Converting from seed to pellets

bob1

New member
Jul 21, 2013
237
1
California
Parrots
Chico the Cinnamon Green Conure and Malik the Congo African Grey
Hello, so I got Malik on Monday, she is GREAT! but right now she is only eating sunflower seed. :( I would like to her to be eating Hagens Tropican life time granules. I have tried to give her the granules by hand and putting them near her mouth to grab them but as soon as she does she drops them and grabs her sunflower seed. Since the start it has been 50% granules, 10% assorted seed and 40% sunflower but all she does is pick out the sunflower. I noticed she would rather starve then eat the granules. I am at a loss. I don't think giving more granules and less seed will work but should I still try? Is there a different method I could attempt? Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks,
Evan
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Since you just got Malik, I personally wouldn't push the issue. I usually wait until a month later before starting to change their diet so they can get adjusted to the household first instead of stressing out about food and new surroundings together. That's where you can encounter problems. There's many helpful postings on the forum if you were to use the "Search" option to find the thread that would help you with any questions you may run into.

Here's what I did to switch and it was simple and painless. I have suggested this to others and it have worked for them as well. I start by leaving out a bowl of pellets all day everyday, in the morning I put a bowl of fruits and veggies mix then in the evening I put in a table spoon full of seeds, remove excess sunflower and just leave a few. Next day I do the something all over again. No treats of any kind during this period, even nuts. Observe often and at anytime if you see him eating the pellets really good, stop giving anymore seeds. Then just follow your routine of fruits and veggies and a bowl of pellets. Then after a month have gone by then you can start offering treats again in moderate amounts.
 
OP
bob1

bob1

New member
Jul 21, 2013
237
1
California
Parrots
Chico the Cinnamon Green Conure and Malik the Congo African Grey
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Thank you, I will wait a few weeks and then try this method.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
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43
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
I've put together a few suggestions in this thread.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html



Once I figured out how to convert birds to eating healthier, I haven't had any issues getting birds to eat better, not even new birds. I was told Jayde didn't eat pellets when I got her, yet she's been eating pellets since the day I got her! The ARN that I'm looking after I'm pretty sure is eating pellets as well, although I see her more willing to eat seeds in front of me than pellets.

Also gave pellets to a mechanic's conure that supposedly doesn't eat anything other than seeds and the bad choice of foods he feeds his birds, and his conure seemed happy enough to eat the pellets I provided! (even more so than a Nutriberry or a piece of millet sprig!)


Of course, the pellets are "about seed size", being larger than millet but smaller than safflower seeds, so that may also help.



I agree though, don't worry about the food in the first week or so! It's more important that they are eating than what they are eating! New birds in a new environment sometimes wont eat for the first day or two!
 

happycat

New member
Mar 9, 2012
488
1
Virginia, U.S.
Parrots
Kakariki (Kirby) Cockatiel (Shiro) Jenday Conure (Jojo)
I'm still in the process. He hasn't eaten an all seed diet in his life, but he eats a pellet/seed mix in both Lafeber's Pellet Berries and Avi Cakes. They are really more of a treat but he is eating them as his whole diet because he doesn't like simple pellets like Harrisons. Pellet berries are a good way to convert them because they have seeds, which they love, and are still healthy for them.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
Media
2
43
Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Kirby might actually do better with more seeds in his diet than other species, so I'd be less concerned with him not eating pellets than I would a larger species!

That is, as long as he's eating other healthy foods, too!
 

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