the crust with tomato sauce topping a bit of cheese. Or, try wrapping soft warm sweet potato in a tortilla! Voila!  A delicious bird burrito!

If you’re not up to being creative, okay. Just resist giving your parrot a bowl of seeds and nuts and, instead, give him a bowl of quality pellets. Not a whole bowl, just a small handful. Also offer a bowl of cut produce. Try putting less preferred chunks on the bottom and a tasty favorite on the top. (This is to avoid him tossing everything to get to the favorite.) Put newspaper on top of the cage grate so that he can retrieve castoffs when he reconsiders.

Since parrots are very social eaters, try to invite your parrot to dinner! Have either his cage or a stand nearby when you eat your meals and offer him a portion of pasta, or a bit of chicken, or some veggie casserole! They not only mimic your words, they mimic your habits. So when you eat and say, “yummm!” they take note and may do the same! Just be sure it’s nutritional!

Invest in some foraging toys that you can fill with cubes of Harrison’s, or pack with yummy cooked grains and veggies. Make sure your foraging toys are able to be cleaned thoroughly. Or, make your own temporary foraging toys by taking a small box (cracker box, or raisin box?) and attaching it to the side of the cage after filling it with greens or grains.

Any parrot can learn to eat good food. It takes effort and patience on the part of the food provider. Be consistent and encourage your bird by being animated and supportive. “Yummm! This is good! Want a bite?”  

While trying to convert your guy to a good diet, if he seems to not be eating, put a small portion of his old diet on top of the new samples. This is a last resort because he will probably only go for the good ol’ familiar food. However, if you limit it to a small amount, he will eventually get a taste of the new food.

 

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