would like to change up our tiels diet

[Wvhillbilly]

when we got our tielss they were already around 6 months old. All they had been offered before we got them was seed. We did some research and know that an only seed diet is not the best. So, we tried offering the fruit and veggie peices that you can buy at the pet store. They will pick at it, but not very much. We have tried offering real fruits and veggies. We've even offered them cook egg but they seem to just turn away from all of that. Is there a way to get them to eat anything other than the seed diet? Right now they have the babies which we have also posted about on here. We are offering the babies a variety while they are young enough to be interested in things other than seed. But how to we get the mommy and daddy to be interested in a variety if they just don't seem interested and turn it away?

[SandraK]

The mom & dad might eventually try the other foods if their babies are eating them. I've found that tiels watch each other & if one eats something the other will try it too. The adult tiels I have were only fed seed originally but they are now eating raw broccoli, raw/cooked corn on the cob, peas, and chopped up squash & apples. They also love bell pepper seeds left on the base of the bell pepper. They also like a Goya brand of rice which is chicken flavoured because of the vermicelli in it. They'll also eat other rices but really seem to like the Goya brand.

You might also want to try sprouting some beans or seeds too. Someone had given us their kindergartners cup of grass grown inside & the birds seemed to think it was the best thing around since sliced bread.

[Dally]

Maybe try making toys out of them... like a kabob toy with bamboo shiskabob sticks for cheap and hang it in the cage. put new fruits and veggies. dried fruits last longer and are less messy. it may work, my tiel is more interested in the kabob veggies, even when those same veggies are in her dish! its worth a try.

[Marrie]

Offer variety - my tiels favorite veggies are broccoli, corn, sweet potato and leafy greens.

I had to work to figure out how to offer these - broccoli is raw or baked (he likes the tips to be crunchy, that is what he eats) - sweet potato has to be crunchy and in little bite sized pieces. Greens have to be washed and dried off, can't be wet, or he ignores them. Corn pulled off the cob, he won't peck it off a cob himself.

Different birds like their food different ways. If I don't prepare it right, even if it is something he likes, he will NOT eat it. lol

Another thing that helps is trying some of it yourself. Birds learn from their flock - you are their flock. Eat some off the plate (make sure you don't share your mouth germs with them though!) then let them come eat some. The only thing that makes my bird crazier than seeds is something on my plate, even if it is food he hates he'll still try some cause I am eating it.

Raw is the best way to offer veggies, it has the most nutrients. But, some things are preferred cooked, some raw, some partially cooked... small pieces, big pieces, minced, etc. Make sure you offer a variety of colors too to interest them. And be persistent - birds who are seed junkies are hard to switch!

You can offer them a salad in the morning before they get seeds, then after about an hour take it away and give them seeds. They are more likely to try new foods after waking up hungry.

[tibby]

Binki is not too fond of veggies (we have tried everything) but the one thing she will always eat are the greens from carrots. I take off the leaves and cut the stems up into 1/2" - 1" pieces and she loves them.

She just recently started eating some spinach stalks (cut the same way) after seeing the conure (no name yet) eat some.

[angelsara007]

Here is a thread that you should look at.
http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/c...ad.php?t=73459

The mash I make is loved by all our birds. Our tiels were the same way when we got them, only wanting seed, wouldn't touch anything else. But they love the mash. We also got them eating pellets by mixing the Zupreem fruit blend in parakeet size in with their seed. The pellets are roughly the same size as most of the seed, so they don't pick stuff out.

The real secret is patience, and just keep trying new things.

[Wvhillbilly]

will definately try the recipe there thanks. will let ya know how it goes. have been trying the fresh spinach, not going well with that but will keep offering just incase.