Egg Shell & Veggy help

[Travillion]

Hello all,
My two Javas are very picky eaters. Definitely seed junkies. I'm trying to incorporate a different variety of foods into their diet, but it's a lot more challenging then I had anticipated. They took to the change of finch seeds to Kaytee parakeet diet no problem (ignores the pellets though), but will not touch any of the vegetables or hard boiled eggs. I understand the importance behind the egg shell so these are my questions:
If I were to peal the egg shell off of the hard boiled egg and crush it up, how long would it last in the fridge? Hard boiled eggs are usually deemed not safe after 5 days in the fridge, does the same rule apply to the shell?

In regards to veggies, does anyone have a suggestion on how to incorporate them into the diet? Should I offer them veggies before the parakeet mix in the mornings? I've tried kale, romaine, squash and cucumber, all sliced up into bite sized pieces.

[cindy]

For birds that have had nothing but a seed diet it often takes time to get them to eat new foods. Parakeet seed hey love...if they are ignoring the pellets that come in the seed mix it likely they are to hard or stale...my javas/birds will not touch pellets that come premixed in the seed. I use Zupreem, Lafebers and or Roudybush.

I have a good amoun of javas, they a love veggies. The love the dried egg food by Higgins, ProTeen 25 egg food. They all down this.

this is what I often make for all the birds....

Cooked couscous mixed with ProTeen 25, powdered vitamins mix ha up really well and toss in finely chopped kale....they love kale and add finely chopped or grated carrot. I do add grated boiled egg. If I unshell the eggs and keep some in the fridge I try to use them up within 3 day....they are usually gone in 2.

I also switch things up and use warmed frozen peas and carrot....drain and whirl just a couple of time in a food processor to help split open the pea and chop the carrots.

[Travillion]

cindy thank you for your response Cindy. Along with the Kaytee parakeet mix, I also offer Laferbers finch premium daily diet: http://www.petsmart.ca/gsi/webstore/WFS ... KU=36-3942. Is this a good pelleted food source to feed?
In regards to the Higgins ProTeen 25, is there an online retailer that you buy this from? I have never seen this product before (probably hard to find in Canada).

And is it weird that that picture looks like a delicious chip dip? haha!

[Sally]

I save the shells from eggs used for breakfast, baking, etc. I rinse them out, and then put them inside facing down on a paper plate and nuke them in the microwave for 3 minutes. After that, I crush them and add them to my oystershell grit/mineral mix cups. You can crush them by putting them in a ziplock bag and crushing with a rolling pin, or crush them in a food processor or coffee grinder.

[cindy]

Lafeber's is excellent, can be served alone or mixed in egg food