HELLO!

[foama]

Hi All!

I joined the site today & need some advice!

I haven't had a bird for about 12 years & I have only ever had budgies!

I recently found a young galah in my yard. It is too cuddly to be wild. I did look around for lost birds in the area, but I couldn't find any, so it looks like he/she has joined the family. We have called it "Stevie"!

My problem is that is will only eat seed (mostly sunflower). I have tried to introduce pellets, but it is not interested. I also tried apples, pears & spinach. The only thing I have had a little luck with is beans!

Do you have any suggestions on how I can provide a better diet!

Lisa

[avinet]

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

I assume you have contacted the local pet shops, vets etc, as well as advertised in the local papers. It always amazes me how difficult it can be to find the owners of a lost bird - most owners seem to not bother even checking the found ads in the papers!

Anyway, diet! It is important with Galahs to get them onto a low fat diet - they can get all sorts of obesity type problems if they have a diet that is high in fats. Pellets are ideal but in the short term it might be best to work on a better seed and fresh food intake.

Firstly seed - the mix you should be feeding is a good quality budgie mix with a small amount of added sunflower - maybe about 10 sunflower seeds a day maximum. If you have been feeding a large parrot seed mix - having none of the smaller budgie type seed then give it to the wild birds - they can burn off the high fat by flying a few kilometres. I have found that most Galahs will happily eat the small budgie seeds - especially if they are hungry. Galahs are the Labradors of the parrot world

Once it is eating the small seed OK you could even remove the sunflower from the mix and reserve it to be given by hand for as a reward for good behaviour - essentially training using positive reinforcement techniques.

There is a range of fruit and veggies that can be given - and I chop it all up into bite sized pieces - see my article at scas.org.au/html/pet_parrot_care.html for some details of suitable veggies and fruit.
All you can do is to keep providing some fresh food each day until the bird starts trying and eating it. Eventually you will work out what it likes or dislikes and adjust accordingly what you offer. And nothing wrong with beans - try peas as well - frozen is OK.

Once it is eating a good seed and fresh food mix and once it is properly settled into your house, you can start with the pellet introduction - but I wouldn't worry about that for a few weeks.

cheers,

Mike

[foama]

Thanks Mike!

I'll give it a go.

Yes, I did try all suggestions to find the owner. But, I don't think I could part with it now!!!

I'll let you know how we go!

L:)