Diet?

BirdGeeks

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Hello! I have been holding off on the making of this thread as I wanted to make sure I was making the right choice. I have decided that a Parrotlet is the best fit for my life style and that a conure will wait until I am older. Not to say that Parrotlets are easier than Conures of course. My main concern is caging, and diet. I would like to seer away from another large flight cage as I am running out of space in my room. If the only cage I can have them in is a flight cage I will get rid of a book shelf or something to make room :). Everything I've been reading about diet is very confusing as I'm reading that pellets are bad for P'lets? Other sites say that they cant have them at all?
-Thanks!

If I didn't make sense about the cage I'll try to clear it up. I am running out of room in my bedroom and would like to try to get a smaller cage, however I understand how active P'lets are which is why flight cages are great. If there is no way to have a plet in a smaller cage than I would readily get rid of a bookshelf to make room for another large cage.
 
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BirdGeeks

BirdGeeks

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Forgot to add I'm considering a p'let OR a Cockatiel. These we just questions on the Plet side.
-Thanks
 

Inger

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Bumble - Pacific (or Celestial) Parrotlet hatched 02/19/17
Hi! Sorry nobody has responded to you. Plets are wonderful little birds BUT be warned, they are very nippy, opinionated, and have no idea how small they are. They are very different from what I understand about cockatiels, but I do not have a single regret about my choice.

I have Bumble in a flight cage - it's the Prevue F040. It's wonderful for her, but I think she could safely be housed in something smaller. Of course you know the rule - the biggest cage you can afford and that will fit in your space.

My CAV (certified avian vet) had never heard anything about parrotlets and pellets. There are people who believe that, since apparently parrotlets drink less water than some other birds, the pellets willcause kidney issues. I think that's the belief, anyway, and I think it only applies to the color mutations, although there aren't a lot (if any?) of them left that are just green anymore. Anyway, I decided to follow my vet's advice, and Bumble gets Harrison's adult lifetime (small). This is probably something you should decide with the help of your CAV (hopefully you have one - if not, you'll want to locate one!).

She also gets a little bit of seed (Volkmann's) along with chop that I prepare/freeze and fresh fruits and/or veggies every day. She doesn't eat a lot of pellets as she prefers her fresh/chop mix. Mostly she plays weird games with them, hiding them in her wings or watching them roll off her wings.

There are several other folks here who have or had parrotlets, so hopefully some of them will chime in with their thoughts on diet and other things.
 

GaleriaGila

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For the birds you're considering, I have heard good avian vet reviews for Harrison's.
Harrison's Bird Foods
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. :)
 
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BirdGeeks

BirdGeeks

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Thanks for the replies! I am currently surching for a CAV near me. I think I found a good one in a town less than an hour away. I am currently using Zupreem for my Budgies and I have a ton since I mixed two bags together. Once I get down in those I'll start going the Budgies on Harrisons so I'm not buying muliple different brands. Honestly I'll probably just go for a flight cage, I found one for $80 and I decided I don't need so much stuff in my room anyway. :D
 

Inger

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Please make sure to keep us updated on everything! We need pictures! Of your budgies! Of any future birds! And so on!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

MonicaMc

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There are double stack flight cages... so you could get rid of your current flight and replace with the double stack... that way, your birds still get plenty of space without compromising on space for you! (double stacks do have slightly less room than a single though... but it's not bad) Example of such a cage below... (don't have one but been considering one every now and then)

13221-2 Platinum - 32''x21''x74'' Double Stack Flight Cage


Alternatively, there are some 'big' flight cages that could fit on top of the current flight cage but are smaller? This cage for example... it's 30" x 18" x 18". (I think I have one of these? picked up a used white one for cheap)

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...-birds/you-and-me-finch-rectangle-flight-cage



Diet wise... well, that depends on if you have a green parrotlet or a color mutation. If green, then diet can be 50/50 seeds to pellets, like you'd feed budgies, with sprouts and fresh foods. If color mutation (possibly even split), then 25% or less pellets and more fresh foods.

Of course, in order to determine "best" diet, you'd need to get bloodwork done at least once a year and keep an eye on kidney values/uric acid count.
 
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BirdGeeks

BirdGeeks

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There are double stack flight cages... so you could get rid of your current flight and replace with the double stack... that way, your birds still get plenty of space without compromising on space for you! (double stacks do have slightly less room than a single though... but it's not bad) Example of such a cage below... (don't have one but been considering one every now and then)

13221-2 Platinum - 32''x21''x74'' Double Stack Flight Cage


Alternatively, there are some 'big' flight cages that could fit on top of the current flight cage but are smaller? This cage for example... it's 30" x 18" x 18". (I think I have one of these? picked up a used white one for cheap)

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...-birds/you-and-me-finch-rectangle-flight-cage



Diet wise... well, that depends on if you have a green parrotlet or a color mutation. If green, then diet can be 50/50 seeds to pellets, like you'd feed budgies, with sprouts and fresh foods. If color mutation (possibly even split), then 25% or less pellets and more fresh foods.

Of course, in order to determine "best" diet, you'd need to get bloodwork done at least once a year and keep an eye on kidney values/uric acid count.
I was looking at that exact cage but I thought that was too small? I have seen lots of pictures of parrotlets in those and they looked roomy but I wasnt sure. I've been looking up pictures to get ideas for how to setup the budgies cage.
I'll try to keep everyone updated!
-Thanks
 

MonicaMc

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There are different sizes of the cages. I'll have to get you pictures! I currently have my cockatiel in the larger version, although I've got the 32x21 flight cage I bought a little over week ago and just cleaned this weekend waiting to be set up for her.

I do have an extra 30x18 "flight" cage (really, just an old bird cage that's similar in shape to the 32x21 flight cages), but I'm not a big fan of it, so it's been sitting out in the shed. I previously had her in a walk in aviary and not really happy with the fact that I have moved the birds into a smaller space.
 
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BirdGeeks

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There are different sizes of the cages. I'll have to get you pictures! I currently have my cockatiel in the larger version, although I've got the 32x21 flight cage I bought a little over week ago and just cleaned this weekend waiting to be set up for her.

I do have an extra 30x18 "flight" cage (really, just an old bird cage that's similar in shape to the 32x21 flight cages), but I'm not a big fan of it, so it's been sitting out in the shed. I previously had her in a walk in aviary and not really happy with the fact that I have moved the birds into a smaller space.

Please post pictures! I'm a very visual learner and pictures help a ton. I currently have toys coming for future bird including a triangle swing!
 
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BirdGeeks

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Hi! Sorry nobody has responded to you. Plets are wonderful little birds BUT be warned, they are very nippy, opinionated, and have no idea how small they are. They are very different from what I understand about cockatiels, but I do not have a single regret about my choice.

I have Bumble in a flight cage - it's the Prevue F040. It's wonderful for her, but I think she could safely be housed in something smaller. Of course you know the rule - the biggest cage you can afford and that will fit in your space.

My CAV (certified avian vet) had never heard anything about parrotlets and pellets. There are people who believe that, since apparently parrotlets drink less water than some other birds, the pellets willcause kidney issues. I think that's the belief, anyway, and I think it only applies to the color mutations, although there aren't a lot (if any?) of them left that are just green anymore. Anyway, I decided to follow my vet's advice, and Bumble gets Harrison's adult lifetime (small). This is probably something you should decide with the help of your CAV (hopefully you have one - if not, you'll want to locate one!).

She also gets a little bit of seed (Volkmann's) along with chop that I prepare/freeze and fresh fruits and/or veggies every day. She doesn't eat a lot of pellets as she prefers her fresh/chop mix. Mostly she plays weird games with them, hiding them in her wings or watching them roll off her wings.

There are several other folks here who have or had parrotlets, so hopefully some of them will chime in with their thoughts on diet and other things.

I really like hearing from P'let owners and anything else you can add, even small details , are all super helpful! I love seeing pictures of little bumble.
Will also add a Budgie update on the "Scary Hands" thread! The kind of Plet I was looking at were Pacific's because they are soo pretty. I was looking at this cage but everything I've seen so far points towards the too small end of the scale. Has anyone named their bird Blu yet? From the movie Rio?
 
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MonicaMc

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Let me know if these don't work.

"Large" flight cage on top of the HQ Flight Cage - 30x18x18

https://drive.google.com/open?id=13XHeosAOE8w3I6HAvFYOLGXAOXJJyVcb


"Small" flight cage on top of the HQ Flight Cage - I don't remember dimensions off hand but 24x16x16?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ih2GBLuLQ66G6VKObkpOhPjBdCNQBSxs


And two photos of the "large" and "small" cages together.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1001IYSMcETArs_UOqqbpEYVSHlRwK4gh


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GtJEcbgWUN81TXasMmZFFlwkU3UQun5Z




I can only fit one of the "large" cages on top of the HQ flight cage, but I could put two of the "small" cages on top of the HQ flight, if I turn them sideways. I've got a picture of that as well, however I can't seem to get access to the image right now...
 
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BirdGeeks

BirdGeeks

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I can't see the pictures but maybe it's just my phone?
 

MonicaMc

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Changed to links so it might work now.
 
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BirdGeeks

BirdGeeks

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Changed to links so it might work now.

The "large " cage looks like the one I was looking at. It would fit great in my space and leave me more money for toys and such :p. The amount of pellets I have is starting to annoy me, I have a cereal box thing to keep them fresh. Does anyone's birds groom/nibble on their eyelashes and eyebrows? My budgies seen to like my face alot.
 

MonicaMc

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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
If you can get another HQ Flight, or even a double stack, I'd recommend that! But the 30x18x18 wouldn't be bad for a small bird, either! :)


And yes to grooming the face! Once had two conures, one on each shoulder, and they were both preening my face! One could not overstep their boundaries and preen the other side without the other getting mad! They each had to stay on their own side! And made watching anything difficult! :D lol silly birds!
 

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