VEGGIE FRENZY...

[lovezebs]

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures of some of my feathered kids demolishing a tray of veggies. They go through vegetables lateyl like a wild fire through a dry field.

~Elana~

[isobea]

Lovezebs - your pictures say it all! Those lucky birds! What do you put into your veggie mix? Do you find they have a preference for one of them? My birds have actually been eating less greens lately but more half-ripe grass seeds and dandelion seeds. Also, cucumber and apple slices are always welcome.

[Sam007]

Nice pictures of your feathered kids!

[lovezebs]

Sam007
Thanks Sam . I love watching these guys cow down with so much enthusiasm. That's why I'm always suprised, when people mentuon that their birds don't like vegetables. My guys empty a full tray in less than an afternoon, then are looking for nore. They can't seem to get enough of it.

~Elana~

[lovezebs]

isobea
My guys will eat anything I put out for them. They absolutely love the Baby Spring Mix that you can buy in pkgs. Absolutely adore kale, cukes, carrot and beet greens, romaine, broccoli, Rappini, grated carrots, red swiss chard, spinach, peas, grapes, apples, melons, bananas, orange halves, etc etc...

~Elana~

[lovezebs]

Here's a close up of what we usually go through on a daily basis. I'll put the tray down in the morning or early afternoon, and it's usually empty by the next day.

~Elana~

[KarenB]

Looks like a par-tay!

[lyswood]

Wow, that's awesome!!! And so pretty, too!! I'm totally going to try something like this. I tend to offer one or two per day in clips, but this looks like much more fun for them.

[lovezebs]

KarenB & lyswood

This is a daily PAR-TAY. By tomorrow that tray will be empty. The way I offer it, it gives them a chance to forage and pick and choose what they like, and then try what the guy next to you is eating and discover a new favorite.

~Elana~

[isobea]

lovezebs, all your wonderful pictures made me think that the reluctance of my birds to eat a variety of veggies might have to do with the 'presentation'. So yesterday (and today) I copied you - hardly anything was touched - so disappointing. I'll keep offering different combinations of fruit and vegetables and with hope they'll eventually learn to love them. Why does that remind me of toddlers??? They will readily eat romaine lettuce, apple and cucumber slices out of clips and grasses off the floor or on the food tray, though.

[lovezebs]

isobea
That is disappointing. What species of birds do you have, and how long have you had them? Sometimes it's what they get used to. My guys got veggies from day one, so they live them. Try sprinkling some spray millet on top, or maybe some sprouted or boiled seeds.
Good luck.

~Elana~

[isobea]

Elana - I built my aviary in 1989 but originally kept and bred European goldfinches, canaries and South American siskins. Many years later the mosquitoes started transmitting a virus related to canary pox and it wiped out my birds. In 2009 I started over with African and Australian finches and have had really good luck with them. Right now I have 2 male gouldians, 2 female owls, 1 male canary, 2 spice finches, 1 male fire finch, 1 pair of strawberries, and 4 black-crowned waxbills (in a 16 foot long aviary). The strawberries and the bl.-cr. waxbills are the newcomers (I've had them for just a few weeks). This morning I put freshly picked grasses on my tray to entice them, but even that didn't go too well. I guess, I'll just have to keep trying. I am sprouting a new seed mix as we speak - maybe sprinkling that on top like you suggested will make a difference.

[lovezebs]

isobea
Hope for the best.
Whenever any new kids come around, they watch my guys go wild over the veggie tray, and it's like: 'Must be really good, gotta have me some of that!' Then there is no looking back. Once they start eating all that good stuff, they come to expect it everyday.

You know what you could try, next time when you're flight/cage cleaning, try this. Take out all the food, and when you're finished your cleaning, put in your veggie tray with a tiny bit of yummies sprinkled on top. Don't offer any other food for a little while. They will get hungry and have to try the veggies. Just might work.

~Elana~

[isobea]

Elana - thanks for the tip. It's a great idea and I'll definitely try it.
Iso

[isobea]

Elana - another try at the "buffet a la Elana" today. Thought I had come up with a fool-proof finch magnet: sesame seeds. I usually sprinkle some on top of the daily seed mixes and they are always gone first. So today I sprinkled them over the veggies - no takers. I wonder if they even took a look at my 'masterpiece'. But I'll keep trying. I am determined to teach them good eating habits..
Iso