We're the kind of family that likes to share our food with the bird. It's not a great habit, I admit, but it's the reality. His diet consists of a small (even smaller now) glob of peanut butter in the morning as a treat. He then just nibbles on a mix of cockatiel food and Zupreem fruit flavored pellets until he goes into his cage. There, he gets a mix of dried fruit, nuts, and we give him two shelled peanuts that he likes to tear apart. By the time we take him downstairs when we get home is actually where the trouble starts I think. Dad likes to share his Clif bars (high-fat natural energy bars) with Skittles and sometimes gives him a tiny piece of a Nature Valley bar. Sometimes, he also manages to get a little bit of vanilla ice cream as well. Three days a week, he shares a protein shake with my dad that's full of fruit so I don't consider that so bad.
Other human food he gets infrequently is cinnamon raisin bagels, pizza crust, yogurt and bits of oatmeal and fruit in dad's cereal. So, it doesn't really need to be said, it's no wonder he's a little overweight. I am now giving him smaller globs of peanut butter (I know it's fattening but it's just become routine for him to get a treat in the morning). I also plan to cut back on the frequency of his junk food. Also, the cockatiel mix we got from Walmart has sunflower seeds. I'm thinking of replacing them with dried peas or corn or something and mixing it with the Zupreem he already gets.
So I guess what I want to ask is for any advice on helping cut back his weight? I know he isn't severely overweight or anything, but I just have the whole "protective mom" thing going on. Has anyone else ever had an overweight bird and what did you do to help him get back to a healthy weight? Sorry for the post being so long...
