Encourage bird to try parrot chop/Recipe suggestions

[MasterObli]

I have a meyer's parrot, Trinity, who is being an exceptionally picky little turd lately. Normally her main food of choice (behind whatever I'm eating of course) is Tropican Lifetime Food Sticks. She's eaten them just fine for years. Last month I ran out and it was hard to find another bag in my city so I tried her on Tropimix Enrichment Food for Small Parrots and she hated it and ate it only when she had to. Luckily, her usual pellets were back in stock quickly so I bought a bag of that. Only she's doing the same thing to this food as well. I know she's hungry because she'll forage on the bottom of her cage or play stand, or try even more obnoxiously than usual to get at whatever I'm eating. I'm trying my hand at making her parrot chop to see if she'll eat that. But it's new so she barely looks at the bowl I put out for her. I got her to try a bit of mango after she saw me eat a piece and she munched a little before shaking her head and ignoring it. She loves dried mango but apparently fresh is a no go. I've been watching her closely and I don't think she's sick. She's not sleeping more than usual; her self-designated bedtime is between 6-7pm and we both usually get up between 7-9am depending on if I work that morning. She's also still very active (she's currently trying to dump her water dish that I just changed again after spending a couple of minutes teasing the dog).

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to get her to try it or have recipes of chops that their parrots like?

 

[MasterObli]

My first try at parrot chop. It has:

• Cauliflower
• Carrot
• Broccoli
• Mango
• Passion Fruit
• Pineapple
• Bell Pepper
• Radish
• Kale
• Butternut Squash

 

[Mizzely]

I have a picky Jardine's, so a relative to your species. Biggest thing that has helped me is smaller portions sizes. I also have found that he doesn't really care for chop as much as large chunks of veggies. He won't touch little pieces but give him a hunk of sweet potato that's 1-3 inches and with the skin still on and he goes to town on it.

He also goes on pellet strikes occasionally where he stops eating a pellet randomly and then I have to feed him something else for a while. Right now he's doing fine with Zupreem Fruity, but if he goes off of that I have had the best luck with Psittacus. Occasionally he will eat Harrison's.

 

[MasterObli]

I have a picky Jardine's, so a relative to your species. Biggest thing that has helped me is smaller portions sizes. I also have found that he doesn't really care for chop as much as large chunks of veggies. He won't touch little pieces but give him a hunk of sweet potato that's 1-3 inches and with the skin still on and he goes to town on it.

He also goes on pellet strikes occasionally where he stops eating a pellet randomly and then I have to feed him something else for a while. Right now he's doing fine with Zupreem Fruity, but if he goes off of that I have had the best luck with Psittacus. Occasionally he will eat Harrison's.


View attachment 454299

This image is very helpful. Thank you! I'll also be bookmarking your website to check out later!

 

[Dragonfly6]

I have a meyer's parrot, Trinity, who is being an exceptionally picky little turd lately. Normally her main food of choice (behind whatever I'm eating of course) is Tropican Lifetime Food Sticks. She's eaten them just fine for years. Last month I ran out and it was hard to find another bag in my city so I tried her on Tropimix Enrichment Food for Small Parrots and she hated it and ate it only when she had to. Luckily, her usual pellets were back in stock quickly so I bought a bag of that. Only she's doing the same thing to this food as well. I know she's hungry because she'll forage on the bottom of her cage or play stand, or try even more obnoxiously than usual to get at whatever I'm eating. I'm trying my hand at making her parrot chop to see if she'll eat that. But it's new so she barely looks at the bowl I put out for her. I got her to try a bit of mango after she saw me eat a piece and she munched a little before shaking her head and ignoring it. She loves dried mango but apparently fresh is a no go. I've been watching her closely and I don't think she's sick. She's not sleeping more than usual; her self-designated bedtime is between 6-7pm and we both usually get up between 7-9am depending on if I work that morning. She's also still very active (she's currently trying to dump her water dish that I just changed again after spending a couple of minutes teasing the dog).

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to get her to try it or have recipes of chops that their parrots like?

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