Some general food questions.

[Beth In Alaska]

Popper and Rio came to me with a tub of seed mix that was their primary diet. I knew already that they needed to eat mostly pellets and some fresh veggies and fruit. I bought what pellets were available and started buying a ton of fruit and veggies to see what they would eat.

Overall they try new stuff but like certain things. I have noticed that they have whims where they will pig out on something for a couple of days and then not eat anymore. Or they will ignore something for a couple of days and then try it and like it. They love Granny Smith apples. Pomegranate, peas, uncooked whole wheat and veggie pasta, cooked quinoa, eggs. Popper will occasionally eat something else and will try anything. He likes chicken. They tolerate green beans (raw) and cooked butternut squash. They don't seem to eat mango, radish,
Both birds do eat pellets but I just had an epiphany that rio needs tinier pellets. I will buy some. Both birds LOVE seeds. I am slowly decreasing the seeds and increasing the pellets. Popper only eats green pellets (realize artificial color is bad).

Would like to normalize the fruit, veggie, grain thing and stop offering a huge array of options all the time. Happy to cook for them - is cooking a bird dish a week the way to go? They do not eat raw lettuce or spinach or other leaves but maybe cooked in a dish? Should they also get raw? How do you give it?

I could use apples to train Rio. That would be very motivating! Popper could be trained with scrambled eggs,

 

[Doublete]

Search "chop" on here.
Most of us do one big batch of chop and freeze in portions with 2-3 days worth in each. Depending on my mood I briefly microwave the portion (25-30 seconds) before serving just to take the chill off.

I put different stuff in my batches every time. I actually have to do one tomorrow.

I also make a pumpkin/sweet potato/veggie "bread" which I serve to get other nutrients in them. I use rice flour, almond milk, egg, and banana along with the veggies. So it really ends up to be a cooked pudding of sorts but they generally love it.

 

[Doublete]

My bread is where I put kale and spinach. My guys will not touch it otherwise.

 

[LunaLovebird]

Every bird will have their own specific preferences to what they like. Have you tried sweet corn? That seems to be a general favorited for birds. I also give mine swiss chard, sugar snaps, habaneros, unsweetened coconut and zucchini in addition to some of the things you mentioned, as well as some corn bread stuff I make.

 

[rocky'smom]

try mashed sweet potatoes with little 100% pineapple juice mashed into it. coconut is another favorite here.

 

[Beth In Alaska]

try mashed sweet potatoes with little 100% pineapple juice mashed into it. coconut is another favorite here.

I have bought them a sweet potato !!
But I have never cooked one - gotta go google how to do it!!

 

[camelotshadow]

You sound like you are doing well with there diet & getting good advise.
Too much spinach is not good. It impedes nutrient absorption so should be fed only in small quantities

 

[camelotshadow]

I have bought them a sweet potato !!
But I have never cooked one - gotta go google how to do it!!

You can pop a sweet potato in the microwave. Try a minute or two then turn over & nuke other side until its soft.

 

[Beth In Alaska]

You sound like you are doing well with there diet & getting good advise.
Too much spinach is not good. It impedes nutrient absorption so should be fed only in small quantities

this is true of guinea pigs too, if i recall correctly!!! Was not surprised to see it on the "occasional" list for birdies.

I made my first chop. It has quinoa, green beans, black beans, butternut squash, some watercress and some corn. I added some frozen fruit from a smoothie mix too. we will see how it goes. I'm going to start saving favorite foods for training. Apples for Rio and Eggs for Popper.

 

[rocky'smom]

I have bought them a sweet potato !!
But I have never cooked one - gotta go google how to do it!!

I wash mine and peel them, dice into 2 " pieces put them in cold water bring to boil turn them down to simmer and test them with fork. when fork will go in easy they are down, drain and mash.

 

[JLcribber]

I've noticed quite a few birds are binge eaters. Today they love it. Next week they hate it. A month from now they love it again.

Hens seem to do it a little more. I'm sure it has to do with her cycles and different requirement at different times. Birds in general know what they need and go for it "if" its available.

 

[Beth In Alaska]

I've noticed quite a few birds are binge eaters. Today they love it. Next week they hate it. A month from now they love it again.

Hens seem to do it a little more. I'm sure it has to do with her cycles and different requirement at different times. Birds in general know what they need and go for it "if" its available.

Like me and chocolate !!!

 

[camelotshadow]

Some birds may not like potato mash. I would offer the cooked sweet potato cut into small chunks.
You might also sprinkle some cinnamon on it for taste.

 

[Jaguar]

Would like to normalize the fruit, veggie, grain thing and stop offering a huge array of options all the time.

Variety is what makes homemade diets work. While you don't necessarily need to offer a hundred different things per day, try to make sure it differs week to week. Go with seasonally available fruits/veggies to make this easier. For winter, lots of squash, oranges, tangerines, pears, cooked turnip & parsnip, etc.

 

[MommyBird]

The nutrients most often lacking in diets are vitamin A, omega 3 fatty acids and calcium.
I would suggest a bit of red palm oil (maybe on bread?), broccoli (florets or esp leaves), carrots, sweet potato for beta carotene which is precursor to vitamin A.
Omega 3's sources includes walnuts and flax, and almonds are a good source of calcium.
You say they LOVE seeds and that is fine. seeds are very good for them. It might be more convenient to give them seeds as a reward when training, or use them alternating with apple or eggs.

 

[Danita]

Like me and chocolate !!!

Actually, now that it is mentioned, binge eating is my thing too, I only eat the same thing for 3 or 4 days! I started yesterday eating lentil soup lol