Picky birds

[Scarpath]

I tried giving my budgies a carrot once. I think it was too big for them to eat. They nibbled on it but they couldn't get their beak around it. Is their any other veggie or fruit I should try? They don't really like apple.

[zazanomore]

Nibbling is a good sign!

[Scarpath]

Nibbling is a good sign!

Really? Does that mean they like it or that they are trying to eat it but can't and that I should cut and make it smaller. As long as it is a good sign I am alright!

[kaylayuh]

I tried giving my budgies a carrot once. I think it was too big for them to eat. They nibbled on it but they couldn't get their beak around it. Is their any other veggie or fruit I should try? They don't really like apple.

If they're nibbling the carrot, maybe shred it with a handgrater. I've gotten matchstick sized carrots are the grocery store, too.

I've tried things like jalapeno pepper, bell peppers, corn, peas, beans, pineapple, mango, papaya, tomato, kale, spinach, lettuces, egg, chicken, pizza crust (as a super special treat). Pretty much anything that is not avacado, anything with caffeine and chocolate. If you google what's not safe for parakeets to eat, you'll get a much bigger list.

If you do use beans though, a lot of canned beans have extra sodium added to them. I use dried beans and soak them overnight in cold water and then boil them the next day for about an hour. It sounds like a lot of work, but if you're going to eat them anyway, may as well make extra for them! They stay good to eat for about 3 days in a seal container in the refrigerator, too.

[zazanomore]

I say, just give them the carrot. They are perfectly capable to bite off perfect sized chunks to eat.

[Scarpath]

I think that I will put 1 full carrot in and then 1 shredded carrot in and see which 1 they like better. Which ever 1 they pick they will get from now on! Thanks guys!

[Kathleen]

When I had a budgie, I would create a somewhat mashed mix of things, which included seeds, crushed pellets, and finely chopped broccoli, carrot and string bean pieces. I had to use the seeds to entice him, but he eventually ate the vegetables, he just didn't realize they were food at first.

[TheNzJessie]

I think that I'm gonna stick with the seeds a bit longer because my birds are like babies right now and I am afraid that the pellets will be too big or tough for them to bite. And I DON'T want my birds to starve.
Have you tried apple or pear? My 2 conures are crazy about them! They like gala apples the most. Not so much empire or granny smith.

put the pellets in a teas spoon and get another tea spoon and thse it to crush the pellets in the other tea spoon to make them smaller. it also workes with tablets for medication in cats/dogs/rabbits you can crush it to powder but with pellets just slightly will make them smaller for them to eat.

[Scarpath]

I think that I'm gonna stick with the seeds a bit longer because my birds are like babies right now and I am afraid that the pellets will be too big or tough for them to bite. And I DON'T want my birds to starve.
Have you tried apple or pear? My 2 conures are crazy about them! They like gala apples the most. Not so much empire or granny smith.

put the pellets in a teas spoon and get another tea spoon and thse it to crush the pellets in the other tea spoon to make them smaller. it also workes with tablets for medication in cats/dogs/rabbits you can crush it to powder but with pellets just slightly will make them smaller for them to eat.

That's a good idea! I actually had to do that with my fish when I was younger because we bought the wrong food and it was to big for him to eat! I don't know why I didn't think of that!
Just a question...which is better...seeds or pellets?

[Scarpath]

When I had a budgie, I would create a somewhat mashed mix of things, which included seeds, crushed pellets, and finely chopped broccoli, carrot and string bean pieces. I had to use the seeds to entice him, but he eventually ate the vegetables, he just didn't realize they were food at first.

Really? I think I should do that with my budgies veggies! They never really ate their carrots...I think I'll try mixing it in with their seeds. Thanks!!!! This is the BEST PARROT FORUM EVER!!!!!