veggies for budgie

[Snowy]

I've had Snowy for about a month now and have been putting things like brocoli flower, shaved carrots and zuccini slices in his cage every other day or so. So far, she's just ignored them or in the case of the carrot shards, vigorously knocked them out of her treat cup. Any tips on getting her to nibble these? What's your bird's favorite veggie?

Her staple diet is KayTee fusion diet - mixture of kibble and seeds...I think she kicks all the non-seeds out of her cups and picks out the seeds to eat.

We take her out every day to get her accustomed to us, but she just tolerates it - tries her best to get back into he cage. So she won't eat stuff like boiled eggs from us either.

Shld I be concerned? She's very lively and a crack-up to watch as she does her antics in her cage.

[krazy4birds]

First off Snowy...when you get her out of her cage go in a different room to train/play with her. They usually are very managable when they can not see their comfort zone(cage) I learned this years ago. Keep offering all kinds of vegetables. I buy the frozen vegetables then I mix all the bags together and put in freezer bags with the daily amount in each bag. This way you can thaw out only what you need. Also this will be vegetables that are softer for them. Also try cooked sweet potatoes. Just experiment with the different foods and she probably will eventually find them tempting and start trying them out. One more thing my 'Tiels like apples chopped up in small pieces. Good Luck!

[Snapperhead]

Budgies in the wild bathe by rubbing up against wet leaves...if you take some Romain or Green Leaf lettuce that's just been washed and clip it to the side of your Budgie's cage usually they will get right into it and dampen their feathers and chew the lettuce at the same time. Don't get discouraged though...sometimes it can seem like it's taking forever to get your bird to try something new, but persistence is the key for sure! Also if your bird likes to bathe in a dish...try putting a bit of lettuce or cabbage or brocoli flowers in the water. From what I've read about budgies they enjoy water fun very much and if yours does that may just add a new element and help you get some veggies in him/her.
Cheers, Tamara

[Snowy]

Thanks for your tips!
I did take her to a diff. room and she definitely hangs out better there!
will keep trying with the veggies.

[jonesy zoo]

I also you a fruit kebab...you can buy pre fab ones or make yuor own.. all it is a piece of strong wire bent in a 's' shape and thread on the fruit and vegies...and they have something to play with and nibble on...i file the ends of the wire so that they are not sharp..also found that the bigger parrots love it as well

[Snowy]

There's an idea, jonesy! I'll try that tomorrow! Thanks.

[Snapperhead]

I use a kabob hanger as well. I find it keeps the fruit/veggies from ending up on the cage floor and they can have some and then go back for more if they like it. Just make sure to place it somewhere clear of perches as my little one has a bit where if he doesn't like something he'll poop on it right away cause then I have to remove it from his cage. Sometimes I have to hang up way up in the corner of the cage so he can't get himself above it easily, especially if I'm trying something new. He can be resistant to something new until he's seen it in his cage a few times. He also is more willing to try something if he sees me eating it first. He always wants what I have...as most birds do I think, especially if I make a fuss about how yummy it is. Tomorrow I'm trying sweet potatoes again (he wouldn't touch them last time) and since I love them I'm going to have some for lunch and let him see me eat it and not give him any (reverse psychology...hehehe). At dinner I will have more and this time I'll offer him a bit off my plate and if he goes for it I'll give him his own...but will continue to take little bits of his for me. :D I never thought of doing this until about six months ago and now I use it to get him to try new things!

Cheers, Tamara

[Shelia]

I just got some kobob hangers at the bird mart this weekend I have been looking for one that can stand up to a U2 ( very picky eater) thay are made by Expandable Habitats they do have a web sight Angel run start to it Nikkie and the tiels are looking at Angel I am hope they will start eating more vegs. this way

[mart22har]

You Should Feed Them Lettuce And Grapes Cut In Half

[Snapperhead]

Hey Snowy...how are things going with the Budgie and fresh foods? Just wondering if you're having any success with it?

Cheers, Tamara

[Kalisandra]

What's your bird's favorite veggie? Without a doubt peas. Sir Dwight shells them, and eats the insides. Then he drops the 'hull' on the floor for my fat cat (whose on a diet) to eat. It's weird how Sir Dwight 'feeds' his cat. LOL

Kalisandra

[Snowy]

sorry my visits here have been erratic...
Here's an up-date on Snowy's veggie saga.
She seems to like the lettuce greens. I see her nibbling/playing with it.
She shreds blanched broccoli flowers too, so I'm hoping she's actually eating some of it. I've been attaching these to the slats of her cage.
I've tried the Kabob thing and she's afraid of it! When I put that in with little bits of carrots, sweet potato, grapes, she avoids it like the plague! Since she doesn't seem to mind when I put stuff thru the cage slats, I think I'll continue offering different stuff that way.

she has become quite tame. She loves to snuggle at the base of my neck and bury herself in my hair. She's obssessed with my computer too when I'm typing. She crawls under my hand to peck at the keys I'm using or starts to chew on the mouse wire (only when I'm typing or using the mouse). Slows me down but very funny.
Oh, she loves to try to eat the pencil when my daughter is doing her homework!

[Cher 1943]

Hi

I was having trouble with my keet eating veggies. To-night I boiled some carrots & broccoli put it in a blender with a slice of apple a bit of butter and a dish of salt......I put about 3-4 seeds on top and he couldn't stop eating it. At one time he was sitting in the dash.....he had orange all over his beak he was funny to watch.

I had tried all other ways to get him to eat veg. but he wouldn't even look at them...hope this helps.

Thanks
Cheryl

[amanda622]

hey birdy parents i dont have any birds i had 2 when i was little ill have pics soon anyway i found some recipes for your birdies

Birdie Cereal
1/2 c. cooked white or brown rice
1/4 c. dry monkey chow, ground in a blender
1/4 c. Sun Maid Fruit Bits, soaked overnight
2 tbl.s Bag O' Bugs
Mix ingredients together and serve immediately. Change at least twice a day to make sure your birds doesn't digest any soured foods. You can replace the Bag O' Bugs with live insects.


Eight Grain Cereal
1 part oats
1 part brown rice
1 part corn
1 part soybeans
1 part hulled millet
1 part barley
1 part sunflower
1 part flaxseed
Avian vitamins
Mix all grains together. Heat three cups boiling water and add one cup mixture. Cook until the consistency of oatmeal. This can be added to some of your corn bread recipes! Sprinkle avian vitamins over cereal.


Budgie Baked Carrot and Apple Casserole
2 c. sliced carrots
5 apples, cut into 1/4 inch slices
2 tbl. whole wheat flour
4 tbl. honey
4 tbl. butter
3/4 c. orange juice
2 tbl. Avian vitamins
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Put half the apples in a shallow 1-quart baking dish and cover them with half the carrots. Sprinkle with one tablespoon flour and one tablespoon avian vitamins. Drizzle two tablespoonfuls of honey over flour. Dot with two tablespoons of butter. Repeat the layers. Pour orange juice over entire mixture and bake for 40-45 minutes. Dish out into one inch squares. Let cool and place in plastic bags to freeze.


Stuffing
1/4 cup cornbread stuffing mix
1/4 cup mixed frozen vegetables
1 tablespoon almonds
1 tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheeze
1/4 cup cooked pasta
Place all ingredients in a microwave dish. Add enough water tomake slightly moist and stir. Heat in microwave on high untilwarm, about 30 seconds. Be sure cheese is not too hot before serving.


Handfeeding Formula
4 cups, Jif Low sodium peanut butter
3 tablespoons, All natural Apple sauce
1 cup, All natural Apple juice
1 quart, Water
4 cups, Nutrical (high calorie supplement for cats and dogs)
1/2 tube, 2 jars each of Gerber baby food (spinach, garden vegetable, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, green bean)
Mix Kaytee formula, water, juice, applesauce, gerberfood all together. Stir until powder is completely mixed in. Add peanut butter, and Nutrical. Microwave on high for 8 minutes, stir, microwave 8 minutes, stir, Microwave 8 minutes. Divide in to 1 cup servings and freeze in containers. To thaw, microwave 4 minutes, stir, heat 25 seconds or until warm. Food will last in the refrigerator 2 days.


Birdie Scenic Formula
1/8 c. Scenic Paradise Pellets
(chopped in coffee grinder)
1 tbl. Gerber Apricot baby food
Mix with warm water and feed.


HERES A TOY

One of the easiest budgies toys to make is the Chewable-O. It consists simply of leather string, plastic beads, wood spools, and a hook or key ring.

Step 1: Cut one piece of leather string approximately 12" in length and several other shorter pieces of leather string 3-4" in length.

Step 2: Tie a hook or key ring at one end of the long leather piece with 2-3 knots.

Step 3: Then thread the plastic beads and wood spools on in a pattern of your choice, interspersed with the occasional single-knotted shorter pieces of leather string. Just leave enough room at the end of the leather string to connect it to the hook or key ring with 2-3 more knots.