BirdChannel Forum / Life With Birds / Bird Nutrition Forum

Muffin mix

conure_mama — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:31:07 GMT

I have a box of Jiffy Apple Cinnimon mix and was wondering if I could make something for Sunny with that. I have a few good recipes for the Jiffy muffin mix and was wondering if it would ok to use this mix instead of the corn.

Also any if anyone has any suggestions on maybe other things, such as fruits and veggies I could add would be very helpful!

Thank you in advance!

Millet sprays

Teq's mom — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:23:45 GMT

My sun conure doesn't like millet sprays. He just shakes his head and refuses to eat it! I've tried putting it on the bottom of his cage, in his treat bowl, and showing him how yummy it is - still no go. He has tried it but just doesn't like it.

Do you think that the millet is old or something is wrong with it, or that it's just not his thing? If I just got a bad bag, I don't want to deprive him of something he would otherwise like.

Thanks!

The Whole Nine Yards....

sundayowner — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:32:31 GMT

Today I finally switched Beep from seed to pellets forever!! (applause, please.) Hartz was such a bad seed mix, I even found bugs in it once! I'm sure the bugs didn't get in the bag from the outside, because I had it sealed-up tighter than Fort Knox. That pushed me over the edge. Right now I have Zupreem Avian Maintenance Natural en route (it's supposed to get here today), so I purchased some Zupreem Fruit Blend from Petland. However, he only eats the cockatiel size, and I really wanted him to eat the parrot/conure size because that's gonna be the size of the Natural pellets. Well, he didn't. So I employed the ol' sucker-them-into-thinking-you're-eating-it ploy. He didn't buy it. So, I decided to give him what he wanted: bona fide ingestion! I took one of the pellets, stuck it in my mouth and BAMMO, Beep wants it. So I gave him one, as I ate another, and he chowed down. Amazing how he could tell when I was pretending I was eating and when I was really eating.

The pellets were kinda fruity and gritty and kinda bland, for those of you who cared. I was so excited that he likes them. He's chowing on them now. I'm afraid he wastes more of the parrot/conure size than the cockatiel size because of his small-ish beak, but oh well. I consider it a battle fought and won! (I give him a mixture of the two sizes.)

I also cleaned his entire cage and perches. I love it when I can accomplish something like that! Very gratifying, yes?

Thanksgiving Foods -- Your Favorites

Pepper's Pa — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:52:46 GMT

Many of us here are planning to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, with lots of foods served that we might not eat regularly. I thought I’d ask three questions for us to share our answers about. Our answers may be helpful to each other in expanding the healthy diet for our companion birds or preventing feeding a food that may be dangerous to them.

I hope you find answering these questions fun and providing your answers may be helpful to others.

1) Do you give your fids a special bowl of “Thanksgiving” foods?

2) What is your favorite food found on your Thanksgiving table that is healthy to give to your fids?

3) What is your favorite food found on your Thanksgiving table that is harmful to give to your fids? Why is it harmful?

parrot baby formula

Erines11 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:38:11 GMT

Okay i got some formula for cheerio a while ago but was wondering when i made to much for the second time if Mystic could eat some as a treat?? Or is it unhealthy since there immune system and stuff is probably different. Oh and Mystic will be 5 in april if age matters.

softening pellets w H2O

luvmycadillac — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:53:59 GMT

Since Junebugs "accident" this past summer he has been VERY picky on what he eats. He now loves seed which before he didnt get much of, doesnt care much for pellets even the super tiny mini ones he use to eat out of his treat cup. Wont touch the cockatiel sized pellets to save his life and the only fruit he will eat is grapes. I still give him all the foods I give cadillac but make them much softer/smaller (and Ive tried baby food)and usually he still doesnt care for them, but I found he loves mashed potatoes. Most of the time he fluffs himself up and acts like he's attacking anything that isnt seed(cadillac on the other hand eats everything under the sun)

Anyhow today I am refusing to give him any more seeds. I softened pellets in water and he took to it right away jumped on his cup about as fast as he does first thing in the morning at breakfast time. But how long do I keep the softened pellets there before they start to grow bacteria 2 hrs, 4 hrs(?) when I feed cadillac his "human" foods I dont have to keep track of time because he scarfs it down like he is starving all the time so its in and out quickly.. Im assuming I should only leave it in 2 hrs max

Thanks,

Kim

Birdie Naners

Filippo&Debz — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:21:33 GMT

Hi friends,
Some of you may know that I am the self proclaimed fid food tester. So, I've had this bag of Birdie Bananas. 8in 1 Just discovering that it's past it's expiration date. But the other day, before actually realizing that the package should be thrown out, I gave them each a naner. Neither of them got close to the food. Pipz was never big on fruit to begin with, but I was very assertively determined to watch them eat their B/B. And because it's worked in the past, I took one and began nibbling making numm sounds. And then my taste buds registered the flavor. Soap. Plain and simple sudsy soap. bubble bubble soap. My early childhood memories began to flood in. No! No, Sister Mary Scungilli, I promise never to call you a big, fat wort hog! Soap!
She did not even have the decency to open a new bar. I got an old and cracked bar of soap. Who knows how many mouths? ...shiver...sweat....
Anyway, I began to wonder, what goes into these things, that makes them taste like soap once expired? Hmmmmm???? Discuss.....

Larger size pellets?

broccoli — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:26:32 GMT

I buy roudybush for broc, and she eats the crumbles, I want to go up in a larger size, so should I try the mini's? That is the largest size for a conure I believe- she turns her pellets into powder while eating them.

I want to buy the 10 lb bin from this place (mini size), what do you all think?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8376&cmpid=04csegb&ref=3312&subref=AA&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=003010700000M

According to the bag mini is the largest size for conure, just under crumbles.

Thanks!

Btw her molt is going really well, she's got pink feathers now- it's so pretty :)

I can't get my cockatoos to eat healthy!!!!!

Sindee — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:53:25 GMT

i have 2 breeding cockatoos and i cant get them to eat anything other than sunflower seeds and parrot food from the store...

i know that breeding females need more nutrition than that...

does anyone have any sugestions???

i have tryed pasta , rice, beens, vegies ect.....

and the onlything i can get them to eat is grapes....

HELP!!!!!!

i dont know what to do???

sindee

Can I feed my Caique just Harrison's Bird Food?

Caique — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:02:04 GMT

I can't seem to figure it out.Their website says that you should only feed the birds Harrisons bird food. But , Everywhere else it says you should also feed the bird fruits and veggies and seeds. What do you think?

My parakeet is too fat

lizzie in parrotdise! — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:03:11 GMT

how much food is she supposed to get each day? She stuffs herself and I feel bad not having food always there for her. She's too big, she can't fly very well. And when she perches, you cant see her toes

Nutriberries

Teq's mom — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:46:30 GMT

I've been told that Nutriberries are good. I went to The Perch Store (see link below) to see what they had, and they have several types in several sizes.

Would my sun conure need "Cockatiel" size or "Parrot" size? I know "Macaw" size would be too large...

Also, does anyone have any recommendations as to flavor(s)?

Thanks in advance!

http://search.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=yhst-51898397859030&query=nutriberries&.autodone=nsearch.html&vwcatalog=yhst-51898397859030

millet sprays

staffordmom — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:20:05 GMT

Speaking of millet sprays, my cockatiel loves them and I keep one for him all the time and he eats it frequently. Should he eat the seeds that often? I also bought a honey seed stick treat thing and he loves that too. As far as I lnow, he is not eating his pellets although I feed him pellets every day, he only wants seed. Am I offering him too many seeds?

staffordmom

little help with sprouts pls

luvmycadillac — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:56:54 GMT

I went to the avian store on Thursday to get some food, toys, new perches and my U2 fix. And purchased for the first time sprouting seeds. Phyllis (the owner of the store) told me they are very simple to sprout wet a paper towel sprinkle some seeds cover it keep it moist at all times and pick the sprouts out as they sprout and check twice a day to make sure none are molding (also keep the papertowel moist).

Okay Ive done that but at what point do I allow the birds to eat the sprouts? When they are sprouted and long or when they are just forming a sprout? Sorry if this sounds stupid but I really dont know, which is why I never have purchased sprouting seeds before now. Usually my birds get fresh veggies from the farmers market or grocery.

BTW ladyhawk (if your reading this)I saw your quote in BT november issue and guess who agreed. MY HUSBAND did he played with a U2 for about an hr didnt want to put it down, but mine is still an egg.. An egg named Baylee

Does anyone have any 'easy' pumpkin reciepies?

Jo (JFlanner3) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:32:25 GMT

I say easy, cause I won't have much time and energy to make them...I would really like to make my Fiddies something though.Thanks Jo and her Flock/Herd/Pack

are tomatos okay for birds?

lizzie in parrotdise! — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:25:58 GMT

i heard somewhere that tomatoes ae poisonous for birds. Is that true? I've never fed them to my birds, but we use a lot of tomatoes in coooking around my house, and i wish the birds could enjoy dinner with us.

also can you feed birds cheese? i understand they are unable to digest lactose and can't have milk.

Pomegranate and Prickly Pears

zimbasmom — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:11:38 GMT

Well you it's fall when you can find Pomegranate and prickly pears (cactus pears) in the store. These are two on Zimbas Favorite foods, if you have never bought them for your fids I highly recommend them. I have a very hard time finding the pears but once in a while some of the stores carry them and it is a very short season so grab them while you can. Also be careful when cutting pomegranate the juice from it stains clothes/walls...everything it hits (magic eraser!) Beware poop is a little red after eating so don’t be alarmed! Enjoy

Eating her feathers?

broccoli — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:48:30 GMT

Sometimes when broc is preening, a feather or two comes loose and falls off, usually it's like that downy/fluffy grey feather, not her colored feathers.

Anyone else's bird's do this? Should I be concerned? Is this normal? It's not some weird deficiency behavior is it?

I mean she eats her pellets, gets some occasional millet spray, eats veggies and fruits every day.

Just curious if anyone else's birds do this.

Also, to me it seems broc gets more food everywhere else than in her mouth, I don't remember my old birds being so inefficient when they ate, is this just cuz she's a youngster? She's 6/7 months old now.

Pellets

Raine — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:34:22 GMT

I have finally gotten Keah (my Linnie) to eat pellets without a fuss, and I'm slowly getting my 'tiel into them too. Right now they are both eating Kaytee exact Original (they were eating the coloured Rainbow ones, but Keah would only eat the yellow ones, and Chip would only eat the Green ones...) I have heard a lot of good things about the Zupreem pellets as well, and the store owner is a really good friend of mine and owns a bird store, so I get get them from her. Any other pellets I would need to order online or specially from her store. What pellets do you use, and why do you recomend them? I really want to make sure I get teh best i possibly can for my babies!

Peanuts in your parrot's diet?

Avian Ardor — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:39:07 GMT

I have read a lot of information lately about aspergillosis and peanuts. I recently met a woman who owns a pet store, and she told me stories about how she lost two african grays to aspergillosis. One of them was exposed to it through corn cob bedding (when it was popular many years ago), and the other one was acquired with the disease. Since hearing of these stories I have stopped feeding shelled peanuts to my african gray, yellow naped amazon and dusky headed conure. My question is this: Is there any safe form of peanuts that you can give to a parrot? Is peanut butter smeared on a bit of multi grain bread a healthy choice? What about dry roasted peanuts in a jor (without salt of course)? If anyone has any informaiton on this subject, I would appreciate it. My parrots's good health is of utmost importance to me. My african gray really misses those peanuts! Thanks for your time.

Corn on the cob - dried

Teq's mom — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:12:33 GMT

I've read a lot of commentary about the corn cob bedding and now know it's a bad choice for lining the bottom of the cage if the bird can reach it.

I've been letting my conure have dried corn on the cob (made for squirrels) to chew off the kernels. He enjoys picking them off. I don't know if he is actually eating the corn - can't tell. I think he may be chewing on the ends if the cobs - again, I can't tell whether he is actually ingesting any.

Does anyone know if these dried corn on the cobs are bad for birds?

Thank in advance!

Just wondering

luvmycadillac — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:50:42 GMT

I am just wondering if any of you are able to find Kaytee Healthy Toppings for Birds at your local stores? I have traveled up to 3 hrs away and gone to 4 different pet stores (one of which was my usual avian store) and am unable to find the healthy toppings for birds. I buy it for my lovebird because he just loves them (carrots and greens - coconut and raspberry are his favorite)

Last night a petco associate told me Kaytee was bought out by another company (I think he said it was capital) and that they changed the product packaging and now its listed as "healthy toppings for small animals" and said it was in the small animal section. I looked online at kaytee's website and according to the site it is still available and not listed under small animal..

So do you have problems finding it too?

harrisons food

ditty — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:36:52 GMT

Where do you all buy your harrison's from. I am thinking of getting some for Yosho Mosho.

Mealworms

Future_aviculturist — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:50:55 GMT

Recently my Zebra finches hatched a clutch of eggs, and I'm concerned they aren't feeding them on a diet of seed and pellet. My mom says I should feed them lots of egg fod to be sure. But it occured to me that mealworms are the more 'natural' choice . DOes anyone feed their birds mealworms? If so, where do they come from? Or does anyone know a good soft food for brooding birds?

How much should I feed my cockatiel a day?

Digitsez — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:52:23 GMT

How much should I feed my 'tiel a day? And do I feed him in the mornings, then evenings?

I finally got Jolly to eat his veggies!

ilovehamham2003 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:01:32 GMT

I finally got Jolly to eat his veggies! I blended together all the food I could not get him to eat and some he liked to get what Jolly thought was very delishious meal!

birdie bread

ickybird — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:46:12 GMT

when I was growing up, my parents owned a bakery. When making cakes, we would drop the round pan ( OH! there is the problem) a couple of inches to the table top and give it a light spin. This distributed the batter evenly and brought the large air bubbles (we called them mouse holes) out to the top where they would burst. So this way the cake had a nice 'crumb'.
We did this for every cake we made over 20 years and were known in the area for the texture of our cakes.
So even after I grew up, I did this and with the same results. But I haven't made a cake in 10 years.
So I made up this birdie bread in a 9x13 pan with chunks of HOT peppers and corn and beans and sweet potato in it. Then I sprinkled the topping of chilly peppers over the top, dropped it about an inch to the table,gave it a spin and nothing. So thinking that the batter was a lot heavier than regular cake batter, I dropped it about 2 to 3 inches and gave it a stronger spin. Batter went flying all over the place. On the floor, the walls the sliding glass door. EVERY place. Even on me, and my glasses! Well I called the dog. But he does not like spicy food. He took one tiny lick and ran for his food bowl.
I decided that if Julia Child can drop a raw turkey on the floor and pick it up and continue preparing it saying that what your guests don't know won't hurt them, I could scoop up the stuff and return it to the pan for the birds. After all, they are birds, not my kids! And it will be baked...
So I started to scoop it up with my hand and YYYYYEEEEEOOOOOWWWW!
Or I suppose "OUCHI MOMMA" is right here since it was Mexican b. bread. I have tiny cracks in the skin of my hands that I did not know about before. This stuff is spicy, alright.
Then I wiped up the remainder with a paper towel and set my tomato timer for 30 mins. All the time intently thinking about emailing this story to my oldest sister, who, being my sister, will take great pleasure in my pain. I was going to come into email her and I could not find the timer!!! I could here it ticking and looked about the room for it. No matter where I looked it was left of me. I finally sat down at the table to think it out and put my hands up to rest my head and in my left hand was the timer!
I think I need a NAP!

Di-calcium Phosphate?

Future_aviculturist — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:40:01 GMT

My Dad bought di-calicium phosphate for supplementing our horses. And while making egg fod, he asked me if this is safe to add to egg food for our finches. I know that when in doubt, don't feed it to your birds. But I still want to know if this is safe for birds.

Favorite "Natural" Foods??

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:47:56 GMT

K&T dad.. This may have been posted before but was just interested in what your fids favorite "natural" foods are? Here is a run-down of our guys.
-Kito:(Senegal Parrot) Hot Peppers, Almonds, Papaya, Kiwi, Beans and just about everything I have thrown his way except Blueberries.
-Tupi:(P.Parrotlet) Hot Peppers, Rasberries, Seeds, Grains, Kiwi & Figs.
-Tarzan & Jane:(Peach Faced Lovebirds) Figs, Grains & Seeds.
-Miah:(Cockatiel) Apples, Peas, Corn, Seeds and Grains.
-Chico:(Green Cheeked Conure) Banana, Apples and Grains.
-Aussie:(Bourke's parakeet) Greens, Rasberries, Beans, Corn, Seeds & Grains.
-Chile:(Lineolated Parakeet) Greens, Peas, Corn, Almonds, Carrots, Grains, Melon, Pineapple and Apples
-Julio:(Black Capped Conure) Apples, Peas, Almonds and Grains.

frozen mush

Filippo&Debz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:08:03 GMT

Hi guys! Question mostly directed towards K&TDad and Ditty, In getting ready to freeze your mush, and doing so in ice cube trays, do you wrap the top of the tray with plastic wrap? How are you sealing the tray? or each portion?

Confused.

Need more information on nutritional supplements.

florence — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:12:24 GMT

Hi everyone, I have been considering of taking nutritional supplements that could help me in reducing my cholesterol levels. The fact is that I need to maintain my health and for that I need to take care of certain issues. I have heard about blue green algae being a good supplement for controlling the cholesterol level! I need your suggestions on this and also - Do you consider for this being a good supplement???

Milk

IceHawk79 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:31:54 GMT

I have a parrotlet, that will eat out of my cereal bowl. I recently bought a green cheeked conure, and he just started drinking/eat cereal out of my bowl.
(Wanted to know what I was eating, sure enough he wanted some too)

Is milk ok for a bird? In small doses?

The cereal is a honey grain type cereal, and I know my parrotlet loves the corn flakes. I just wanna make sure, its ok for my other baby to eat them too.

help!

Misfit_Bird — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:18:20 GMT

i was wondering if i could feed my bird cherries? can i?

Avian Entrees

lucylu216 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:01:12 GMT

Any one have an opinion about Zupreem's Avian Entrees? My vet recommends Zupreem and I have been giving my dusky conure Lucy a mix of the Avian Maintenance fruit blends and natural foods. I was thinking avout trying the garden goodness avian entrees?

Hummus and Triscuits

lucylu216 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:04:06 GMT

I eat hummus and triscuits as a snack often and my dusky conure seems to enjoy it to? I don't think either of the two would be a problem.

Any one see any problems with her snacking on this?

Read the numbers!

Monica — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:22:01 GMT

Was visiting my sister when she stumbled upon this link.... and I thought I'd share for all who want healthy fids!

http://www.skrewtips.com/2008/04/13/read-the-numbers-on-your-fruit/

Read the Numbers on Your Fruit

by David Askaripour

I just found this out about a month ago and I’ve been an organic vegan for over four years, go figure. That just goes to say that we must all remain as students and continue to learn and learn — never stop studying and gaining new information.

Okay, so what did I learn?

I learned that sticker labels on the fruits actually tell you how the fruits have been grown — whether they were organically grown or conventionally grown with pesticides and herbicides; oh, and let’s not forget about the genetically engineered fruits.

Conventional Fruit Labels

Four digits and does not start with 9

** mostly starting with the digit 4

Organic Fruit Labels

Five digits and starts with number 9

Genetically Modified Fruits

Start with the digit 8

** this is good to know because stores aren’t obligated to tell you if a fruit has been genetically modified (grrr….)

Okay, so if you come across an apple in the store and it’s labels 4922, it’s an conventional apple grown with herbicides and harmful fertilizers. If it has a sticker 99222, it’s organic and safe to eat. If it says 89222, then RUN!!!! It has been genetically modified (GMO).

So next time you go shopping, remember these critical numbers and know how to avoid purchasing inorganic and GMO fruits.

Shop Safe :)

Making Your Own Bird Food

CrazyLady — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:31:29 GMT

Due to the increasing prices of EVERYTHING now a days, I was thinking about making my own bird food. I have been able to find recipes for treats, but not as a main food source. I want to replace the food I buy from the store with home-made food. I also figure it will be healthier for the fids, and less costly. For 2 kg of seed it is $15 and I figure for that price, I can get more if I make my own food and buy the ingredients in bulk. Hurray for bulk barns!

Does anyone do this? Or even tried it?

I'm not sure of any downsides to it, but if there are please let me know.

curious to know some of the macaw diets around

mangos momma — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:46:58 GMT

I am getting mango away from a seed and fruit diet.

He has only been home 2 days, but he has been offered a good variety of foods already, stage 2 baby sweet potatoes, frozen ice cubes with chunks of fruit in them( my birds use to love this it was a treat for them) shredded carrots, chicken, chicken bones, eggs with the shell, harrisons pellets, pasta wheels with peas and chicken, pop corn mashed potatoes.

He has been curious I don't see him jumping right into eating everything and coming completely off the seed. But I would love to know what everyone feeds.

I have tricks up my sleeve to get him off all of this seed and not use it as a main ingredient in his diet.

But I am also willing on hearing everyone else tricks and ideas too.

? Do you buy your bird food?

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:30:18 GMT

Moof here,
I was looking into buying larger quantities of our pellets etc. and was wondering if anyone knows of a good place/site as far as prices & shipping goes. WE use different brands and mix/alternate them. Dad knows the brands but if I could just check out the sites at least. I may be looking into the 20# bags.
Thanks!!!

Quaker Parrots

emsguy1974 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:27:35 GMT

While I was researching information about Quaker Parrots, I saw that they should absolutely stay away from avacodoes, chocolate and something else. Since then I have not been able to find that information, so can someone please help me? :)