FINCHforum

Ok, I finely chopped the last of the kale after feeding the lizards this morning and put it on a flat lid and set it in bottom.
Fester aka the one that they rest send to check new stuff..... has been down to bottom perch to check it out but so far nobody has tried it.
They are very fussy today.

The lid is red.
I am wondering if anyone has noticed that colors affect the way their birds try or don't try new things?
Their food and water hanging dishes are white and one new cage gets here Friday, those dishes are white.

I think it has more to do with what they are used to, size, shape and color then anything else. Over time they will not be so afraid and get closer.

Well they have at least moved down 1 perch..... they were all at the top except for sending Fester down to check it out as close as he dared.

I didn't expect them to check it out right away but I didn't expect the OMG fuss about something new in cage.

I've had the same issue, as have others who posted about it here.
I put a new red dish into one cage and the birds wouldn't go to that end of the cage for the quite some time. (I use small planter saucers in various colors for their eggfood, veggies and such). If I hadn't just recently read about the others' experiences on this forum, I may not have made the connection. These particular birds acted as if I'd put a snake in their cage!
I've never seen that reaction again, so apparently they got used to it. They don't care whether it's red, yellow or green - they know it's got goodies in it! But since then I make a point to put any new food into a familiar dish, and to put a familiar food into any new dishes.
It's always an adventure to try and figure out what these little guys are thinking!

My birds dislike red dishes too! I try to keep white, clear or black food and water dishes only.

I have heard of birds being afraid of stainless steel dishes, because they can see their reflection in it...

I havent used red.. I Have used pink, dark blue, brown, purple, white, black, yellow and green!

They did NOT LIKE THE BLACK lol.

wouldnt touch the fresh food. the brown they were fine with along with all the other colors

I didn't leave in the black after two days I gave up.. However all it takes is just that one little bird.. bravest of the brave! until they all realize "a-doiii its food!"

Funny enough.. my birds are more afraid of what's in the dish than the dish itself. I have used an assortment of dishes, treat cups, egg cups, small tupperware containers, TONS of tupperware lids in all shapes, sizes and colors. But a solitary slice of apple? THE DEVIL!!! KILL IT WITH FIREEE!!! My birds do have preferences, however. Sparrow likes his dishes to be clear and he prefers the square light-teal lid for his treats.. but his favorite places to hang out are in his clear food dish that is covered.. where he can hang out and still see.. or his teal egg cup that fits his butt perfectly. Terminator prefers her stainless steel bowl to lay her eggs in and her white dish for water. Beard also very much prefers to lay her eggs in the stainless steel dish and a white water dish for water. Puppy doesn't mind as long as there is food and water.. her food dish is covered but Terminator will not eat if the food dish has a cover. Puppy also has a magenta water dish. And last but not least.. Kuri and Charlie have a stainless steel food dish and a white water dish that they prefer uncovered and will lay eggs/build nests in either of those or the tiny magenta treat dish. Sparrow is the only one that has a preference for his treat "plate" (a.k.a. tupperware lid). They are such funny little creatures!

Yep gal I got my 5 from said she had tried the covered dishes and they thought it was the devil. Wouldn't touch food or water so she went back to the open dishes.

New cage has white dishes and I now have 2 from old cage, so will put fresh foods in that to serve and hope they try it that way!

Starting this week with stuff!!! Wish me luck!

So, made egg mix with kale and veggies in it today. Served in old white bowls and they are all over it. Yay!!!

I am OFFICALLY CONVINCED that the DISH itself has TONS to do with what my birds will/will not eat. If I put a new dish into a flight, all of my birds will stare at it and wont go ANYWHERE near it...even if it holds their favorite egg food or veggies!

So funny. I tried a black dish and my birds wouldn't even go to the floor. They stayed on the top perches and eyed it nervously as if I'd just placed a portal to a black hole of terror in the center of their home.

Well, last time as you can see.... it was fresh kale in a red dish which was really a lid to a food storage container. Took all day before someone would land on it and check it out. By then, the kale was dry.

Today, hardly any hesitation.... and I think it was because it was a familiar dish... and once they got down to it.... they were like hmmm, looks good.

Mine are the same way. Dishes certainly effect my birds.

My finches avoid red plates and sometimes dark plates. I now use small paper plates for ease of cleanup. I just pick them up and toss in trash. Then, put new plates down. I get a good price at Wal-Mart for the paper plates, so the cost is low, but still worth it for the convenience with lots of cages.