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Post by graciesmom on Aug 23, 2018 22:05:53 GMT -5
When I brought Gracie home the breeder told me "pellets only" at first. So I did just that, at first, and she ate. Then I read fresh fruits and veggies were good to offer on the side, so I did that, leaving her when I went to work with a bowl of 2 or 3 fruits and/or veggies and her usual pellets. Well, now she won't eat her pellets. Yesterday I decided not to give fresh food to her and see if she would go back to eating pellets. When I got home from work I took her out of her cage as I usually do and offered her dried papaya as her treat. She was so hungry she was frantically snatching it from my fingers and eating. She was almost frenzied.
I then tried hand feeding pellets to her and couldn't break them with my nail. They are so hard, no wonder she can't break them with her beak! I got a mallet and broke them up, added water to some, put the rest in her cup. Today still nothing. I broke down and gave her a bit of corn on the cob which she ate joyfully and kept her occupied for a while. Sorry such a long post, but now I'm afraid if it's not fresh food she will starve to death. She's 11 weeks old. Thoughts?
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Post by dinucci on Aug 24, 2018 2:30:28 GMT -5
Yikes ! Growing pains already. I would try mixing her fresh food with the pellets in the same dish for the time being with measured small amounts at a time so you can easily monitor what she eats while you're gone...like 2 tbsp total. I sometimes mist buddy's food and he seems to like everything wet. He will carry dry pellets to his water dish,going back and forth on his perch,to dip them before chewing them up. Maybe soak them a bit the night before with a little mist and keeping them in the fridge till needed. Also,fresh food should be if higher protien for now. Buddy will eat cooked salmon,hard boiled eggs with glee,but also likes fresh spinach,romaine,cilantro,squash,and soaked grains like wheat berries,farro,bulgar,flax seed which are all good protien sources...corn to a lesser degreee. Some people here have mentioned either soaking or misting pellets with un sugared fruit juices. I bought a different pellet mix a while back that is only 1 color..tan. I mix them with his regular pellets and they are always the last in his bowl. They can be very picky if given too much at the same time to choose from. So maybe mix them all together with a mist,let them soften and flavors meld overnight and see if that doesn't help a little,then offer her some fresh fruit as treats. One thing as of late..I give buddy a steamed snap pea pod to chew and by the end of the day he has it shredded and the peas gone. Keep in mind that they can become bored with the same fresh foods every day too,so be sure to mix it up every few days. Even I can't eat pasta every day !
Best wishes.
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Post by graciesmom on Aug 24, 2018 17:54:20 GMT -5
Thank you, biteybird! She did not eat any of her pellets today either, even though I broke them up into smaller pieces. I'm going to try all your sugestions! Interesting Buddy dips his pellets in water (that sounds so cute!) and prefers his food softened with misting. I am going to begin with that idea and see if that works for my picky girl. I'll let you know how it goes!
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Post by dinucci on Aug 24, 2018 18:18:42 GMT -5
Yeah he's like a little old man that has found a taste for fish cause he hasn't any teeth left! I'm kinda in the same boat with budz. He's really a good eater all in all,but he can be picky at times.plus I have a huge bag of the tan color pellets by zupreem,good stuff,but he won't touch it. .so I'm gonna give the juice mist a try and maybe hold it in the fridge overnight to soften it up more..
Never stop experimenting! You'd be Suprised at what your little one might like!
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Post by graciesmom on Aug 24, 2018 19:02:15 GMT -5
She's certainly a culinary challenge! Question I just thought of... The breeder selected and sold me her first bag of pellets. When I went back, his sister sold me the 2nd bag, saying at 11 weeks Gracie needed the pellets labeled "Baby Pellets", as opposed to "Adult", so not knowing what I bought the first time, I bought "Baby". Are "Baby Pellets" right? They seem smallish. The pellets are sold in bulk as this breeder is known as the best in town and runs a small bird supply shop as well. He offers a multitude of seeds, grains,and treats, all sold by bulk.(You pour however much you want, he charges by the weight).
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Post by graciesmom on Aug 25, 2018 14:20:53 GMT -5
Saturday morning here in Florida and I have great news!! Last night upon your suggestions, I put broccoli bits in with her pellets. This morning she searched to find any of the broocoli and once she decided there wrren't anymore, she let me know once again she was near starvation. I just sat near her and watched her, encouraging her to eat. Then, suddenly she decided to give those pellets a go, ate a few, then quit. I dumped them out, washed her dish, and refilled with 1 tablespoon of pellets. She started eating, but it's been 4 hours and she has not finished her tablespoon. I am encouraged now, so I have decided to go back to offering her pellets only for a while. I think she'll eat them now. Just getting her to spend a little time at her dish eating the things is a huge step in the right direction. While she ate I kept saying, "Mmm yummy,yummy!" was it my imagination, or did I get the ol' stink eye? Lol!
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Post by dinucci on Aug 25, 2018 23:26:17 GMT -5
As for adult vs baby pellets..I have never heard of such. Sounds interesting as it may pertain to certain mineral compounds formulated for young birds..so maybe there's some good to it. If it's just smaller pellets,maybe that would help her easily break them down.
As far as part 2..one of the best times to try to get her to eat is the first thing in the morning. Buddy is starving when he wakes up. Since they are flock feeders,and you are part of the flock haha..have your cereal bowl ready,put her pellets in the dish and she will see you eat and be inclined to join you..maybe thinking you are eating the same thing. It's funny because budz does the same thing at dinner time..looks at us eating,says yum yum,and proceeds to his dish. Think of it as communal breakfast or lunch ect. They love to watch you eat sometimes giving you the evil eye,but really they are just looking for confirmation that all is good ! It's one of the coolest bonds that you can do with her and it's part of their endearing nature ! Later on,they become demanding mooches !
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Post by biteybird on Aug 26, 2018 0:51:10 GMT -5
They love to watch you eat sometimes giving you the evil eye,but really they are just looking for confirmation that all is good ! It's one of the coolest bonds that you can do with her and it's part of their endearing nature ! Later on,they become demanding mooches ! Bonnie is more inclined to eat whilst sitting on my shoulder, when I'm preparing food for a lunch or evening meal. If I put those same things in her dish she would ignore them! But if she thinks she's 'stealing' them (I often put a little piece off to the side of the chopping board so she can happen across it) she will eat more and try more new things. Little buggers they are !  |
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Post by graciesmom on Aug 26, 2018 20:43:24 GMT -5
So appreciate your insight and tips! I will try these suggestions tomorrow. She ate a bit today, but doesn't seem to be enough. Otherwise, she seems happy.
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Post by dinucci on Aug 27, 2018 6:29:35 GMT -5
Bitybird..that's so funny because buddy does the same thing while screeching in my ear..I give him some on his forage rock,say here ya go,and he doesn't touch it a lot of times..and sometimes it's things I know he likes,but it doesn't taste the same as it does on my shoulder.
He also does the slow mooch,wherein like yesterday..I made popcorn..so he starts out sitting on the back of my chair preening me..slowly works his way onto my shoulder and halfway down my arm,still turning to preen me,but looking down into my bowl,then looking back up at me with this little awe c'mon face. Hard not to give in and reward him haha !
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Post by graciesmom on Aug 29, 2018 22:02:55 GMT -5
She's eating pellets! I misted them with sugar free, 100% apple juice. I stopped feeding her fresh fruits and veggies in the morning and give her a bit of papaya and a bit of vegetable during our together time when I get home from work. Just enough to get her tummy growling, then she goes back in her cage and eats her pellets before bedtime. Thank you for you helpful tips! ☺
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Post by dinucci on Aug 29, 2018 22:57:03 GMT -5
Ahh ! How great is that? ?!!! Quick success! Now just enjoy your meals together..nothing quite like those little chicken chirps while they eat..saying come join me ! Buddy also chicken chirps when getting in the tub..priceless.
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Post by pidgesmum on Sept 5, 2018 23:19:15 GMT -5
Pidge was eating Sth American pellets well when I got him. He went totally off them for a couple of months. I eventually gave him the occasional one as a treat. He now is happily eating them again. I make a porridge with all the grains and veges in and he loves it. He seems to like warm food. He is a tea addict and I know he shouldn't have it but he fights me for my tea and skim milk every day.
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Post by allen on Sept 11, 2018 10:06:33 GMT -5
My QP, a rescue, would not eat pellets either. They were too big and hard. I switched to Harrison's High Potency Pellets which are small and easy to break. Vinny, my QP took right to them. I also supplement with Tropmix a nutritious blend of small pellets and dried fruit. In two weeks I have seen a difference in coat, color of feathers and my behavior problems have disappeared.
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Post by graciesmom on Sept 11, 2018 17:31:16 GMT -5
Tropmix? Harrison's?
Allen, I love this in that the pellets are easier to break and Tropmix has dried fruit in with it and in these you've seen such a visible improvement with the combination! Are you stateside? Where do you find Harrison's and Tropmix?
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