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Post by churroandplushy on Jan 31, 2021 17:32:37 GMT
I feel like I have tried everything! Clipping vegetables to the sides of the cage, hanging them, getting them wet, offering from my hand, preparing them in different ways, eating it in front of them, and sticking them through the bars of the cage. I'm going to try experimenting more with clipping them to the sides, but my boys are just so stubborn! They run away in terror when I offer them fruits and vegetables. The only one they'll eat is broccoli, which is probably because it looks like a bundle of green seeds. They're on a diet of pellets, and I let them eat some millet if they step on my hand. I know, though, that produce is very important for their nutritional needs, and I need to figure out how to get them to eat that stuff. Any tips that worked for you?
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Post by Morgan on Jan 31, 2021 19:02:42 GMT
Oooo if they’re eating broccoli that is already a good start!
Do you have veggies in their cage like aaaaalllll the time? Or do you offer them intermittently? To start, makes sure they always have a supply of veggies clipped to the side of the cage (you may waste some, but use pieces that are only about the size of their heads, and I find long thin strips to be less intimidating and more toy-like for them to get curious about), as well as chop with some seeds sprinkled on top.
Especially first thing in the morning, try offering chop with just ¼ tsp or even less of seeds sprinkled on top, and take out their other food for an hour or so. Keep doing this, and they may eventually try a little nibble, then another, and so on. You can use just a tsp of chop to start with.
Another easy(ish) thing to try is a bundle of leafy greens, especially fluffy things like carrot tops or a fennel frond (if you have access) sprayed with water so it’s got droplets all over it. The water should attract them either to drink or bathe or both, and they may try a nibble there too.
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Post by churroandplushy on Jan 31, 2021 19:32:09 GMT
Oooo if they’re eating broccoli that is already a good start! Do you have veggies in their cage like aaaaalllll the time? Or do you offer them intermittently? To start, makes sure they always have a supply of veggies clipped to the side of the cage (you may waste some, but use pieces that are only about the size of their heads, and I find long thin strips to be less intimidating and more toy-like for them to get curious about), as well as chop with some seeds sprinkled on top. Especially first thing in the morning, try offering chop with just ¼ tsp or even less of seeds sprinkled on top, and take out their other food for an hour or so. Keep doing this, and they may eventually try a little nibble, then another, and so on. You can use just a tsp of chop to start with. Another easy(ish) thing to try is a bundle of leafy greens, especially fluffy things like carrot tops or a fennel frond (if you have access) sprayed with water so it’s got droplets all over it. The water should attract them either to drink or bathe or both, and they may try a nibble there too. Thank you so much for the help! I don't have a constant supply of veggies in their cage, so I'll work on that and putting some in in the morning.
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Post by Morgan on Jan 31, 2021 19:48:40 GMT
Once they eat them well you donMt need to supply them constantly. But just like a new toy, or anything scary, you have to desensitize them to it first <3 So just seeing it all the time will make them more comfortable and perhaps willing to explore it more.
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Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
Normal Green
Posts: 300
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Post by reenie on Jan 31, 2021 23:05:42 GMT
One thing that helped with mine was threading pieces of coloured veg, like carrot, pepper, broccoli etc on a piece of string, knotted in between, and hang it from the roof of the cage so that it looks like a toy. On a more lighthearted note, the best way I found was by introducing a new budgie who already ate greens regularly, and my original budgie just copied what he was eating.....it's drastic, but it worked for me.
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Post by Morgan on Feb 1, 2021 8:04:57 GMT
reenie - Ooo I like the idea of stringing them up! I really hadn’t thought of that at all xD My buds would go nuts for that! Thanks!
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Post by Shirls on Feb 1, 2021 10:20:18 GMT
If you let your birdies out so they can free fly churroandplushy, try tying or pegging a big bunch of wet basil on top of the cage, or inside if they won't be too frightened. You will find they will want to bathe themselves in it and they will shimmy all round opening their wings to bathe, and they will eat it too. Mine love it!!
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Post by blue48 on Feb 1, 2021 19:32:33 GMT
Mine are rubbish at eating veggies, but they like carrot tops. I thought maybe it's because it look a bit like a bunch of seeded grass which they adore.
I went for a walk today, and although my head told me wild grass won't be starting to seed yet, I was still looking, doh!
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Post by willowsmum on Feb 2, 2021 1:20:33 GMT
Mine are rubbish at eating veggies, but they like carrot tops. I thought maybe it's because it look a bit like a bunch of seeded grass which they adore. I went for a walk today, and although my head told me wild grass won't be starting to seed yet, I was still looking, doh! I did the same! I was looking at all of the dead winter grass thinking 'come on seedlings, I know you're under there, you can do it, grow!!' and then counting the months we still have to wait Pretending to eat the veg yourself can work quite well too churroandplushy . They can be quite interested if they think they're missing out on something tasty
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Post by blue48 on Feb 2, 2021 8:00:30 GMT
Funny thing, I always take out any veggies before covering them up for bedtime. Last night I forgot. I uncovered them this morning then sat down with my coffee and saw them tucking into a very sad, wilted, pathetic looking bunch of carrot tops with apparent relish. So I've left them until I clean them out later.
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Post by blueelephant on Feb 2, 2021 21:33:49 GMT
The same vegetable prepared in different ways can help too. My bud only eats finely grated carrot. Coarsely grated he won't touch it. My brother's bud meanwhile only eats thinly sliced carrot! Honestly they are worse than toddlers.
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Post by churroandplushy on Feb 7, 2021 20:41:14 GMT
Once they eat them well you donMt need to supply them constantly. But just like a new toy, or anything scary, you have to desensitize them to it first <3 So just seeing it all the time will make them more comfortable and perhaps willing to explore it more. Your tip of removing the pellets in the morning and replacing it with a salad worked!! I'm so excited about how they've finally started eating veggies. I'm still trying to figure out what they like and don't like, but a ton of progress has been made!
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Post by churroandplushy on Feb 7, 2021 20:47:08 GMT
If you let your birdies out so they can free fly churroandplushy, try tying or pegging a big bunch of wet basil on top of the cage, or inside if they won't be too frightened. You will find they will want to bathe themselves in it and they will shimmy all round opening their wings to bathe, and they will eat it too. Mine love it!! My boys used to come out twice a day, but they all of a sudden stopped. Their cousins came over briefly, and they started again. They have once more quit leaving, so I can't do that, unfortunately. Replacing their pellets with a salad for an hour in the morning worked. Thanks for your input!! Also, whenever I try to hang up stuff, they treat it like the plague.
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