What to feed Senegal???

[Bri]

Hi I am new here and have many questions! I've done a lot of research and then have came here to try and clear up confusions. I do not have a Senegal yet but there is a bird fair coming up in about a month I'm hoping to purchase one at. First I'm starting in this section about diet questions.

At first I thought they eat pellets instead of seeds because seeds are fatty Then I found out they need pellets anndd seeds, and fresh fruits and veggies. I'm very plan oriented and if something isnt in order or exact directions its verry confusing to me haha. So anyways questions...

They should have a good amount of pellets and seeds at all times correct? Then in the morning and evenings they get fruits and veggies? The cage I got has 2 bowls on the inside and 2 on the playtop. So, would I mix pellets and seeds in one and have water in the other? Then for breakfast and dinner time put the bird on its playtop and put the fruits and veggies in those bowls?

[liz]

I give pellets (crumbles to the smaller kids) and seed free choice. My Amazons get peanuts and almonds free choice.

They get fresh veggie and fruit in the morning (mostly veggie). They get to taste a little of what I am eating if it is something good for them. Myrtle got her first spagettie today. That was funning watching her hold it by the end and wondering how to get it in her mouth without dropping it. Rambo is a old hand a spagettie and begs when I fix it.

I would add another bowl even if it just hooks on the side to seperate the pellets or crumbles. You want to see what it is eating and what it is wasting.

[GlassOnion]

Okay, I am actually against fully free-feeding in dishes.

In the wild, birds spend a great portion of the day foraging (scavenging) for food, yes? This keeps them mentally and physically stimulated throughout the day. In captivity, birds are often offered a bowl filled with food right in front of them and absolutely no work is required to eat, essentially giving them too much time on their hands that often results in boredom.

Enrichment is VERY important in parrot ownership, and it's not only about chewable wood (which you do need to make sure is available in the cage at all times anyway). Working for food will keep your parrot entertained during the day, and he also gets the satisfaction of eating what he found.

In the first few days, I would leave a food dish available at all times just to get your bird accustomed to his environment, and also to make sure he is eating.

Over time...
- I would set up several small dishes/ foraging cups(found online or at a store) everywhere, each containing only a small portion of food. This way, your bird will have to climb around to find his food.
-Skewer veggie chunks through cage bars and also on a skewer. Place these around the cage.
-Wrap bits of nuts and seed in tissue paper, tie it against cage bars.
-Buy foraging puzzle devices either online or at a store, preferably online

The above are just a few ideas that are super easy and I'm sure you can come up with more. Remember, parrots are very intelligent creatures that NEED to be stimulated!

[Cage Cleaner]

L

[liz]

GlassOnion and Cage Cleaner have more knowledge than I.

My methods are unconventional because I have a flock in my sunroom. I don't trane my kids, they just learn as we go along. I feed free choice so there will be no squabbles over food. I put alfalfa hay in the bottom of the cage. They forage through it for seeds and play with the strands of hay.
(It makes for easy cleaning because the seed and poop don't bounce. I just remove the surface clumps daily and change it once a week.)

Anything that is well fed has time to play. Mine have toys that I rotate. The swing is big enough for two. They have things to climb on and bells and chimes to make noises. I but things in cereal boxes at the bottom too. Sweetie is the first to check them out. When they finish with the inside of the box, they tare it up.

Then too, they have each other. Those not eating are playing. Sometimes there is a dispute over who gets what toy but most of the time they just play with it together.

When I volunteered at NC Zoo Wildlife Rehab I was told that wild animals do not play. That is half true. Hungry wild animals do not play, they have to search for food. I saw a goose with a broken leg in a cage. It no longer had to search for food and even though it was injured it found a way to play. It played in its' water bowl blowing bubbles. I put a little plastic bowl in the bottom and it would go in after it - flip the water out and put the bowl back in. It was playing. I put rolled paper towels through cage bars for the little birds to pull in and tare up. My favorite was Oscar the vulture. He was in an outdoor enclosure alone. He had made his own toy using a rotted stump and poking pebbles in the holes. He flew down to show me how he played the game of moving his pebbles from one place to another. When I started giving him twigs he would strip the leaves off and give the twig back for another one.

Okay - I'm off the thread. I just wanted to add that what I do works for me and my kids.

[Bri]

Ok thanks everyone! I think I'll prefer the pellets, fresh fruits and veggies, and seeds as treats. How much fruits and veggies should I feed though?