Caitec Oven Fresh Bites Medium Parrot Food, 15-lb box

Association Feeding:

Combine 50% of the seed based or other diet with an equal amount of Oven Fresh Bites™ gourmet parrot food. Fill food bowl approximately 30%. Feed 3 times daily for 15 -30 minutes, removing the food between meals to determine how much of each food type has been consumed. If your bird has eaten Oven Fresh Bites™ gourmet parrot food, increase the amount with each feeding until the parrot is eating 100% of its new and nutritious diet. Seeds should be used only as treats. This method may take a few days or weeks, depending entirely on how your parrot responds. The advantage of the association feeding technique is you’re knowing that your parrot will not go without food, but will have an appetite at each scheduled feeding.

Immediate Transition Feeding:

Offer a few of the Oven Fresh Bites gourmet nuggets as a treat for several days and remove all parrot food from the cage at night. Feed the regular diet free choice during the day. After 5 - 7 days, introduce 100% Oven Fresh Bites™ gourmet parrot food for the morning feeding. If the parrot has not eaten the food by the afternoon, remove the new diet and replace with ¾ of the normal ration. Remove it before bedtime. During the next few weeks increase the amount of time that the morning portion of Oven Fresh Bites nutritious parrot food is left in the cage before giving the parrot an evening feeding with the previous diet. Repeat the process until the morning ration is fully consumed and offer a second helping in the evening.

Instinctive Feeding:

Most parrots, especially psittacines, prefer to feed from the treetops or the highest elevation possible where the risk of exposure to predators is minimal. To capitalize on this natural behavior feed a 50% ration of the regular food in its original position, add another similar bowl which contains an equal amount of Oven Fresh Bites nutritious parrot food in the highest location possible in the cage and add a water vessel nearby. Because parrots prefer the higher location, many are inclined to investigate the new bowl and test its contents. Observe the amount of parrot food remaining in each bowl at the end of the day. As the amount of food consumed from the top bowl increases, you should proportionally decrease the amount of food in the lower bowl. Eventually the parrot will be eating only Oven Fresh Bites gourmet parrot food. This method ensures that your parrot will never be without a familiar food and the time required to make a complete transition can be extended. If your parrot offers resistance to this natural and nutritious food, try these helpful hints which have proven to be successful for other bird owners.

Helpful Hints

Your bird may not immediately recognize the new diet as food, be patient. Try introducing Oven Fresh Bites gourmet parrot food as treats, especially out of the cage! Try hiding in a favorite foraging device. Because parrots are flock oriented, your bird might benefit from exposure to a converted role model. Try pretending to eat Oven Fresh Bites yourself! Sometimes seeing a flock member "eating" the food can convince a skeptical parrot to try the new diet. If your parrot remains reluctant to experiment with the new food seek additional advice from your veterinarian.

Baking provides a host of possibilities that can not be readily achieved using the alternative manufacturing methods. Baking keeps more nutrition intact and is less abrasive to ingredients particularly proteins, vitamins and minerals. Baking also permits the utilization of larger grain particles which improves nutrient retention and digestion. In addition, baking retains the natural flavors of the ingredients and provides the most desirable texture.

Mother Nature dictates the color of Oven Fresh Bites. We don’t build clever shapes or add artificial color; the color may even cause other issues. If the shape and color of the food is your bird’s only source of interest in the cage our guess would be that he is and will remain bored. Food is responsible for fulfilling your bird’s nutritional requirements. Our advice would be for you to enrich your bird’s environment with interactive toys and foraging devices.

Companion birds use harvesting techniques and access mechanics similar to what we observe in birds living in their natural habitats. Most birds prefer to forage for food high up in the canopy where they are at the lowest risk from predators. They seize the fruit, nuts, seed pods etc. from a branch then hold it with 1 foot to feed. Pet birds have the luxury of food bowls; wild birds rely on their instincts to maintain possession of an item in order to feed.

No, care has been taken to supply scientifically established levels of the essential vitamins, minerals. Grooming perches and numerous toys are available to provide stimulation and help curb the growth of the beak and toenails.

This is a tough 1 - answer. Every bird is different and may respond differently to the same method which is successful with another bird. Observe your bird’s behavior and base your choice on those observations and consider what you are the most comfortable with.

No, birds do not require grit which can be the cause of impactions.

Remember that birds will eat throughout the day in order to meet their energy demands. More energy acquired from treats means a lower amount the food will be consumed. Nuts and seeds do supply energy and can be fed in moderation as treats. The better choice would be a variety of fruits and vegetables.