Out of all my feathered friends, I think Buzzy is has been the hardest over the years to feed! He'd be extremely happy with just a bowl of seed and a water dish.
We've learned a LOT about keeping him healthy though! Reading and talking to folks over the internet in Australia about their "wild" behavior has helped.
Juanita, we bird lovers have two words that we keep repeating all the time.....PERSISTANCE and PATIENCE! Keep doing it and don't get upset if they throw your hard work and efforts on the floor or ignore it! Eventually they will get it!
As Louise said - they are definite flock feeders! If you only have one bird - eating at the same time you feed him will help! Birds are tremendous observers both in the wild and in our homes.
The other thing - they (Cockatiels) are seed eaters in the wild. However the seeds are fresh off the plants....with a lot of nutrition. Not like the stuff we have here sold in bags at our local pet stores. I read somewhere once that the seed we buy now has been sitting in silos for over two years before reaching our shelves. YUM! Ok....that's not to say that my birds don't get some of this seed. They do. But offering soaked or sprouted seed with their fresh food is a good idea too! This soaked mix keeps Buzzy healthy! Every morning a scoop of soaked seeds is mixed in with his fresh food. Being a seed eater - his beak is stuck in this bowl throughout the day and it never fails that he'll come up for air with a flake of spinach, corn kernal, pea, or quinoa clump in his mouth too!
There are several companies that sell organic LIVE seed mixes. My favorite link is below. And just a 24 hour soaking is enough to bring out the nutrition!
Boy am I chatty today....already!
Crystal
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