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Post by ankushmehra on Feb 26, 2015 3:34:04 GMT -5
Hi, I have blue quaker, I am trying to introduce him to new food, since he is on a seeds and fruits diet. I know seed is not a good source for his diet, and that's exactly what I am looking to change. He is around a year old and its only been a month I've had him with me. Hence I am going slow with changing his diet.
My question is how to give him:-
(1) OATS: - Should I be giving him raw as in directly as I get from the stores, i.e. packed. Or should I be giving him by mixing it with hot water and cooling it and then giving it.?
(2) POTATOES: - Raw or Boiled?
Thanks to all in advance.
Also I would like to know which is the best pellets brand to give.?
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Post by easttex on Feb 26, 2015 6:12:44 GMT -5
Good for you, improving his diet.  Oats can be given raw, but he may have a preference for cooked. I'd try it both ways. If you're talking about white potatoes I would not give him a whole lot. Not much nutrition there. I'd recommend peeled and cooked. Sweet potatoes would be better for him. There are a lot of pellets out there that would be perfectly fine, but my preference is Harrison's, primarily because they are organic. I also like Roudybush California blend. It can take a while to get them to accept pellets after a seed diet, but any pellet you can get him on would be better. Good luck! |
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Post by ankushmehra on Feb 26, 2015 7:54:39 GMT -5
Thanks for your reply..!!
Secondly are pomegranate good for quakers, but what about their seeds can they have them to should I peel them?
Thirdly when I give any veggies should all be cooked/boiled or it will depend from veggie to veggie. Namely Cauliflower, Spinach, Carrots, Broccoli, etc.
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Post by easttex on Feb 26, 2015 10:16:36 GMT -5
In general, most parrots don't need a lot of fruit in their diet. There are exceptions, but quakers are not one of them. But pomegranate is okay, and some birds really enjoy getting a chunk of one so they can pick the seeds out themselves. Just be prepared for an unholy mess. As far as cooking or not, it mostly depends on an individual bird's preference. Some will take a warm soft meal over a crisp one. I recommend peeling anything that has skin likely to have been exposed to pesticides, if you can peel it. And stay away from avocado altogether. |
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Post by aaron on Feb 26, 2015 11:44:25 GMT -5
Easttex has given you good advice here... I would just add that if you can get your bird to eat those veggies raw it will provide more nutrients... but obviously that can be difficult. At least in our case, it is a lot easier to convince the bird to eat cooked, warm vegetables than raw ones. I wish she would eat raw veggies.
We also like Harrison's brand pellets here, primarily because they are organic as well.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Feb 26, 2015 16:44:06 GMT -5
Mr P LOVES cooked oatmeal. I make it with unsweetened almond milk, I add a little maple syrup to mine and give him his without the syrup. I use either steel cut oats or regular rolled oats, not the quick cooking or the instant.
I"m going to edit this to add Mr P also loves potatoes of any kind but he doesnt get those as often as oatmeal.
He is particularly fond of the Bob Evans premade mashed potatoes that you just nuke but he RARELY gets those (and when he does it's just a teeny tiny taste) as they have ingredients that are not friendly to quakers (not that friendly to humans either), lots of butter and milk.
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Post by cnyguy on Feb 26, 2015 21:18:38 GMT -5
Cooked potatoes are fine now and then; I don't think raw potatoes are recommended for parrots. Ralph prefers baked potatoes and sometimes gets a little taste of mashed potatoes or a tiny piece of a french fry. Boiled potatoes are OK too. Ralph won't touch uncooked oats, but will eat a little plain cooked oatmeal. Pomegranates are supposed to be good for parrots. Ralph only squawks at them  and my old YCA George just threw the seeds on the floor for a nice creative mess.  As with any food, every parrot will have his/her own likes and dislikes. Harrison's pellets are often recommended. Most QPs like the fruit-flavored ZuPreem pellets; Ralph also likes Pretty Bird Daily Select and Higgins InTune fruit-flavored pellets. He will eat plain Roudybush pellets only if they're mixed in with the ones he likes better. |
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Post by ankushmehra on Feb 27, 2015 3:25:30 GMT -5
Thanks for your valuable replies...
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Oats can be given raw, but he may have a preference for cooked. I'd try it both ways. If you're talking about white potatoes I would not give him a whole lot. Not much nutrition there. I'd recommend peeled and cooked. Sweet potatoes would be better for him.
and my old YCA George just threw the seeds on the floor for a nice creative mess. 
As with any food, every parrot will have his/her own likes and dislikes.