|
Post by mizloco on Jun 26, 2013 19:58:16 GMT
If he likes the dark leaf try him on some spinach. Mine have just discovered they love it.
|
|
|
Post by birdguhl on Jun 26, 2013 20:36:41 GMT
No worries, oldpecker - it could be a full-time job trying to get to grips with all the information out there. It does sound as if Joey is a confident wee character, and you are getting off to a great start. I think you are going to have loads of fun together.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jun 27, 2013 1:26:24 GMT
As Joey seems to be trending towards being more adventurous, any seeding grasses are the most natural of a budgie's food that you can offer him. See how he goes gradually adding new foods, but it is a good idea to add vitamins to his water on a regular basis too.
|
|
|
Post by helenmat on Jul 4, 2013 6:10:40 GMT
I know you are going to think this is nuts but I find if I try a bit of whatever it is first, Pickle will try it and then I clip it to his cage, but if I just give it him he is not interested. It really makes me laugh as though I am an official food taster or something and if I dont drop dead then its ok!!
|
|
|
Post by OP on Jul 4, 2013 6:46:56 GMT
That is not nuts, I have tried it with carrot & banana. I can't eat grass, though I have pretended to. When I do these actions Joey just sits and watches. Even if I clip some to the cage and leave it he just ignores it. One thing I have noticed the past few days is whenever I sit and eat something at the computer Joey goes and eats from the seed dish, Today I was having my morning coffee, Joey went and had a drink of water.
|
|
|
Post by stace on Jul 4, 2013 8:59:50 GMT
Eating at the same time as each other in the flock, and us, is an instinctual thing. That's why it's good to feed them at the same time as you feed yourself, morning and night. It gives them a sense of community.
Oldpecker, excuse the question if it seems basic, but are you feeding straight grass or grass with seed heads?
|
|
|
Post by OP on Jul 4, 2013 15:40:26 GMT
I mix it up as I get it fresh from around the edges of my garden lawn. Give it a wash although I don't use chemicals or anything on the lawn. It grows plenty without. The grasses are what get blown about from a field that is just over a wall from me. The field is used just for fodder for the farmers stock further up the village from me. He does fertilize the grass with natural fertilizer from the pigs and other animals around the farms. But there is none that gets on my land, it's just stray seeds that get blown about. Regardless of how fresh, seedy the grass is he just ignores it. I even put some washed podded peas in the bars of the cage, put some fresh peas in his feed. He just does not want to know. I have a plastic imitation bird that slots on the perch which has been there from a couple of days after I got him. he has not touched it. There are a couple of bells on a string with a ball in the middle. He never touches them. I can stand right by him now and chunter to him without him shuffling across the perch as long as he can't see my hands. As soon as my hands make the slightest movement he shuffles along the perch away from me. There is a sort of nice to see you reaction whenever I enter the room, so I just think he is very timid or doesn't want any human physical contact. I have to put my hand in the cage to refresh his seed pot so he should me used to that I would have thought, but sometimes he will flap about the cage as if he'd never seen me before. Other times he will just go to the farthest point on the top perch and wait while I have done. I am waiting for a slightly bigger cage to be delivered, a Hagen Medium Vision cage. I would like to see him move about a bit more so I thought maybe something a bit bigger than the one I have now will allow him to do that. I could write a full story about it all, but I think you have enough to go on with.
|
|
|
Post by stace on Jul 4, 2013 22:21:39 GMT
You're doing so well, oldpecker. He'll love a big new cage.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jul 5, 2013 0:47:37 GMT
Don't worry too much about whether Joey plays with his toys or not. Some older birds are just not interested in toys. But there is no reason (is there?) why you can't have a nibble on some grass. Especially if you know it is clean and pesticide free. It may just be the stimulation needed to get Joey into his grass. Mine eat everything leaves, stalk and seeds - they do seem to enjoy getting the moisture out of the stalks.
|
|
|
Post by OP on Jul 5, 2013 6:41:12 GMT
You are correct Hezz about us humans eating grass. Thinking about it we used to walk around many a time chewing on a grass stalk, one plucked from the farmers field as we walked the footpaths. Yesterday I was eating some peas straight from the pod and as I walked past Joey's cage I noticed that he became interested, so I let him watch as I ate a few more and then dropped one of the small juicy ones in his seed pot and just left it there. I didn't see him try it although he did eat some seeds through the day, When I came to refresh his seeds this morning the pea had gone. It wasn't on the bottom of the cage so he must have eaten it. I will try that again later today. If he does in fact eat the pea I will try and introduce the pod to him a bit later so he can see where the peas come from.
|
|
|
Post by nat on Jul 5, 2013 12:38:09 GMT
I always chew on grass down the allotment. Actually I tend to try everthing at least once lol. Mine love peas too. I feed the frozen mixed peas, sweetcorn, red pepper and brocolli mix from tescos Now you've given me an idea Oldpecker for when my snap peas are ready....I might thread the flat pods on a bit of undyed leather lace and hang it up for them I've not tried them with peas from the pod before.
|
|
|
Post by OP on Jul 5, 2013 12:55:48 GMT
Oooh! I do hope they will be OK with the pods. I never thought of Joey eating the pod just the peas inside. I would have split the pod first so he could get at the peas.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jul 6, 2013 1:30:28 GMT
Peas in the pod are fine, don't worry! My guys love snow peas, as do I, peas and the pod both get seriously damaged. But I wonder if Joey may not have tossed the pea, Oldpecker, as mine leave the little outer covering of the actual pea - I guess they husk it, for want of a better description. But Joey is getting the idea that if you eat it, it must be worth a try, so keep working on that. There are a few no-no's, like avocado for instance, but basically keep offering and I think he will be following suit in a short enough time.
|
|
|
Post by OP on Jul 6, 2013 5:09:00 GMT
Ah! I had a good look round and the pea or its shell were no where to be found. I did try him with some more in his seed pot yesterday and he only ate one out of three. Maybe because I didn't eat any in front of him and give him some of mine. The only trouble with giving him the pod is the season of fresh peas is not very long, so I don't have a lot of time to get him to try it. There is absolutely no fear of giving him avocado or melon and the like, because I cannot stand them.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jul 7, 2013 1:27:30 GMT
One pea is a fair feed for a wee budgie. Barrie always states that they only eat the equivalent of the size of their heads. Maybe one pea is his limit. He's saving room for something else.
|
|