Why Your Parrot HATES Healthy Food

“My bird won’t touch vegetables! I’ve tried everything!” This is a sentence that I hear A LOT working as a parrot behaviourist.

Laney-Mae the BF Amazon

My genuine response to a statement like that: True, your bird won’t touch vegetables (for now); False, you’ve tried everything.

Every bird, regardless of its age or previous dietary habits, is capable of being transitioned onto a healthy diet that meets its nutritional needs.

Over the years, I have encountered numerous birds, some whom are decades old, that have only ever consumed poor-quality diets filled with seeds, processed foods, and other unhealthy options. Yet despite their long-standing habits, I have successfully guided ALL of these birds through the process of transitioning to the Naturally Captive diet, which mainly consists of raw, fresh foods.

This transformation not only improved their overall health and vitality but also enhanced their energy levels and feather quality. The journey to a healthier diet is not just possible; it is achievable for every bird owner. With patience, persistence, and the right strategies, you can transition your bird's diet too, ensuring that they thrive and enjoy a longer, healthier life.

It’s important to remember that the process may take time, and gradual changes are necessary and more effective than abrupt shifts. By introducing new foods slowly and making mealtime an enjoyable experience, you can encourage your bird to embrace a more balanced diet that will benefit them in numerous ways.

Here’s why your bird won’t eat healthy food right now:

1. They’re stuck in a junk food loop. Parrots are known for their intelligence and ability to learn, but these traits also mean that they can develop strong preferences and habits, particularly when it comes to their diet.

When a parrot has been consistently fed a limited range of junk foods, ones high in sugars and fats, they can quickly form mental blocks regarding their food options. This means that if a bird has only ever known one type of diet or has been on a specific food regimen for an extended period, it may become resistant to trying new foods.

For instance, if a parrot has primarily been given seed mixes or processed snacks, fresh vegetables and high-quality pellets may not even register as food in their mind. To help your parrot break free from this unhealthy cycle, it is essential to introduce new options gradually and creatively.

2 Fast Food. Junk food diets like seed mixes and human food are extremely easy and tasty to eat. Eating anything raw or that has a different texture is going to be a huge task for your bird at first. While birds only have between 200 and 300 tastebuds, their preference to tasty junk food will always take precedence over what's good for them. Again, it’s up to you to present new and healthy foods in a way that makes it more appealing, tasty and easy to eat.

Junk food is also much easier for birds to metabolize, offering a quick boost of energy. Since birds are prey animals that are very active and always on the go, they will always try and go for readily available and calorie dense foods. How and when you serve their food can make or break their diet transition.

3.Presentation. Usually, people who I meet attempt to transition their bird's diet by just sticking pieces of veggies in their bowl and expecting them to eat. But how you present and offer your bird healthy food can make or break your success.

Instead of whole pieces of vegetables, try dicing, chopping or processing veggies. In addition, follow chop recipes instead of randomly throwing together veggies and fruit. Afterall, recipes shared have been tried and tested with good results and approval from many other birds! We have a full album of chop recipes that you can access for free on our FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122155369106117620&type=3

Rhodey the Kakariki

We hope this article has given you some insight into why your bird may be refusing healthy food. Please know that you are not alone in wanting what's best for your parrot! We have built the Naturally Captive community to assist and welcome people just like you.

You don't have to struggle through you journey by yourself either as we offer online and in person courses worldwide to assist with every issue you might be facing with your parrot. You can view our courses here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122155369106117620&type=3

The question remains: How exactly do I get my birds to eat veggies? Our next article will discuss some tips and pointers. Subscribe to our blog so you don't miss out.

Happy healthy eating to your birds!