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HI I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD BLUE AND GOLD WHO NEVER HAS BEEN ON A PELLET OR SEED DIET I HAVE HAD FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS OR SO THE GUY I GOT HIM FROM FED HIM TABLE SCRAPS NUTS AND BIRDIE BREAD HE GOT RID OF HIM BECAUSE HE DIDNT SPEND TIME WITH HIM AND WAS STARTING TO PLUCK I BOUGHT HIM ZUPREEM PELLETS AND NUTRIBERRIES BUT HE JUST DUMPS THE BOWL OR KNOCKS THEM OUT AND DOESNT EAT THEM SO I GIVE VEGTABLES AND FRUIT AND PASTA AND NUTS BUT I REALLY WANT TO GET HIM ON SOMETHING MORE STABLE FOR GOOD NUTRITION ANY IDEAS THANKS

Vegetables, fruits, eggs, nuts, pasta, and birdie bird are good foods for your macaw. I would not try to switch him to a pellet and seed diet only. Instead, I would just add pellets to his current diet. My birds are fed fresh foods once daily, and a bowl of pellets are available at all times. You might try adding a few pellets to his fresh food. He might be more likely to try them if they are in the same bowl.

I'm so glad you're determined to feed your new boy nutritiously. And I agree with Petdiva that vegies, fruits, nuts, pasta, and birdie bird can be good foods for a macaw. I feed my birds only limited amounts of egg, and Nutriberries would never make it through my door. I consider them junk food, though many disagree with my assessment.

I suggest you have a well-bird exam done by your avian vet, complete with blood work. Let the blood work results and exam findings guide you to what the bird needs. Changing diet while a bird is stressed by being abandoned by the parront he loves can be a recipe for illness. With the bird already plucking, you really want to be careful. Vet check and patience. Use the waiting time to learn more about avian nutrition for pluckers by reading articles at FeedingFeathers.com.

Also, most macaws require food bowls that lock into place. If no one comes along with a link, do some googling for quick-lock crocks, I think they're often called.

Good luck! Paca

HE HAS ONE THAT LOCKS IN PLACE BUT HE TAKES HIS BEAK AND KNOCKS ALL THE FOOD OUT AND I DO GIVE HIM ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER BUT HE JUST KNOCKS THEM ALL OUT UNTIL HE GETS WHAT HE WANTS AND THEN THE BOWL IS EMPTY HE HAS WENT TO THE VET EVERYTHING WAS FINE HE THINKS HES PLUCKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO SINCE HE WAS LEFT IN HIS CAGE ALOT AND LEFT ALONE HE DIDNT HAVE ANY TOYS OR ANYTHING AND ONLY ONE PERCH IT WAS SAD IM TELLING YA. SINCE I HAD HIM AND ON REGULAR BATHES HES DOING BETTER AND NOT PLUCKING AS MUCH BECAUSE I LEAVE HIM OUT ALOT BUT I CANT PET HIM OR TOUCH HIM MUCH HE STILL ISNT USED TO ME AND BITES HARD BUT I CAN GET HIM ON HIS PERCH AND IN THE SHOWER THANKS AGAIN

Our B&G Frasier did this when we first brought him home. He would sling his food all over the place. I tried just ignoring his behaviour and that did no good, still did it every time I waled into the bird room. I had to resprt into squirting him with the water spritzer( I know I will get jumped on for admitting this) But it worked I sprayed him everytime he slung his entire dish of food. Since I shower the birds and not spritz them, they know the differance. He has never done it again and now eats his food, have had no bad results and he is again best pet ever. I know it was to get attention, cause the people who gave him to us, were tired of his actions for attention, he knows Shut up, do as I say. We were told he did bad things when the owner went out of town which was weekly. I have had no problems and have since placed him cagemeates with our tempermental Scarlet and they get along great and both come out and play and get along. They are smart and it only takes a few times and they do learn, they know when they do things for attention.