Can they eat this stuff??

[koux33]

I'm looking for foods I can give to my zebras to supplement their diet, and as a treat/to add excitement to their day. Preferably stuff I already have around the house that I wouldn't have to go out and buy. I came up with a couple things, but I wanted to make sure they are safe, and ask how you all think they would best like it prepared. So here ya go...

1. red wheat - I'm pretty sure this is ok to give them, but can I give it to them whole, or do I need to put it through the grinder?
2. popcorn - Is it ok? It would be air-popped, with no toppings (of course).
3. egg shells - my son loves hard boiled eggs for breakfast, and I thought I could give the shells to the birds. Can I just throw the shells in there for them whole, or do I have to chop it up?
4. Cheese? I don't know, do they even need dairy in their diet? It was mentioned in a finch book I have, but I wasn't too sure about it. What type of cheese? Cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan? Chunked, sliced, shredded? I just have no idea.

So far I've given them chopped up boiled egg and leafy greens like romaine lettuce, spinach, and kale, (which they love) and we've tried apples, grapes, and wheat bread, but they didn't really eat them. We've only had them a week, I'll keep offering it and hopefully they'll eat it after some time. I'm also in the process of sprouting their seed and will be giving that to them when it's ready, hopefully they'll like that. If there is anything else you guys can think of, I'd love some more ideas! I want to give them a fun varied diet, but I want to make sure what I'm giving them is safe. I'm really new to this, I really appreciate the help!

[cindy]

This may help.....this is the link to safe and unsafe foods in the Finch Information Center.

http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/safe_toxi ... _foods.php

I would leave the cheese out...they really can't digest the dairy like you and I.

[Ria]

The link to the FIC foods is a great place to get a list of birdie foods. I do occasionally give cheese, but only in very small amounts; just a few shreds for the whole cage to share. Cooked cuscus and quinoa are other good bird foods. As far as egg shells, yes, they can be given too. if they are not hard boiled egg shells, then microwave them about 10-15 seconds and allow to cool before feeding. You can crush the shells right along with the egg, or I like to give mine half shells to chew on. Keep trying with the bread - it's one of my flocks favorites! maybe sprinkle a little seed over the bread to get them to come near and peck at it. oooo, cornbread is good too. if you look in the nutrition section, there was a whsole thread on cornbread for birds.

[cindy]

I would strongly caution on the use of cheese...cheese can have small traces of mold that is to fine for our eyes to see. Our digestive/immune system may be ale to deal with this but all it takes is a small amount to make a bird ill.

If you have a loc of cheese that starts to turn moldy, cutting it away does not guarantee the mold is gone, there can be trace veins of mold running through out it, to fine for our eyes to detect...I would pass on the cheese, there are so many other healthier things to give them. Cheese also contains alot of fat.

[nelloyello11]

Cucumbers! Mine love them. I wash the outside and cut slices in half and they go to town on them! Broccoli is good too; I just recently tried it with my zebras and they looked to be having fun picking off the little tree tops!
Any time you are trying to get them to eat new things, don't be surprised if they won't touch it the first time (or second or third). Be persistent and offer it several days in a row, until someone is bold enough to check it out. I also use the same dish for all of their veggies/treats. They recognize it and get very excited when they see me coming with it! It's so cute!

[koux33]

So cheese is definitely out. I kinda had a feeling that was bad advice. Glad I didn't give them any.

Thanks for the link to that site Cindy, that helps a lot! I still would like to know how to prepare the foods though. Do I give them whole, sliced, or chopped up? Do I have to mix it in to their seed for them to eat it? Do I need to cook them first?

I gave them the half-shells of a hard boiled egg today and they LOVED it! It's the first non-seed food that they've eaten more than a couple nibbles. They've been chewing on it all day!

Any time you are trying to get them to eat new things, don't be surprised if they won't touch it the first time (or second or third). Be persistent and offer it several days in a row, until someone is bold enough to check it out. I also use the same dish for all of their veggies/treats. They recognize it and get very excited when they see me coming with it! It's so cute!

That's great advice, I'll definitely start doing that with the same dish. I've been kinda moving it around in the hopes they'll try it in a different spot, but I'll start putting it in the same place every time. It makes sense, that way it won't seem so strange.

[Ursula]

I wouldn't give cheese either.

My parrotlets are absolutely crazy about popcorn but my other birds don't care for it. But you could certainly try it. Maybe crushed a little to smaller pieces for the finches? (I use organic popping corn, made with a microwave popper, and nothing added of course.)

[cindy]

I agree...the fat and dairy are both something your birds do not need.