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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

382.0. "Possible treats!" by TFH::CARLS () Fri Jul 06 1990 13:26

    
    
    Well, it's been about two months now since I got my African grey, whos
    name is Saul.  He really seems a lot more attentive and open for 
    attention.  He's going to be quite the talker too, he kind of mumbles
    things quite a bit, especially to Beatles music.
    
    So far I tried many things for treats and other healthy foods
    in addition to his regular diet of Topper seeds.  He seems especially
    fond of limes, apples and nectarines.
    
    Could anyone tell me what other foods or treats they give their birds,
    especially owners of Greys.
    
     Thank you!
    
     Carl S. 
     
    
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382.1How 'bout cheese?RHETT::RROGERSFri Jul 06 1990 13:497
I've heard that some greys love cheese, and the latest Bird Talk said that 
"yellow" cheese is a good snack during a moult because it contains protein.
It also said that cheese is high in fat and to give it as a treat only.
Hope Saul likes it.

Roseanne
382.2treats for greysMEIS::TILLSONSugar MagnoliaFri Jul 06 1990 14:068
    
    Try dried hot chili peppers (the red ones, available at larger
    groceries), sweet peppers, especially the cores with seeds and a bit of
    pepper attached at the top, pomegranate chunks, and blueberries.  These
    were all favorite treats for my Timneh.
    
    					/Rita
    
382.3good ideas folks!TFH::CARLSFri Jul 06 1990 15:3820
    
    reply .2
    
    Dried hot chili peppers! That's an idea,  But, I'll have to make sure
    that there's plenty of cold water near by!  Blueberries sound like
    something he would enjoy too!
    
    reply .1
      
    I tried white american sandwich cheese but he didn't like it.  Perhaps
    a little extra sharp cheedar cheese by kraft.  
    
    So far, so good.  With theses ideas for snacks, my bird's in for a treat
    this weekend.   I'll let you know what he liked best from all the ideas
    I get.  
    
     Thanks again,
    
     Carl S.
                   
382.4personally, I hate the stuffMEIS::TILLSONSugar MagnoliaFri Jul 06 1990 15:537
    
    Oh, and one more, Carl...this must seem a little strange but...my
    grey's absolute favorite treat was...liverwurst - ugh!  You never know
    what these guys will eat!
    
    				/Rita
    
382.5TREATS YOUR BIRD MIGHT LIKEDASXPS::ANGELICASFri Jul 06 1990 16:039
    CARL;
          MY PAROTS FAVORITE TREAT IS NATURAL UNSALTED PISTACHIOS. HE
    ALSO LOVES APPLES,BANANNAS,WATERMELON,CANTELOPE,BROILED UNSEASONED
    CHICKEN BREAST,GRAPES,LOW SALT LOW FAT SWISS CHEESE(ALPINE LACE).
    YOU JUST HAVE TO TRY DIFFERENT FRUITS AND VEGGIES. OH YES I FORGOT
    PEA PODS ARE ALSO A GOOD TREAT.
    
    MIKE
    
382.6A banquet fit for a bird!TFH::CARLSFri Jul 06 1990 16:1725
    
    reply .4
    
    Rita, 
    
      Liverworst, gagg!   But, it's worth a try.  Is there any particular
    brand you would recommend?
    
    reply .5
    
    Mike, 
    
     The low salt, low fat swiss cheese sounds like an excellent idea.
    I would think it would be more healthy and nutritional than regular
    cheese.
    
    
    With all these ideas I'm going to go broke shopping tonight.  I hope
    Saul appreciates it.
    
    
    Carl S.
    
    
    
382.7*I* don't eat the stuff!MEIS::TILLSONSugar MagnoliaFri Jul 06 1990 17:0423
    
    Carl,
    
    I *never* buy liverwurst, I consider it vile and repulsive and prefer
    not to have it hanging out in my fridge, *but* I did negotiate with my
    late husband and my current SO, who felt/feel that liverwurst is in
    fact fit for consumption.  They were/are permitted to keep the stuff in
    my fridge in exchange for not complaining about the mealworms and
    brineshrimp that I kept in there to feed the reptiles and fish. :-)  I
    seem to recall  "Mother Goose" as the brand.  Small amounts only,
    please, the stuff is really high in fat and cholesterol.
    
    Not grey-specific, but FWIW, my cockatoos love pancakes with maple
    syrup, scrambled eggs, spaghetti (*real* fun to eat, especially when
    they can climb on mom's shoulder carrying a long strand, getting tomato
    sauce everywhere and mushing it in the hair), and hotdogs with red
    pepper relish.  They will also hold a spoon and eat peanut butter from
    it.  However, my cockatoos are not nearly as finicky as my grey was -
    the cockies consider anything they can get their beaks around as fair
    game for eating ;-)
    
    				/Rita
    
382.8CornCLINTN::CARBONEAUMon Jul 09 1990 17:187
    Hi Carl, how're ya doin'?
    
    I don't have a large bird, but my lovebirds LOVE corn.  He might have
    fun with a small ear of corn.  (I've only given kernels to my birds so
    far, but corn-on-the-cob could be food and a toy!)
    
    *Wendy*
382.9Don't forget the Colonel !18955::BURHANSTue Jul 17 1990 17:309
    
    	Wow, nobody mentioned chicken-wings/legs ?!  I can actually get
    	Murdock to be quiet enough to make me check he's OK when he gets
    	one of these.  He *loves* to crack the leg bones and dig out the
    	marrow.  Be careful if you have cats or dogs, I always worry 
    	Murdock will drop some of the splinters and they'll get 
    	snuffeled up.
    
    					Roger
382.10Gourmets & GourmandsEICMFG::BURKEJim Burke, @UFCWed Aug 22 1990 12:3419
    We have two Greys - one Congo-born, the other UK-born. Their diets are
    complementary, in that one eats ONLY (more or less) Sunflower seeds,
    whilst the other eats anything except Sunflower seed.
    
    You can judge the degree of distaste with Basil: when you put something
    in his dish which he doesn't like (ie. most things), it is ejected from
    the cage; the angle of trajectory reflecting the degree of distaste. A
    horizontal trajectory is the "100% YUCH" indicator.
    With Lucy, you judge the degree of yumminess by the size of the pile of
    remains after eating. For example; French Fries disappear without
    trace, as does Steak pie (incl. crust). Buttered toast, apple core,
    etc. all end up as little neat piles of remains.
    The latter parrot (Lucy) will just about eat anything as long as it
    comes off my plate.
    
    Note that if your bird rejects a titbit, this doesn't necessarily mean
    that it's a no-no. You may have to introduce it several times.
    
    Jim Burke
382.11YOGURT FOR TREATSSALEM::NEAULTThu Jul 09 1992 11:244
    ANY COMMENTS ON GIVING A YELLOW NAPE PARROT YOGERT?  HE LOVES
    RASPBERRY!!
    
    ROGER
382.12Watch the dateWRKSYS::WERBERGr8ful 2b Liber8ed,cant say it enuf!Thu Jul 09 1992 13:404
    
    My birds love yogurt too!  Just double check the expiration date - I've
    read of birds getting toxins from the bacteria count in expired yogurt.
    
382.13BULEAN::MAHLERDECnet for OpenVMS AlphaThu Jul 09 1992 17:1511
    
    
    	Some yogurts are high in sugar (and sometimes fat).  Be
    	careful with sugar in large amounts.
    
    	Also, if you have live culture yogurt, be sure to clean it up
    	from the bottom of the cage if he spills it all over the bottom.
    	It'll grow mold faster than anything...
    
    	Michael