Fruit and Veggie Parrot Popsicles!

Photo by Heather Scott Shown: Green wing macaw

I was chatting with my friend Heather Scott when she sent me some pictures of the parrots she's working with and their frozen fruit and veggie lollies as she called them. I was so excited about her invention that I asked her to share it with me so I could pass it along on my blog. She was more than willing! Later, after sharing this idea with my horse trainer friend, I found out that TONS of animal trainers and handlers do this for their animals including horses, dogs, elephants and more.  

Me: How did you come up with this awesome idea, what's the recipe and what can we expect of our birds' reactions?  

Photo by Heather Scott Eating ice lollie popsicles for parrots: Congo african grey

Heather Scott: Some of us keepers were just talking about how hot it was and about different ideas to keep all the animals cool and happy in the scorching weather and joked about ice lollies! We then realised it was quite do-able and chopped chunks of various fruit and vegetables (ie: grapes, bananas, pears, carrots, plums, oranges, apples, melon, broccoli and lots of others!)  

Photo by Heather Scott Shown: Amazon parrot

We put a handful of mixed chopped fruit and veg into plastic cups and topped up with water and just put them in the freezer. =)Some of the lollies also included mixed cooked (but cold) pulses/beans, so each lolly was a surprise!   We actually didn't bother with sticks and just tipped them out for the parrots the following day. All the parrots seemed to recognize that it was some sort of treat but were quite mystified by the icy colorful objects in front of them, lots of eye flashing and excited squeals!   

Photo by Heather Scott Shown: Green wing macaw

Ruby, the green winged macaw was first to stick her tongue out to try one and reacted with a very funny 'Oooh woo!' and proceeded to stick her tongue on it a few more times and seemed delighted as it started to melt and she could start crunching! =)  

Photo by Heather Scott Shown: Blue and gold macaw

Some of the other parrots had different tactics; Coco, our blue and gold macaw tried to pick one up whole (quite funny as it was nearly the size of his head!), while the 2 cockatoos waited for melty leftovers!

Article by Jamieleigh Womach. She has been working with parrots and toucans since the age of 17. She isn’t homeless but is home less than she prefers to be. She travels the world with her husband, daughter, and a flockful of parrots whom she shares the stage with.

2 comments

Shelby

I’ve been trying to get my sun conure to eat something besides sunflowers seeds and unhealthy things that he loves, everything I try never ever works. I spent a bunch of my times making fruit dishes and things for him and he never eats them! When I saw this I said okay I have to try this out! And it worked!!! So thank you so much!

Shelby
barbara DeFiore

love this idea I will definitely try it thanks

barbara DeFiore

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