Sinbad's Diet

I am very fortunate to have as part of my flock a beautiful conure who needed an understanding family who wanted him for himself, not what people thought they could mold him into.  I had to experiment with diet for about 6 months til we got it right, both nutritious and enjoyable.

 Sinbad likes a seed diet heavy in safflower seed with no sunflower. There is buckwheat, canola, oats and groats, corn kernels (never feed bits as it can contain mold), barley, hemp (treated so it won't grow), and mixed with a variety of the larger millet seeds which come in some cockatiel mixtures.

This is made up now by our friends at Tri West Feeds in Ladner, British Columbia, Canada.  To this is added walnut pieces which I'm sorry to say, Sinnie usually ignores.  I add to this myself, Zupreem cockatiel pellets which he loves and a human grade trail mix, unsalted, that I buy from good old Costco ("Voyageur"). You should see how fast the raisins disappear! He loves the dried fruit in this mix as well but usually leaves the peanuts.  My boy just doesn't seem to like nuts!

I also give on a daily basis a variety of fruits and vegetables, in any combination, such as peas, corn, apple in small pieces, oranges, apricots, nectarines, peaches, carrots, broccoli, banana (must be removed from cage after 30 minutes or you get a ton of flies), plums, kiwi, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, etc.  I have to admit that the fruit is his favorite and the veggies are usually ignored but I keep on trying.  Apples, especially red delicious are his most favorite fruit!  He really has a sweet tooth/beak!

 Sinbad has the most perfectly beautiful feathering of all my 10 birds.  He shimmers in the light.  I have had Sinnie for 7 years now.  We don't know how old he is but we are certain that he was wild caught and to this day remains afraid of hands and sticks/perches.  I think he was about 10 when I got him and I am really glad I adopted Sinbad.  He is very smart and goes into his house on request.  It only took about a month to train him to do this.  I hope that this diet is helpful to anyone having a tough time with their White Eyed friend.  Trust me, they are worth going the extra mile for!!!

Marilynn Owen