Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!bionet!ames!rex!barad
From: barad@rex.cs.tulane.edu (Herb Barad)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Cockatoo feeding problems
Message-ID: <918@rex.cs.tulane.edu>
Date: 17 Jul 89 17:47:28 GMT
References: <20519@cup.portal.com> <33215@apple.Apple.COM>
Reply-To: barad@rex.UUCP (Herb Barad)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA
Lines: 29

In article <33215@apple.Apple.COM> chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) writes:
>>	I have an 18 month old non-domestic male Umbrella Cockatoo that will
>>not eat fruits and/or vegetables, which apparently they are supposed to con-
>>sume regularly.
>
>This is unfortunately not unusual.

You're right.  It is not unusual with cockatoos.  The umbrella I have is a
great eater compared to many other cockatoos.  He will at least play with
most things and eat many of them.  His favorite is "greasy junk food" like
french fries.  This is not really good for him.

>Until you convince the bird to eat fresh fruits, consider adding a vitamin
>supplement to either the food or water. Not a bad idea, anyway.

I have got him to readily accept Instant Oatmeal (not too hot) with his
vitamins sprinkled on top.

His main food is Kelloggs Pellets.  I have heard from many avian vets that
pellets are the best diet you can have your bird on.  Unfortunately, it
is often hard to "convert" an easy eater to pellets (much less a picky
eater).

Good luck with your bird.

-- 
Herb Barad	Electrical Engineering Dept., Tulane Univ.
INTERNET:	barad@ee.tulane.edu
USENET:		barad@bourbon.uucp