picky eater bird food

Revised May 17, 2022

Some pet birds are picky eaters, and if you’re the owner of one of these feathered friends, you may find yourself wondering how to get them to start eating healthy food. With all the varieties and types of bird foods available on the market today, it can be difficult to know where to start with figuring out what your bird likes best, especially if he or she isn’t interested in trying anything new. This guide will help you choose the right food and then make it as enticing as possible, so that your bird will finally give in and try it!

Why Does My Bird Refuse To Eat?

Like many other pet bird parents, parrot parents teach their young what to eat. In fact, it’s one of their most important parental duties. This means that a parrot won’t know which foods are safe to eat unless it is shown by you. If your baby parrot won’t eat the recommended healthy vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other plant based products, eat them in front of the bird so that it learns that these foods are good.

If you want to teach your bird to eat a healthier diet, watch this video, 9 Ways To Get Your Bird To Eat Veggies. After watching that video and some other good videos on how to get your parrot to like healthy foods (see Resources), your picky eater will be eating nutritious food in no time! And if all else fails, try different food products until you find one that your parrot loves!

 

 

How to Get Your Bird To Eat Better

Like many other bird parents, parrot parents teach their young what is safe to eat and what they need to stay away from. In fact, it’s one of their most important parental duties. Unless they've been shown that a particular food item is safe to eat, most bird's will avoid it.

parent parrots

This means that a hand fed pet parrot won’t know which foods are safe to eat unless it is shown by you. If your baby parrot won’t eat the recommended healthy vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other plant based products, eat them in front of the bird so that it learns that these foods are good.

First introduce some fresh, raw veggies with plenty of nutrients like spinach, broccoli and carrots. These foods not only have the vitamins essential for your bird's development, but they are loaded with fiber. Gradually add more variety. Then, begin cutting your bird up into a chop. Make sure that your bird knows that you're delighted to see it eating veggies!

What treats can you use for birds?

The way you train your bird is vital for ensuring it learns how to behave itself. Your bird is actually quite intelligent, so making positive reinforcement part of your bird training routines can really pay off in the short term and in the future. Positive reinforcement works quickly, especially when you are offering your bird his favorite treats.

You have a few different options. It all depends on what your bird enjoys and what it will get excited about. For example, small pieces of a tree nut, like walnuts or almonds can be used as a training treat for birds. Other birds might prefer a nibble of millet or a safflower seed. You can also try small portions of vegetables or fruits, like apples or carrots. Even sweet potatoes can be included in your bird’s diet. You can even offer tiny bits of nuts or small seeds. The bird just needs to be able to consume the training treat in just a few seconds.

Should I give my bird vitamins?

While vitamin supplements are not necessary for a healthy bird that eats a rich range of vegetables and fruits, they may be beneficial in certain situations. If your bird is on an unhealthy seed diet or refuses veggies—and you're seeing problems like poor feather quality, lethargy, or weight loss—vitamins can help boost his nutrition and provide nutrients he might not otherwise get from his diet.

While bird vitamin supplements are not necessary for a healthy bird that eats a rich range of vegetables and fruits, they may be beneficial in certain situations. If your bird is on an unhealthy seed diet or refuses veggies—and you're seeing problems like poor feather quality, lethargy, or weight loss—vitamins can help boost his nutrition and provide nutrients he might not otherwise get from his diet. After all, malnutrition is the leading cause of death in our pet birds.

Choose a high quality bird vitamin like UnRuffledRx FeatheredUp! An expert can help you figure out exactly which supplement is best for your pet. This is especially important if your bird has special health concerns or eats a diet that may not provide all of his nutritional needs.

What is the best supplement for birds?

Supplementing a raw food diet is a fantastic way to improve your pet bird’s health, but it isn’t always easy. When choosing a bird supplement, first think about the body system that you'd like to have function better. For instance, if you want to improve itchy skin, find a supplement that is rich in Vitamin A and Omega Fatty Acids, like Red Palm Oil.

If your bird is having balance issues or seizures, choose a bird calcium, magnesium supplement.

If you want to improve feather condition, choose FeatheredUp! which is a bird multi-vitamin that is rich in amino acids and B vitamins that stimulate feather growth.

Here are some tried-and-true supplements that you should definitely include.

Bird Calcium
Red Palm Oil
Coconut Oil 
Raw, Fresh Hemp Seeds

Are there supplements for nervous birds?

Bird's are prone to becoming nervous or stressed. If you're struggling with keeping your bird calm, it may be beneficial for you to give them supplements like UnRuffledRx Parrot Calming Formula with L-Theanine or use a bird safe calming tea.

Some owners also swear by feeding their birds raw food diets paying close attention to foods rich in calcium, magnesium, and zinc. These nutrients have been linked to lower anxiety.

 

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Diane Burroughs, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist trained in ABA therapy techniques. She specializes in avian anxiety disorders and is certified in Nutrition For Mental Health. Diane has written a number of bird behavior books and she offers behavior consultations. She's developed a range of UnRuffledRx Science-backed Parrot Wellness Supplies.

Diane's products have been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at Exoticscon, a conference for exotic pet veterinarians. Her bird collars & supplements are stocked in avian vet clinics and bird stores throughout the US. With over 30 years in the field of behavior, Diane has created thousands of successful individualized behavior plans that help pets thrive.

TAGS: #BirdVitamins #BirdSupplements #BirdTreats

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