Favorite Food for Conures

[Lee Penman]

My Rico (sadly passed last month) was not a fan of all the pellet foods bird lovers suggest. He threw them on floor or simply refused to go near them. The only brands he would eat were Higgins. Zupreem fruit pellets, Kaytee Papaya pieces and apples. Nothing else met his approval - and I know that will raise brows. Should I decide to purchase the conure I am currently stalking what are some recommendations based on experience with picky eaters (in case). Bear in mind he is coming from Petco (another Petco "rescue") so he has not had the best choices so far in life...

 

[Mizzely]

Don't feel bad at all for feeding Higgins or Zupreem There is so much vilification of dyed pellets that is unearned. Would I prefer if my Jardine's ate something else than Zupreem Fruity? Of course! But mostly because I don't like having only one pellet available to me in case of stock shortages, recalls, etc.

The best pellet is the one they will eat, do well on, and that is easy for you to obtain and afford.

"Best" is subjective, and at the end of the day we're at the mercy of what they will actually consume.

In my experience with picky eaters, Zupreem FruitBlend has always been the clear winner. Most of my birds then went to Zupreem Natural, and from there were more able to convert to other pellets. But, that's not strictly necessary either.

I've had the worst luck with Harrison's and TOPS.

As for everything else (veggies, fruits, etc), it comes down to just trying a lot. Parrots are naturally neophobic and don't trust new foods easily. That's a survival mechanism that suits them well in the jungle but not as well in our house. My birds are always the most happy to eat food they steal from my plate, so if you aren't already a healthy eater, now's as good a time as any to start

Also experiment with how it's served. My Hahns only liked frozen carrots that she could squish and suck the life out of like Bunnicula, while one of my Quakers only liked them in raw matchsticks. My Bourke's likes them raw or frozen but diced up fine in the food processor. My Jardine's wants a whole raw baby carrot.

My Petco green cheek would eat almost anything for what its worth She was partial to Quinoa and berries.

 

[Emma&pico]

Remi and pips breeder started them on seeds so I had to transition them to pellets

I agree with @Mizzely I would rather mine eat a pellet over none at all so no raised eye brows here or even if they won’t transition off seed I think even eating some veggies is better than none

I picked one and stuck to it until they accepted it which was roudybush same with veggies they already ate shredded carrot and kale but other veggies I just kept offering.
With veggies and pellets they had them in bowl for a set time with seeds treats in foraging toys so they still had stuff to eat it just wasn’t easy to get to in hopes they ate veggies and pellets before going for seeds etc which lucky they did I think nurtiberries are good too gives them a taste at pellets
With Blu I had to get labfer pellets which are in nurtiberries then slowly mix with roudybush taking labfer out more and more only reason I didn’t keep him on labfer pellets is because they are so expensive for a little bag it would have tripled my food bill

posie was on psittcuas and would not change over which all others ended up trying and liking more than roudybush
Posie will now eat roudybush so I do have two they will have and Hagen but that’s last resort if other too are out of stock because they aren’t a favourite fan

so I think if you pick one you like to start money wise etc with and go from there just remember it can take a while
I am with at @Mizzely mine will not touch tops or Harrison’s
remi and pip will
even avoid favourite treats if they are in with tops

 

[Lee Penman]

Don't feel bad at all for feeding Higgins or Zupreem There is so much vilification of dyed pellets that is unearned. Would I prefer if my Jardine's ate something else than Zupreem Fruity? Of course! But mostly because I don't like having only one pellet available to me in case of stock shortages, recalls, etc.

The best pellet is the one they will eat, do well on, and that is easy for you to obtain and afford.

"Best" is subjective, and at the end of the day we're at the mercy of what they will actually consume.

In my experience with picky eaters, Zupreem FruitBlend has always been the clear winner. Most of my birds then went to Zupreem Natural, and from there were more able to convert to other pellets. But, that's not strictly necessary either.

I've had the worst luck with Harrison's and TOPS.

As for everything else (veggies, fruits, etc), it comes down to just trying a lot. Parrots are naturally neophobic and don't trust new foods easily. That's a survival mechanism that suits them well in the jungle but not as well in our house. My birds are always the most happy to eat food they steal from my plate, so if you aren't already a healthy eater, now's as good a time as any to start

Also experiment with how it's served. My Hahns only liked frozen carrots that she could squish and suck the life out of like Bunnicula, while one of my Quakers only liked them in raw matchsticks. My Bourke's likes them raw or frozen but diced up fine in the food processor. My Jardine's wants a whole raw baby carrot.

My Petco green cheek would eat almost anything for what its worth She was partial to Quinoa and berries.

Thank you Yes Rico had his "off Label " treats like oatmeal and raisin cookie (his favorite) I am glad the Zupreem gets the seal of approval Things have changed a lot in the bird world since I was a child. I am horrified now by the diet we fed our budgerigars and parrots. Pretty much millet seed for the small birds (hulled) and sunflower seed for the parrots. That was all the local pet store had!

 

[Lee Penman]

Remi and pips breeder started them on seeds so I had to transition them to pellets

I agree with @Mizzely I would rather mine eat a pellet over none at all so no raised eye brows here or even if they won’t transition off seed I think even eating some veggies is better than none

I picked one and stuck to it until they accepted it which was roudybush same with veggies they already ate shredded carrot and kale but other veggies I just kept offering.
With veggies and pellets they had them in bowl for a set time with seeds treats in foraging toys so they still had stuff to eat it just wasn’t easy to get to in hopes they ate veggies and pellets before going for seeds etc which lucky they did I think nurtiberries are good too gives them a taste at pellets
With Blu I had to get labfer pellets which are in nurtiberries then slowly mix with roudybush taking labfer out more and more only reason I didn’t keep him on labfer pellets is because they are so expensive for a little bag it would have tripled my food bill

posie was on psittcuas and would not change over which all others ended up trying and liking more than roudybush
Posie will now eat roudybush so I do have two they will have and Hagen but that’s last resort if other too are out of stock because they aren’t a favourite fan

so I think if you pick one you like to start money wise etc with and go from there just remember it can take a while
I am with at @Mizzely mine will not touch tops or Harrison’s
remi and pip will
even avoid favourite treats if they are in with tops

Thank you...I will probably start him on what Rico had - That is gourmet food compared to Petco Incidentally the water in there always irritates me. Rico had fresh water 3 times a day - maybe a little obsessive