Starbird's new Spinaroo Toy!

It's pretty neat!

I got one big one for Tonka and one small one for Perry. But I decided to try the small one with Violet and I think she likes it! Ruh roh. May have to buy a third one!

The big one, as yet untouched, since Tonka is eating her mashie dinner:

The small one, with some hemp seeds sprinkled in the holes:

It's Mash Making Day!

It's been two days since I ran out of veggie mash! Oh no! It's ok, the birds have been eating cookable foods from higgins, goldenfeast, and homemade quinoa mixes. All of which they love. :)

When I make my "mash" it is 100% veggies and leafy greens. Seperately, I cook big pots of whole grains, beans and spices and I freeze seperately. This makes the veggie mash part is easy- no measuring to make sure you have grains/beans/veggies in balance! Just add in whatever you've got.


I admit I don't always go completely organic. I DO try my best to follow the "clean fifteen" and "dirty dozen" lists. But when I can, I like to shop at local farmer's markets. Great variety, local farmers and organic! Today I went all out.

From the farmer's market: Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Orange Cauliflower, Carrots, Yellow Squash, sweet Purple Peppers, Yellow Tomatoes, Okra, Serrano Peppers, red chard, mint

From the grocery store: Butternut squash, ginger, also garlic

The supplements I am adding (it often changes): red palm oil, chia seeds, avi-greens

I put everything through thr food preocessor very finely. This way there is no picking through for just what they want! Any winter squashes or sweet potato I steam or microwave till very soft.

All mixed up with supplements added:

There was a stowaway  from the market!!

I usually freeze in ice cube trays and then thaw one cube of veggies and one cube of frozen bean/grain mix and stir together. Then I can vary the meals- adding straight veggie mash to scrambled eggs or oatmeal, etc. But even though my birds are similiar sizes, they eat varying amounts. So I am experimenting with using these cute little teeny tupperwear containers instead of ice cube trays. Each one should last three days I think, maybe four? We'll have to see how it goes!Don't hesitant to ask any questions- I will do my best to askwer them. :)

I vary the veggies and leafy greens and fresh herb each time, but almost always include carrots, broccoli, some sort of sweet and/or spicy pepper, sweet potato or winter squash, garlic and ginger. Carrots are always a favorite, as is okra and all types of peppers from super sweet to scary spicy. My birds are NOT good about eating leafy greens (well, Tonka will eat them but not Perry or Violet) so I put lots in every mash- I think they are very important! The nice thing about mash, my birds eat it with anything added. Once they are accustomed to the mash concept, you can change out any or all the veggies that you want and they will still eat it!



Other veggies I will add: radishes, cauliflower, brussell sprouts, all types of summer squashes and winter squashes and pumpkin, turnip, beets, rutabagas,tomatoes in small amounts, kohlrabi, green beans, sugar snap peas, snow peas, all types of cabbages, eggplants.

Other leafy greens I will add: spinach, beet greens, collard greens, mustard greens, romaine, leafy green lettuce, arugula, baby spring mix, carrot tops, dandelion greens.

Other fresh herbs I will add: basil, thyme, cilantro, parsley, oregano.

Other supplements I will add: missing link avian, flax seed, bee pollen, kelp.

I also cook big pots of different types of whole grains, spices and beans/lentils, etc. I freeze that seperately so I can mix and match with the veggie mash.

And I add fruit fresh to each meal each day- Tonka gets a decent amount of fruit, but Perry gets much less, and Violet gets none! So I find it easier to add to each meal. This way I can also change the fruit type each day. I feed alot of berries- blue, black, straw and raspberries, and tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, guava, starfruit, etc. I feed pomegranite seeds on a regular basis as well- freeezing big bags of the seeds when they are in season so I can feed year round. I also feed citrus fruits occasionally- all kinds- lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc. Apples, grapes, etc I feel are too high in sugar but not as high in nutrients so I only feed them as treats. Tonka is allowed more of these since she burns the calories faster! :)

Can't get much simpler than this!

Put some goodies into a bag:

Layer smaller bags within bigger for more experienced birds:

Hang from some leather or bird safe rope:

And stand back!

Foot toys!!!

I have a foot toy obsession. It's a serious problem.

 

 

 

Food on a stick

Food skewers: Chunks of fruit or veggie, toys, foraging cups, etc on a skewer and given to your bird to promote foraging and good diet.

I started out with a Super Pet small animal kabob, and then purchased the Scooter Z brand stainless steel skewers, which work much better. I try to do a combination of foods that I know my birds love, and foods they may not be as excited about. I have found that it takes time for birds to become accustomed to this method of feeding. Many times in the beginning, Tonka wouldn't touch her skewers. Now she ranges from nibbling on them to completely devouring them! Just as Tonka progresses, I have to start over with Perry, who is at the stage where he might lightly nibble, at the most. But I will keep offering Perry the skewers, because I know he will learn to love them!

In additions to the fruits and veggies, I will sometimes add favored toy pieces and I will often add paper or plastic cups. In the cups I will put a sprinkle of seeds, or a nut, or pomegranite seeds, etc, for the birds to forage for. I make Tonka's more difficult by putting something over the top of the cup as a lid, that she either has lift up, or chew through- like a piece of balsa or yucca.

Some examples, starting with a year ago, roughly.

Here's an after:

After:

After:

Pellet time!

I feed my birds one small pellet meal per day. I found that unlimited access to pellets led to Tonka not eating her veggie mash, and Perry is pretty much always on a diet due to slight pudginess.
I feed a mixture of pellets- about 50% Harrison's Pepper Coarse. The remaining 50% is mostly Goldenfeast Golden'obles, with a small amount of Caitec's new Oven Fresh Bakes. And yes, I DO make them forage for the pellets. I wrap them in paper! Every week or two, I will take an hour or so in front of the tv with a good show on (I recommend Dr. Who! lol). Each pellet gets wrapped into a little twist of paper. I put each bird's daily meals into little paper cups, for easy feeding. Each day, I grab each bird's cup for the day. If I am in a hurry, I will pour the wrapped pellets into a bowl. Sometimes I will dump the whole cup with pellets still in it into abowl, or skewer the cup and hang in the cage!

Violet the cockatiel eats all the same pellets as the "big" guys, just smaller versions. I will NOT be wrapping those teeny things in paper. I will probably end up covering her pellets with shredded paper, so she has to forage through the shreds. She gets her small daily seed allotment this way, and has great fun. Pics will come in another post. :)


Sorry I have not been posting regularly!

Sorry folks, I'm sure all (all two or three!) of my many followers have been heartbroken that I have not posted in so long. I didn't have a functioning home computer. But now I do, and will be back on track!
I have many stored photos from the last few months so I should have lots to catch up on.

In the meantime:

Tonka was finally dna'd. She is a girl! So don't be confused by past posts referring to "him". :)

I have had Perry the one eyed red belly for almost a year now, I think! He's chubby and sassy and gaining in confidence and physical dexterity all the time!

And.....meet Violet! She is approx. 6 or 8 months old, dna'd female. Very sassy and relentlessly curious! It's fun having a little bird around.