Pellets?!?!

Sooo we’re getting into the 2nd month with Lexa! It has been so amazing and stressful at the same time! Everything has been going great except for one thing.....Lexa will not eat Pellets. I have tried so many things to get her to eat them but she will only eat the seeds. She had Pellets in the store but she just picked around them, and she just picks around the ones at my house as well.

I have experimented with different kinds of pellets but she just doesn’t like any of them. I have grounded down some of the pellets and sprinkled them over her normal seeds but she still doesn’t even eat that. Ive moistened the pellets with warm water (removing them after a couple of hours of course so they don’t spoil) but she still doesn’t budge. I’ve hand fed the pellets but she won’t eat that either. I have even “ate” some of the food so she might be more tempted but even that doesn’t work!

I don’t really want to starve her until she eats them because I know how much stress it causes and I really don’t want her to be stressed or maybe even die.

Please, do you guys have ANY tips to help me get her on a diet with Pellets?!

Thanks!

What kind of bird is Lexa?

Have you tried soaking the pellets in apple juice?

My usual tiresome pellet notes... apologies to those who have heard them x a zillion!

Here's what I use.
http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

Ooh that’s a good idea soaking them in apple juice...I’ll try it

munami said:

What kind of bird is Lexa?

Click to expand...

Lexa is a cockatiel.

GaleriaGila said:

My usual tiresome pellet notes... apologies to those who have heard them x a zillion!

Here's what I use.
http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

Click to expand...

Ok. Harrison’s is pretty expensive so I’ll try the “putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day” tip and we’ll see how that goes. If it doesn’t work, I will purchase the pellets from Harrison’s and I’ll update here.

Some tips I got from my CAV about Cockatiels to get Luna to eat pellets.

Since they're ground foragers, put some on a flat surface.
Then play with them with your hand, crush them up, peck at em. You can also make a noise by flicking your fingernails (if they're not too short) which sounds like another bird pecking at it.

If that works, once she's regularly eating them, you can put them in a bowl.

Luna goes crazy for the Harrison's High Potency Super Fine now.


Also I totally didn't notice the forum this was posted in!! My bad! (I search from Active Topics)

My BB likes the Nupreem Fruity Pellets. You could also give less and less seed so she'll HAVE to eat the pellets. If she is already picking at them she knows what they are...She'd rather have a cheese burger than a salad (who wouldn't?? lol) so take the cheese burger away slowly!


Jim

All good suggestions above. Only thing I might add is: give each change time. Parrots can be notoriously stubborn, so it might take time for her stubborness to be whittled away. Only make one change at a time, otherwise you will not know which action was the succesful one. This is basic process control and it holds true for feeding parrots as it does for making a bolt or screw or other multi step process. Good Luck !!

Birds can be such quirky critters. I had similar issues with Ghost when he was first introduced to pellets. In the end I got this https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Parrot-Bird-Dust-Bathtub-with-Hooks-Cage-Accessory-Bird-Bath-Shower-Box-Budgie/401646862855?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=671392340585&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 to put the pellets in. Curiosity got the better of him and now he is quite happy with pellets. Although I have to remove it of an evening to stop him roosting in it, it has been a great addition. Now if I could just get him eating fruit and veg I'd be all set. Fussy little git tastes each piece and then throws it to the floor. Each one of my birds has different preferences with pellets (one doesn't like them dry so dunks them in his water dish ) so all I can suggest is keep at it and don't get put off.

Apple juice is SUPER sugary, so make sure you buy an all-natural apple juice (careful with the vitamin C and definitely buy a non-fortified variety--fortified foods for humans contain toxic levels of vitamins for birds!!!)
This would have to be very short term (like...not days in a row), and, even then, I would strongly advise diluting the juice with water (50/50). Do not leave the wet pellets in the cage for more than an hour or two, as they will promote bacterial growth when wet and sugary.
This is NOT a good long-term solution-- too much sugar and too much vitamin C in the long run. Just keep that in mind.
A bird who consumes too much citric acid can develop iron storage syndrome. That is why citrus and high-C fruits/veg must be very limited.