Any new veggie/fruit/grain ideas?

[paper_lantern]

Chubby has a very colorful diet, but I'm wanting to introduce new and exotic foods to him, just so he doesnt get bored. Here are the things he does eat, if you have any ideas that aren't on this list please share!

Fruits:
Apple
Banana
Raspberry
Blueberry
Papaya
Mango
Oranges
Strawberries

Veggies:
Kale
Spinach
Sweet Potato
Carrots
Sweet peas
Corn
Bok Choy
Summer Squash
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Green beans
Green, yellow, and red peppers
Brussle Sprouts
Jalapenos

Beans:
Pinto
Sprouted Lentils
Black Beans

Grain:
Brown rice
Quinoa
CousCous

Other:
Boiled Eggs
an occasional piece of boiled chicken
Seeds (as a treat)
Almonds, Pine nuts, walnuts
Millet
Cilantro

[Strawfrawg]

I buy organic shredded wheat, string several pieces together, and hang them for a play treat. Mostly Marvin just loves destroying them, but he does snack on some of it. I occasionally put a couple of cooked whole grain pasta wheels or spirals on the string. I also bake small batches of little balls and cylinder shapes made up of mashed & pureed pellets, cooked quinoa, chopped walnut, frozen sweet corn, brown rice, and chopped spinach. I form and bake the shapes on a string and hang them up with fresh greens between them.

In addition to the fruits and veg you mentioned, Marvin loves pear, apricot, pineapple, coconut right on the shell (excess fibers scraped off), Swiss chard, mashed potato, and thoroughly cooked edamame. All were approved by my vet, who gave me an exhaustive list of bird-safe foods that he got at a conference.

[KimberlyAnn]

Dandelion greens! My GCC just discovered she loves them! Not that exotic, I know. But they are very healthy.

[paper_lantern]

Coconut and pear are great ideas, I'll go buy some tonight, thank you!

Where do you get dandelion greens? Can you buy them from a store or do you have to pick them outside?

[KimberlyAnn]

I just buy them at the store, next to the kale etc, here in California. Dandelion greens are sold in bunches and they are looooong leaves, but are the same stuff you find in your lawn!

[janetafloat]

Yes, dandelions are growing like crazy here as spring has suddenly arrived after weeks of arctic weather. Alfie loves them. I pick them for him when I'm out walking the dog. Just be sure to pick them from somewhere away from the road (pollution) and where it's not likely to have been peed on by dogs, and wash it of course (sorry, I'm sure you could have figured that out for yourself!)

[Cockatielsongs]

Wow, I didn't know they can eat dandelion leaves, there's tons around here, something to t=do with them now!
Chubby must be so very healthy! My too won't even try to eat any of those, he'll touch then ignore it. Then won't talk to me until the food it gone. *sigh* how did you get Chubby to begin trying fruits and veggies?

[Eric&Rebecca]

Sounds strange but Pear.... every bird I know goes mad for it when its soft and ripe.

[paper_lantern]

Wow! I'll definitely try that as soon as the ground thaws and the dandelions bloom . It's still sort of Arctic here in Northern Maine . Thanks everyone!

As for Chubby trying new foods, I guess it's just in his personality. He has always been a bit of a pig and whatever I put in his cage he tries. He doesn't like ALL of it (won't touch grapes or pomegranate) but he usually does take at least one bit. The only thing I had to get him to try was when I switched him from one pellet to Roudybush pellets. He sort of looked at them like "wtf is this?" until I brought one to my mouth and actually took a bite and acted as though it was good (ahh...the things we do for our birds).

[marie83]

I'm fairly certain the whole of the dandilion plant can be used, I feed the flower heads as well as the leaves, I've never bothered digging up the roots though lol.

There are other edible flowers too, I read an article on it in parrots magazine ages ago but I cant remember anything it said sorry