How do I get my bird to eat fruits and veggies?

[hlasdf]

Hey all! I've tried feeding my lovebird, Daisy fruits and veggies ever since she got here, but she absolutely refuses to try them. I think it may have something to do with the texture and the fact that it's wet(she hates getting her beak wet). She'll try anything as long as it's hard, dry, and a little seed-like, but fruits and veggies just don't seem to fit that category. If she so much as sees one a foot away from her, she runs for the hills and hides in any open crevice she can find. Her cage only has two places a bowl can be, and they're right next to each other so I can't use that instinct technique where I put what I want her to eat at the top. Anyone know what I can do to get her to eat them?

[lifesazoo33]

Have you tried offering her drier fruits and veggies? Like carrots? Wash them, and then dry them off, will she eat them that way? You can also use the tops of carrots
Have you tried shredding the food and putting it into her food dish?

[hlasdf]

Have you tried offering her drier fruits and veggies? Like carrots? Wash them, and then dry them off, will she eat them that way? You can also use the tops of carrots
Have you tried shredding the food and putting it into her food dish?

Yes, I've tried drier veggies like cauliflowers and carrots, but she still doesn't eat them even when shredded and in her food dish.

[marie83]

Food management is the only way I managed to get my fussy 'tiel to try veg, even then it took a year and chopping everything up into pellet sized pieces.

[GlassOnion]

Try "chop". Look it up on google, it's basically a fine mash with grains, veggies, drugs, etc.

[friend2parrots]

is Daisy on a pelleted diet yet? Ive had seed-eating budgies in the past that used to HATE veggies and fruits, but once I converted them to a pelleted diet, they just fell in love with fruits and veggies on their own - perhaps because of the more interesting tastes, variety, and textures that fruits and veggies offer compared to pellets.

so I would suggest converting Daisy to pellets if you haven't done so already...

[Utoomom]

Another cool idea that worked well with my friends lovie was that she tied the pieces of veggie, fruites into knots on a birdie safe rope, hung from the top of the cage and Pauly (her lovie) became curious and went from playing with them to pick at them, to finally eating them.
I totally agree that the conversion to pelletes will stimulate her to try a variety of fresh goodies.. Good luck~!

[hlasdf]

is Daisy on a pelleted diet yet? Ive had seed-eating budgies in the past that used to HATE veggies and fruits, but once I converted them to a pelleted diet, they just fell in love with fruits and veggies on their own - perhaps because of the more interesting tastes, variety, and textures that fruits and veggies offer compared to pellets.

so I would suggest converting Daisy to pellets if you haven't done so already...

Yes, she is on a pelleted diet. I converted her to Kaytee since I brought her home, and am now starting on a Roudybush diet.

[Pralina]

Another cool idea that worked well with my friends lovie was that she tied the pieces of veggie, fruites into knots on a birdie safe rope, hung from the top of the cage and Pauly (her lovie) became curious and went from playing with them to pick at them, to finally eating them.
I totally agree that the conversion to pelletes will stimulate her to try a variety of fresh goodies.. Good luck~!

this sounds like a great idea!!!! ill give it a try!
Im birdsitting this one that refuses categorically to try them, even though my lovebirds do eat everything in front of him.

[healthyaddict]

Something that's worked for Doctor is me nibbling on the fruit or veggie. Since you're part of their flock, maybe this'll help. Another thing that was helpful for us was presenting it or slicing it in different ways. Doctor never ever ate carrots until I used a carrot peeler. Now he loves them. Finally, we share food a lot with him. At breakfast/dinner, we have a little plate on the table where he joins us. On that plate, we put some of what we're eating, with a bit of seed and pellets, and he'll often try whatever new foods are on it. On purpose, or by accident.

I also really like the turning the food into a toy idea. That's clever. I usually just wedge it into the cage bars.

The one thing I haven't gotten him to eat successfully is fruit. But then again, I've read that tiels aren't huge fruit eaters...

Good luck!