Best Food for Picky Parrots: How to Tempt a Fussy Eater

Parrots are naturally cautious about new foods. In the wild, trying an unfamiliar food could be risky, so many birds stick to what they know. That's why so many pet birds end up eating only their favorite seeds. The good news: with the right foods and a little patience, most picky birds can learn to eat a healthier diet.

Why parrots are picky

• Caution with new things. Many birds need to see a food many times before they try it.
• Habit. Birds raised on seed often don't recognize pellets or vegetables as food.
• Selective eating. Given a mix, birds pick their favorites first, usually the fattiest pieces.

Foods that tempt fussy eaters

Variety-packed blends

A mix with lots of colors, shapes and textures gives curious birds something to explore. World's Best Fruit & Nut Deluxe is packed with almonds, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, fruits like cherry, apple, pineapple and papaya, vegetables like sweet potato and beets, beans and pellets. Our Ultimate Blend mixes fortified pellets with nuts, dried fruits, vegetables and herbs, which helps birds get used to pellets alongside foods they already like.

Bold flavors

Many parrots love strong flavors. Our Grey/Eclectus Ultimate Blend includes hot peppers and cinnamon sticks, and Harrison's Pepper Adult Lifetime adds a spicy kick to a pellet diet. Birds don't feel pepper heat the way people do.

Fun-to-eat foods

Lafeber's Nutri-Berries are round balls of hulled seeds and grains coated with vitamins and minerals. Birds pick them up, hold them and break them apart, which makes eating more like play. Learn more in what are Nutri-Berries?

Tricks that work

• Eat it in front of your bird. Parrots are flock eaters and often want what you're having.
• Offer new foods in the morning when your bird is hungriest.
• Try different forms. Chopped, shredded, whole, cooked or warm. A bird that ignores raw carrot may love it steamed.
• Use a foraging toy or wrap new food in paper so your bird discovers it.
• Be patient. It can take many tries before a bird accepts something new.

Safety first

Never starve a bird into eating a new food. Weigh your bird regularly while changing its diet, and talk to your avian vet if it's losing weight. Our guide to switching from seeds to pellets covers warning signs to watch for.