SO! i was wondering how you all separate foods into your birds' bowls.

i am trying to figure out how to do ivy's bowls. i am initially going to be buying her pellets (harrison's and zupreem) as well as the goldenfeast seed/nut/fruit blend caribbean'fornia (thanks karen!). should i be mixing these together in one bowl? i would think i would want to reserve one bowl for fresh foods only.

her mac nuts are on the way and i will always have fresh fruits and veggies on hand for her.

any suggestions? especially from you macaw owners?

Yep, water, pellets, "seed" and fresh.

I'd put the water in the one least likely to be dunked or sat in...maybe even higher up but not so she hits her head to drink....

You can sprinkle a few pellets and seeds in her fresh for two hours only in an effort to have her forage if she doesnt come loving fresh.

Also ask her breeder what bowls she's used to. Sometimes it's an issue especially with stainless. Sometimes they are scared of it.

And I'd ask what fresh foods she gets and ask the lady to give a ton of different things in her bowls so she learns what food actually is...

Also I'd feed her OUT of the cage alot, at the table with you. So she gets the flock feeling and tries what you try. You'll have to fake eating her stuff or actually eat it. Just veggies and normal stuff anyway so it wont hurt you LOLOL

I actually use plates not bowls so much out of the cage....paper plates with the straw plate holders like you use at bbq s.

It's very exciting for you planning for Ivy! She has no idea lol. (oh and you dont wanna give nuts free choice especially, way too much fat and vitamin e to not be "regulated"...the Macaw people can tell you more about that than me)

so i should have 4 bowls then?

i am so excited! ivy will totally be at the dinner table with us! it's going to help me to eat more veggies and GOOD things, lol.

thanks, as always, cindy

Unfortunately, Golden Feast is not that great, as it uses sulfur in preserving it's dried fruit. I have found with my birds that layering food in one bowl often works best. I put a small spoon of seed at the bottom, and then layer pellets and fresh foods over, topped by some soaked seed. Or I do a version of Bea's Gloop with fresh fruit and veggies layered. If I offer different bowls, it's been my experience that they just wait for their favorites. And my strong flying macaw flies around and terrorizes the other macaws trying to take their favorite treats.

according to goldenfeast's website, they have a selection of blends that don't contain sulfides, including the one i am getting. i also like the lack of sunflower seed and corn fillers. i don't know why they just don't go ahead and make all their blends sulfide free.

layering sounds like a good idea, i will have to keep that in mind!

I would ask the breeder what she is being fed now and what color bowls are used so you can duplicate as much as possible. You can change by adding or take away as she feels comfortable with her new surroundings and family. Hys need a high fat diet, so mac nuts are part of their diet. I had to crack the nuts at first until our Hys were able to do it by themselves.

the zupreem is what she is being fed right now, but i want to get her off of that because i am not big on the dyes. and she will be in the same cage there as she will be here (with the same bowls).

she will be at the bird show tomorrow so i will ask her more about what she is being fed now, that makes sense!

The Caribbean'Fornia does not contain Sulfites. I use the mix and I can tell by what the fruits look like that it's sulfur free. GF is in the process of making a version of their Caribbean Bounty that will be sulfur free also. I spoke to their productions manager not that long ago and he said the sulfur free fruits are hard to get, but they are working hard to set it up.

Emily I think the person I order from is the best when it comes to Customer Service. I can place an order in the morning and it is on it's way to me by the afternoon. If you would like his site addy I'll send it to you.

I am not big on dyes either, hopefully she will accept the change, if not just wean her from them. That is great that she will have the same cage and bowls.

You may also want to try the TOP (Totally Organic Pellet). A lot of people say their birds won't touch them but my two will eat them right out of my hand.