lovethatgrey

Sorry to hear that you and Gus are having such a stressful time. Changing his diet will take a lot of time, patience, love, empathy and commitment on your part. I'm confident that he is worth it. I do not recommend that you try to convert him cold turkey. You'd only be imposing more stress on him. I would suggest instead that you always have his usual food available with a bit of Harrison's added. Slowly and gradually you can decrease the seed and increase the Harrisons over a period of many weeks and possibly months. Always have fresh clean water available and NEVER try to starve him into trying the Harrisons food. That would be unecessarily cruel in my opinion. Be prepared that he will ignore, reject, discard, snubb and possibly toss out the Harrison's food in the beginning for that should be expected. He is 21 years old and will have to unlearn a habit that has been around for probably most of his life. It is an unfamiliar food and he will need to discover that it is edible and good for for him. Maybe try to make meal time a fun, enjoyable and animated event. Perhaps you can sit by his cage when you eat your meals too. Regarding the vegetables I would recommend having a separate bowl for all of his wet food. Let him explore and play around with it. It will look very foreign and scary to him but that is ok. In time.. Curiosity will get the best of him and he will end up sampling when he is ready. Eventually you might want to try making birdie bread and birdie Mash. A lot of parrots love it and mine love mash. I would recommend if possible to purchase a birdie skewer to hang the fresh vegetables on and to also purchase Harrison's Power treats. My african grey Emma loves it. On another note… never allow any fresh food to rot or go stale in Gus's cage either. Being a great parront will require a lot of work on your part but the rewards will definitely be worth it. You did the great first step by posting on here and bringing Gus to the avian Vet.{Feel-good-00020114}

TinyTimneh.. since you live in the province of quebec, Canada you can order Harrison's food from these 2 sites http://www.oisellerielavoliere.com/perroquet/boutique/index.php?cPath=35_69 http://boutiqueperroquet.ca/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=23

I would try my darndest to move their cages to a cooler part of your home when you are at work. Overheating is very very bad for our parrots and all pets. Can someone watch your parrots when you aren't home so they don't have to stay in their cages? I guess another thing you can try doing before you go to work is make sure they ALL get a soaking wet shower. Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/07/05 01:31<br><br>Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/07/05 01:32

That sounds like a very good idea!

Pictures will help to tell alot.

I don’t have a specific recipe or measurements, however I am glad to share how I cooked today’s Mash. Each time I prepare Birdie Mash it is never exactly the same because I really try to vary the ingredients for nutritional reasons as well as to provide something different. I also keep in mind that I wish to provide a product that provides complex carbohydrates and a complete protein. I do not use any canned food, nor salt, or onions. I also try to cook in a way to conserve as much vitamin content as possible and to keep the number of pots used to a minimum because I hate washing dishes. Please note that I only have 2 parrots so I make enough to freeze in 8 small containers with 3 portions in each container. The day before preparation I soak my legumes in water for 12-24 hours. This helps decrease cooking time and helps to get rid of certain toxins. For this particular mash - I used the following ingredients. · 1 and ½ tablespoons of dried red kidney beans · 1 and ½ tablespoons of dried garbanzo beans or (chickpeas) · 2 heaping tablespoons of red lentils · ¾ cups of brown rice · 1 large garlic clove (chopped finely) · ½ stalk of celery (chopped finely) · Homemade chicken broth or water – (Chicken broth should NOT contain any SALT · ½ of a Large carrot (chopped finely) · 1 tablespoon of HOT jalepeno peper ( chopped finely) · 2 or 3 leaves and stalks of collards · 4 or 5 leaves and stems of baby bok choy (chopped finely) · 1 and ½ cups of raw sweet potato · 1 cup of raw butternut squash · 3 or 4 dashes of dried chilli peppers I soaked the kidney beans and garbanzo beans together in water in the same pot. The red lentils I soak in a different pot. Soak for 24 hours. Preparation: Drain the kidney and garbanzo beans and rinse well. Place in pot of water. Only put enough water so that there is about 1 inch of water above the beans. Turn heat up to maximum until you get a rolling boil and then lower the heat to simmer and cover partially until beans are done. Usually takes about 15-20 minutes at this point. While beans are cooking this is when you can do all the chopping and washing of vegetables. When beans are done, drain and put aside. Now you can use the same pot for your rice mixture. Use your pot to rinse brown rice and soaked red lentils very well using your hands under cool running water. Add all chopped ingredients, chopped bok choy and red lentils to pot. Add your dried chilli peppers and chopped garlic too. Once all the rice and chopped ingredients are in your pot you add your chicken broth or water to the same pot but the liquids should not be higher than ¾ of an inch above the ingredients that are in the pot. Bring the pot to a boil and then turn heat down to low until all most of the water is absorbed in to the rice. When there is almost no liquid left turn off the heat, leave pot on burner and cover with lid. Do not touch pot or cover for 10-15 minutes. The rice will continue to absorb the left over liquid. While this is happening you wash collards, chop and peel your sweet potato and squash. I steam my collards by using a pot of boiling water on the bottom and a steamer on top. So place your washed collards in the steamer and cover. Turn the heat up. When the water starts to boil in the pot, turn off the heat and let sit for about 2 to 3 minutes covered. Then remove collards from steamer. Now is when you can place your slices of raw squash and sweet potato in steamer and steam until ready. During this time you can chop your collards in very small pieces. When finished chopping I take out my cuisinart electric hand blender and chopper http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CSB-77-Blender-Chopper-Attachments/dp/B0006G3JRO and place the cooked beans and collards in and chop it all very finely. I do this in order to puree the beans and collards together into a relatively smooth paste. My goal is to offer my parrots balanced nutrition. I don’t want them being able to decide what is healthy for them and what is not. You might have to add some liquid to the mixture to help the process. I like to add about 1 tablespoon of warm chicken broth or water. Once everything has been chopped nice and fine and I’ve attained my “bean paste” I check on my sweet potatoes and squash. When they are cooked and tender I remove them from the steamer and place them in a very large mixing bowl. I take a potato masher /spud masher and I mash the potato and squash until it looks like puree, then I add my bean paste and my rice mixture which has been sitting all of the while and I mix everything all together until well blended. The result is what you see in the picture. Once cooled down I place in small containers and freeze. Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/07/04 23:11<br><br>Post edited by: Talon, at: 2009/07/05 00:22

Yep! They dug in and tend to eat ALOT less pellets when they have sprouts, fresh vegetables{Feel-good-00020114} and mash available to them too. I really make of point of not over cooking anything either because it destroys vitamins. {Feel-good-00020114}

Today was Mash preparation day. Yesterday I did the grocery shopping and soaked the necessary legumes and lentils. This time I decided to add collards which I have never eaten in my whole life. I steamed them before chopping and pureed them with the legumes. I also added steamed baby bokchoy and boiled the brown rice using homemde chicken broth which I always have in the freezer. The orange color is Butternut squash, sweet potato and carrots for much needed vitamin A. I cook the chopped carrot together with the rice. The squash and sweet potatoe's are steamed instead of boiled in order to retain nutritional value. I mash everything so my parrots cannot pick and choose what they wish to eat.{Feel-good-00020114} Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/07/04 18:13 Post edited by: Talon, at: 2009/07/04 22:49<br><br>Post edited by: Talon, at: 2009/07/04 23:00

I really don't get that impression from my family and friends. They all know me to be pretty serious about anything I get involved in and I guess are not surprised that I am the same way with my parrots. Along the way they have certainly learned alot that they never knew before as well. In general.. I'm the person that everyone goes to when they need advice before taking action. I'm known for being meticulous and methodical in almost everything and I always do a thorough research on everything and don't get involved in anything I do not understand. I think what I've done for my non parrot owner friends is set the BAR for being a parrot owner. None of them have any interest in being a parrot owner because they recognize what is involved.

As long as the package is sealed correctly - freezer burn should not occur. I purchase the 5 pound bag and ony take out 7 days worth at a time and the rest stays in the freezer until I need some more. Power treats are a daily staple in this home. Both birds love them and it really helps add sheen to their feathers and alleviates dry skin. I give a bit more during the winter months.<br><br>Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/07/03 17:16

What I would do is... purchase the 5 pound bag and then divide it in portions and freeze it until needed. I think that is more cost effective since Harrison's pellets certainly isn't cheap.<br><br>Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/07/02 03:01

Wow!! What an awesome ending!{Feel-good-00020114}!!

SchroedersJen wrote: Yes... sometimes I feel that I should not post these types of videos on the internet because it gives alot of the wrong people ideas to go and purchase a parrot for the worst reasons. I am still debating the issue and may remove the videos.

Welcome aboard!!{Feel-good-00020114}

The both sounds nice to me!{Feel-good-00020114}

Your brother may "adore" your birds but definitely does not sound like he takes care of them on a regular basis. 2nd matter is that - coming by "once a week" is not appropriate either. What are the small birds supposed to do in the meantime? Live in their filth? Are you aware of how unhealthy that is to both the birds and the humans living in the environment? Your birds deserve much better than that. What about those times when you become too busy or too ill or too...yadda yadda yadda to come by and clean up. I believe that you should ask your brother if he wants the FULL responsibility of taking care of your birds and all that comes with it or find a person who willingly wants the responsibility. You state that you "don't have to move" well.. I'm not sure that what your doing to the other birds is fair even if conditions for you and Jacko will be "much better" for the both of you. If you must move.. then find great homes for the other birds and do it responsibly and unselfishly. I agree with what "Dave" mentions above - it is situations like this that causes so called "behaviour problems" in our parrots and unfortunately they are also the ones who are penalized for the mistakes and actions of the people who are in charge of them. I feel that I have no choice here but to be brutally direct. Remember that whatever creature you choose to bring in to your home .. it is a "life" and your actions have a huge impact on them. Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/06/28 21:28 Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/06/28 21:31 Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/06/28 22:21<br><br>Post edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/06/29 00:50

I would say that his shower felt so good that he:) needs to shout it out to the whole world!!!!!

I really try to aim for minimum 10 hours of sleep. I find that it helps prevent CRABBY :blink: :woohoo: parrots!!

I hate Durian... but I LOVE your pictures of Koko!!! Thanks for sharing{Feel-good-00020114}

Thanks guys!!! Tyco's Mom... I looked up the song that you mentioned and my parrots LOVE it!!!!!!!!! We blast it.{Feel-good-00020114} Here's the song!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTAOadgGqbI&feature=fvw

Bon Appétit Bonek!!!!!{Feel-good-00020114}

Welcome aboard!

:unsure: Aww... now you're making me feel a little embarrased for not giving her a reward.:blush: Thanks Luvparrots!!!!! I can't believe she said that. I haven't been trying to teach her anything. She says what ever she feels like. What I do not understand is that when I am at the computer working she'll sometimes say "get up! get up! get up!" I don't ever say that to her or to anybody:unsure: . Where did she pick that up? I am a bit baffled by that one. Of course I say.. No... not now. She'll probably end up using that line though too.

This video took me by surprise. I was just filming her randomly.. hoping to catch her telling me she'll make me some oatmeal .. but instead I got something much better and I became pretty flustered to say the least. I've never heard her say the "forever" part before. What I usually say to her is "I love you strong and tight, forever and ever." {Feel-good-00020114} edited by: lovethatgrey, at: 2009/06/28 03:05

Thank you so much. So far it looks like a MUST read!{Feel-good-00020114}