My new cockatiel won't eat from the feeder.?

Question

I guess you could say my feeder is a little advanced, because it has the storage for all the food so you don't have to refil it as much, but I have been trying to get my baby bird to eat from it, and she just keeps eating the corncob on the ground. is that safe? She hardly touches her food and I had to change the water feeder so she would drink water. I mixed pellets and seeds because I figured maybe she was raised on seeds, but it hasn't worked very well. Do I have to use a new feeder, because I really don't want to buy a new one. She knows its food in there, because she plays with it, but she won't eat it. Obviously she is okay, but I don't want her to be malnurished

Answer 1

I don't know how long you have had her,but if you got some fancy newfangled feeder ,chances are she probably doesn't know what the h**l to do.Just get a stainless Steel cup at the pet store and put some food in it so that your bird doesn't starve to death because of pride sweetie! Try to steam some broccoli or some carrots and chop them up and feed them to the bird in a plain little bowl at the bottom of the cage.Corn cob is not healthy to eat so if he's gonna eat anything else because he doesn't want the food you have give him some millet spray,they love it so until you figure this out the baby needs something.

Answer 2

I suggest you get to the pet store and see if they have a "maintenance food" like Zupreem or something like that.  Its a fruit blended tiny pellet and most likely, that's what the bird has been eating before.  For the most part, birds do NOT need a lot of seeds.  Its like a treat to them and shouldn't be given on a daily basis.  If you get the Zupreem for Cocktiels you should have a very good quality food and feed some seeds occasionally as a treat.  I agree with the brocolli, califlower, green beans, just don't give them any kidney beans.  Its not good for birds.  Hope this helps you get the baby's diet back up again.  I'll attach the website for it so you have a better idea of what you are looking for.

Answer 3

I AGREE WITH THE FIRST POST BUT WOULD ADD THAT SHE IS PROBABLY FILLING UP ON THE CORN COB  I WOULD ELIMINATE THE CORN COB-EXCEPT AS AN OCCASIONAL TREAT. IT CAN BE COMPARED TO US EATING POPCORN-YOU WOULD NOT BE HUNGRY FOR DINNER IF YOU FILLED UP ON IT.

  IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE SEEDS ARE GONE AND ALL THAT IS REALLY THERE IS THE HULLS-THAT BIRDS TAKE OFF THE SEEDS BEFORE EATING.

MOST OF THE BIRDS I HAVE OR HAVE WORKED WITH SEEM TO PREFER A SLIGHTLY OPEN FEEDER

I WOULD REMOVE ANY EXTRA FOOD BESIDES THE SEEDS SO SHE KNOWS SHE HAS TO GO THERE TO EAT.  KEEP TRYING ! OH-THEY CAN ALSO GET FILLED ON SUNFLOWER SEEDS.

Answer 4

Sprinkle a little of the food mix onto the floor of the cage, so she'll be sure to get something. Maybe she's afraid of the feeder. Birds tend to be suspicious of new things at times. She'll catch on eventually, but in the meantime, I'd have the food in other places for her so she won't starve herself. If the food is a different type from what she is used to, that could also be a problem. They can be slow to accept new foods. Good luck with her!

Answer 5

You should get a new feeder and see if that helps.  Maybe if you get one that isn't so advanced then she might eat from the new one.  But if she doesn't eat from the new one then you should take her to the vet to see if she's OK.