Training birds to eat pelleted diets and other food substances is often a challenge, but it is a challenge worth taking. There are several methods that may be be used. First, remember if your bird is acting abnormal or has signs of illness, do not change his diet at this time. First go, no rush your bird to the veterinarian and verify the health status.

Technique 1

This is my overall favorite method because it takes into account the natural eating behavior of the bird in the wild. Early in the day, as the sun raises, birds go out and forage. (Of course you should know this because we have been taught since we were young the early bird gets the worm.) As the day progresses, the bird finds a shade tree and sleeps during the middle of the day. Then, in the cool of the evening, the bird once again moves from its resting place to forage. This the general behavior of most parrots. We can take advantage of this behavior. We are able to approach this bird twice a day feeding behavior with the following steps.

• Early each day, place a number of pellets in a food dish. Try to place pellets in two or three dishes so pellets are everywhere your bird looks. Better yet, consider offering pellets from two or three manufacturers giving your bird an option of whose pellets your bird prefers.
• After two hours, if the pellets are not consumed, add some seed for the next hour.
• After three hours, repeat the process in the evening. Be sure to remove both seeds and pellets after three hours. Over a period of time the bird will begin to eat the pellets. As the number of pellets consumed are increased, remove the seeds completely. The converting process may take a few days to several months.

Technique 2

This a variation of technique 1

• At the start of the day, remove the seeds out of the cage. Place pellets in the food dishes. Leave the pellets in the cage until late afternoon.
• If the bird has not consumed pellets by late afternoon, put out seeds for the remainder of the day and evening, and start the process over the next day.
• Be careful with this process with small birds. Be sure they are not losing weight in the process.

Technique 3

A simple technique that is easy to try.

• Place pellets in separate food dishes next to the seed. Sometimes switching pellets to the seed dish and using a new dish for the seeds is helpful. While a few birds have been converted using this method, I have seen a high degree of failure because there is not any reason for the bird to stop eating its' favorite seeds.

Technique 4

This is a interactive technique that works well with small birds that are hand tamed. Small birds often eat food off the ground . We are going to try to recreate this scene. To start with we need a flat clean surface such as a towel.

• Using several brands of pellets, spread the pellets over the towel.
• Sit down next to towel so you will not be towering over your bird. Then, place your bird on the towel with the pellets.
• Now, ignoring your bird begin playing with the pellets with your fingers just as if you were foraging. Don't look or coax your bird. Just continue playing with the pellets occasionally knocking a few pellets toward your bird. Try not to focus on your bird. Often small birds will begin to peck at the pellets after about a half hour. You may need to repeat the session several times to create good foraging by your bird.

Technique 5

Large birds sometimes respond to this interactive technique. Your bird must be hand tame and enjoy responding to you.

• Place your bird on a training perch with a dish of pellets.
• Act like you are nibbling on the pellets. Put on a good show of how they great they are.
• Tell your bird how good they are and continue to act as if you are eating them.
• When the bird shows interest initially, act like you will not share but as your bird becomes more interested, relent by letting them have a pellet to eat.
• The trick is making the bird want what you have.

Remember never try to change the diet of a bird that is sick or acting abnormal.