proper food for cockatiel?

[cath]

Sigh...my cockatiel Topper was sick last weekend when I was out of town. Part of his beak had falled off!! Soo my sister took him to the vet (only 3 blocks away), and he admonished all of us for not feeding him properly these past 11 years The vet also said that cockatiels do molt their beaks....

So what do I buy for him? And how do I wean him off the Wally World special with sunflower seeds?
BTW...after having a shot of vitamins and an antibiotic and a week's worth of a warm room, Topper is his usual squawky self, and back to singing Beethoven's V.

[kita_katan]

I feed all mine Abba tiel food or Vita tiel food from the local pet store, plus vitamins in water and some vegies from my plate.

[cath]

Thanks, Kita! Years ago I tried giving Topper some people veggies, and he didn't seem the least bit interested, but I'll try again.

[Junkzoo]

Kaytee,or Sun brand are good seed mix food,,,Lafebers is a great food, but it is in pelleted form, you gotta gradually switch it over to it,,,,"Pet Solutions" is a good mail order place to check out on line,,,,fill the form for a catalog, and you'll get them forever,sorta,,,they carry pretty much only the good stuff and you can get good info from the catalog,,PLUS if you already did not know,,they carry Aquatic supplies too!

[Junkzoo]

Ditto on the people veggies,,,,millet sprays are a good thing too,,

[kita_katan]

try to offer him some soft spaggitti (sp) mine love it plus then you get food too

But just offer some mashed potatos or peas or corn or things like that.

[Deborah]

Hi Cath:

I've never had a cockatiel - just zebra and society finches - but I've read that the larger birds can be very stuborn about trying new foods. I'm sure there is a lot of info online about how to coax your bird to eat what's good for him. (Kinda like getting a four year old kid to eat vegetables )

Deborah

[filly]

Even if he won't eat the veggies and fruits right away, keep trying! have him sit with you at the table while you are eating (or in his cage) and eat the same foods. Birds are very social and many of them will eat when their owners do, the same foods. Most owners are under the impression that birds eat only seed. They get calcium deficiencies and all kinds of liver problems because of this, not to mention they are overweight. Seeds generally should be supplemental only, not the sole source of food for medium and larger parrots. They need carbs and lots of green foods as well. Good luck with your guy and keep trying!

[Mrs Smith]

I grew up with an Amazon Orange Wing and a really mean budgie... they had their own diets, but both loved millet, any leafy green veggie, and assorted other things. The budgie didn't go out much or he'd bite someone, but the Amazon is almost always out. That, and he'll steal YOUR food. (Especially tortilla chips and pizza crusts. He also tries to drink coffee.) I don't know that they ate the kale/spinach/lettuce as much as they destroyed it, but it was fun! Nuts in the shell are also popular with bigger birds.

I would guess that your little guy just hasn't had a chance to get to know other foods. Keep offering, and he'll eventually try it. Good luck.

Danielle

[Spanky]

Cath,

I probably shouldn't own up to this - BUT - I will anyway. I've found what works really well with tame birds is exactly what Filly said. I'll sit with them and eat something and offer them some of it too. It helps a lot if they watch you eat it first.
That's the way I got Jorge's woodpecker off Kaytee and cat food. Now if I can just get him off the taco chips! LOL

BTW Missy, what's up with your bird and no veggies??

[cath]

Originally posted by Spanky



BTW Missy, what's up with your bird and no veggies??

Eheheh...you been takin' notes from ALice? she calls me Missy too!

who knows about no veggies? He's been a Dad's house for 4 years, and he's a carnivore!