I am having trouble trying to give my 7 budgies a varity in their diet. I put a branch from a euc. tree with some leaves, they only ate the branch, stripped it actually. I put a small flowerlet of broc. in and they ignored it. I went down to the vacant block and picked some thistles and they nearly went mad, they were so excited, however I would not think it advisable for me to feed thistles everyday. Can anyone suggest what else I can give them and also how to introduce this new food. They are not breeding birds actually they are all males.

I think persistance is the key to adding variety to your budgies diet.

Just keep giving them their fresh fruit and/or veggies daily and eventually they'll cotton on.

I also found sprinkling a little bit of seed over some veggies (or mixing it in with grated carrot) helped.

 

As for what to feed them, there is plenty of info in the FAQ's under 'Food and Nutrition'

 

*Click Here*

 

try to intoduce it slowly, sprinkle some seed over it, so they will eat the seed of the new food, and then proceed to try the new food. Be persistent. Budgies are curious things, they will explore. Put it in a big open dish, sprinkle well with seed and leave there for them to try.

 

As for the euclypt branch, that is good. they love stripping it. If it is a fresh branch, you might find little chew marks on the branch as well.

 

Don't be disheartened. Keep trying

With my new tiels, they have a bowl in which their daily treats (fruit, vegies, pasta, rice etc..) goes in. You could start with something they like, like thistle (just be carefull where you pick it from as it may have been sprayed) and then add other foods. My budgies LOVE corn. They eat it off the cob, but you could also try it off the cob. They also love grass which I pick from our lawn. You'll need to be patient and be willing to throw out a fair bit of food. Just keep putting it in there and eventually they will try it. You could even pretend to eat it as well and they may copy you. Good Luck maesie xxx

Thank you all for your helpful information. The FAQ's on Food and Nutrition has a wealth of info and I have found all the answers, however I will now have to convience my flock there are more things in life other than seed and thistles. Patience is the name of the game. Wish me luck. I will try with a piece of apple (not the seed) and see how they go.

I have some good news. I purchased a corn cob, cut it into a 2 inch piece and screwed a very very large hook into the end , I then hooked it in the top of the cage allowing it to hang near a perch. They eyed it for hours then one budgie vertured over for a look, before long they in turn were all having a peck at the corn. I have now done the same with a carrot and the same thing has happened. I will buy some brocolli tomorrow give it a wash and hang it up, this time I will have to tie it as the screw would not hold in the soft stem. I am so excited they now have a variety in there diet. I have also added some fine shell grit and they are pecking at it slowly. Should I have placed the corn and carrot in the bottom of the cage they would be soiled in no time. They still love there thistles.

Congrats, that's great to hear!

Well done! It always gets the better of them eventually, and usually when one starts, the others will follow.

that is so great

Zenie, a seasoned bird keeper once gave me a very good idea for attaching corn cobs or other vegies to the cage or aviary mesh for the birds. You get one of the those curtain hooks...the kind that have sort of prongs on them to go into curtains and then a hook to hang curtains onto a track. The prongs fit into the base of a corncob or also hold other vegies and the smaller hook end hangs on the side of the cage or aviary. We use them all the time.

Got a photo of that Kaz?

Got a photo of that Kaz?

I will do one for you Dave

Thank you Karen, I know the curtain hooks you are talking about, I would never of thought of curtain hooks holding food.

 

I have noticed my budgies are not preening themselves half as much since introducing other food in there diet. There seed consumption has dropped quite a bit, should I keep putting in fresh corn, carrot and broc. every couple of days or am I over feeding them?

Fresh veggies should be offered everyday. See what else you can get them to try, things like bok choy, zucchini, and apple are some other good ones you could offer.

Thank you Karen, I know the curtain hooks you are talking about, I would never of thought of curtain hooks holding food.

 

I have noticed my budgies are not preening themselves half as much since introducing other food in there diet. There seed consumption has dropped quite a bit, should I keep putting in fresh corn, carrot and broc. every couple of days or am I over feeding them?

My birds get fresh vegies everyday. Their vegies cost more than ours do per week. I just spent $65 on the birds weekly vegies today, but corn was only 33 cents per ear so I bought heaps of corn this week as well as other things

My rescue birds ate nothing but seeds. The people that owned them before me didn't know anything about the varietys of foods these poor birds should have had.

 

I found it hard to get these birds to eat anything but seeds. Until I stood in front of them & ate a little of what ever I was hoping to introduce.

 

If they saw me eating it ... they were interested. I would stand there & chew on raw broccolli, carrots, cauliflower, corn on the cob & apple or tangerine slices. Kiwi fruit & strawberrys & pea pods all fresh & crisp.

 

If I just put it in front of them ... they stared at it in horror & hid on the far side of the play center away from the food.

 

But once they saw me eating it & talking to them & assuring that it was pretty good for me to chew ... they changed their views. They were a little hesitant to run right up & gobble. But they did come & check it out in a short time & now they eat everything I offer.

 

I placed the food on a tray on top of their play center for them to inspect & seek out in their own time & terms. They took to this well. I can contain the mess & food debris on the tray & not in the cage & all over the bars.

 

I suppose their little BOID BRAINS figure ... " hey, if he can eat it ... I guess we can. " They also like to toss the food all over the place as they eat it.

 

Have you ever been sitting & reading your morning paper while drinking your morning tea & get smacked with a branch of broccolli ? They laugh at me when I look at them with anger at their games !

 

Good luck with your birds.

Yes NickNack budgies are certainly characters.

I now have mine eating broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, bok choy, apple, zuccine and corn. In the very beginning I didn't think they would every try the vegies I placed in their cage. I also tried brocolli however they seemed to pec at it, then it all ended up on the bottom of the cage, so I have given the broc. a miss for a while.

You and your budgies have come a long way Zenie. Congrats. Your persistance has paid off and they'll be happier healthier budgies because of it!

Congrats on a job well done Zenie .

And I don't blame your budgies for not eating their broccoli...eww .

Wonderful to hear

yeah...that is great

Thanks for posting this topic.

I have some great ideas to try now.

GOOD LUK EVERYONE

And I don't blame your budgies for not eating their broccoli...eww :hap:

 

You don't like broccoli BecSta ? WHY ? Just cover it with melted cheese & chew it up. Don't put melted cheese on it for the boids though !

 

There is more vitamin c in broccoli then there is in oranges. It's really healthy & good for you. My bud's love their broccolli. They have a great time ripping it to shreds & tossing it here & there. Today they are shredding a huge chunk of raw coconut. They are so destructive & love destroying things .... I thought the coconut flesh would be great fun for them. They seem happy with making a mess of it.

 

I doubt I will be happy cleaning up the mess later though. SIGH...... !

Good to hear and I will also have to try with new variety of veggies.

 

Got a photo of that Kaz?

I will do one for you Dave

I would also like to see some pictures of this Kaz, when you time.