New to IRN's and new member

[John007]

Hi everyone

My wife bought me a blue IRN for my birthday and we have had it for about 3 weeks now (15 weeks old now). We got it DNA testing so it would make it easier to name it.

So we have a little girl and I have named her Saphira (after the blue dragon in a book series called Eragon)

I have breed budgies as a kid but are new to parrots like IRN's. So I thought of joining this forum to help me learn how best to look after her and to give her a long and happy life.

She is a fussy eater and only wants to eat sun flower seeds. I have removed all sun flower seeds from her seed mix as I have been told that they aren't good for her all the time, so I use them for rewards. To replace the sun flower seeds I have added pellets which she doesn't really like to eat. The other things I have tried to feed heris apples, grapes and other fruits but she doesn't want them. So I was wondering how to get her to eat other types of foods? And what type of fruit and veges do you recommend that I try?

Regards

John
Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

[DonnaandNeo]

Hi John and Saphira,

Yah our IRN's are about the same age. They can be fussy little eaters, I have found that Neo loves corn I pop half a corn cob and a strawberry on a fruit/vege stick which hangs in the cage (most pet store have them). I was also alos told about pellets but Neo is not fussed on them. So in his bowl I put a mix of the following - pellets (have to use them up) small mix of seed including sunflower seeds, at the moment also some cherry halves (no seed) and some lucne hay. Sound strange but it works, pop in all the food (only a small amount of each) Then mix in the lucne hay leaving a layer of hay coving all the food. This was Saphira will have to work for her food, when you change her food take note of what she has left behind just like a little kid she will show you what she doesnt like.


If you unsure about the corn on the cob the other thing I have been doing in the hot weather is leaving a small amount of frozen peas and corn in Neo's bowl and they go down a treat along with a nice cool shower. Best of luck and let me know how you go.

Donna and Neo (Brisbane)