How long will a bag of pellets last??

So with any luck I want to be adopting an alexandrine soon after Xmas, and I'm just looking at maintenance costs, how long (on average of course) will say a 10kg bag of pellets last for 1 Alex??? Obviously as well as supplementing the diet with fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm also open to suggestions for good brands of pellets. Thanks guys

A bag that size will last longer than they will stay fresh. What does a alex weigh ,100 grams? How much does it eat,25-30 grams ( with waste) , i'm just guessing here. I'd buy a 1 kg size bag that should last about a month, maybe longer. If you store it in the freezer or a least an airtight container in a cool dry place you should not have spoilage or freshness issues. always be sure to check the "best used by" date.

Alexandrines typically weigh 200-300 (say, average is 250+) grams at least... And probably eat 20+ grams of pellets per day... depending upon the amount of other foods it eats, it may eat less.

If I have my calculations correct, a 10kg bag would last nearly 2 years... and it's often recommended to use the pellets up within 3 months of opening the bag... (it's possible for pellets to go rancid) so I've had to agree with henpecked, a 1-2 kg bag would be ideal.


Hard to suggest pellets when we don't know where you live. For example, Vetafarm, an Australian Pellet, I haven't seen being sold out of Australia or New Zealand. Harrison's and Kaytee (two American brands - one high end and one low end) can be bought in other countries, and there are also people willing to ship these brands out of country. However, other American brands such as Zupreem, TOP's, Mazuri, Pretty Bird, etc I haven't seen being sold outside of North America unless someone buys it to import it to their company.

ATM, I don't recall all the brands available in the UK and am unaware of the ones available in Africa, China or Japan...

MonicaMc said:

Alexandrines typically weigh 200-300 (say, average is 250+) grams at least... And probably eat 20+ grams of pellets per day... depending upon the amount of other foods it eats, it may eat less.

If I have my calculations correct, a 10kg bag would last nearly 2 years... and it's often recommended to use the pellets up within 3 months of opening the bag... (it's possible for pellets to go rancid) so I've had to agree with henpecked, a 1-2 kg bag would be ideal.


Hard to suggest pellets when we don't know where you live. For example, Vetafarm, an Australian Pellet, I haven't seen being sold out of Australia or New Zealand. Harrison's and Kaytee (two American brands - one high end and one low end) can be bought in other countries, and there are also people willing to ship these brands out of country. However, other American brands such as Zupreem, TOP's, Mazuri, Pretty Bird, etc I haven't seen being sold outside of North America unless someone buys it to import it to their company.

ATM, I don't recall all the brands available in the UK and am unaware of the ones available in Africa, China or Japan...

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Holy crap, well the maintenance costs just got much cheaper than I expected, and sorry for the lack of info, I am in Australia, judging by the fact you mentioned Vetafarm I assume that is what you would have recommended for someone in Australia. Would the maintenance pellets be suitable?? I know I could get the info from the website, but they are trying to sell, I'd much prefer to hear it from experienced avian keepers. Thanks

Yes, Vetafarm would be my recommendation. I don't know what the ideal pellet is, but given the choice of Australian pellets, I would recommend them!

Welcome to Vetafarm Website


Another one is Passwells, and I have a bit of a hard time recommending this company due to the ingredients list...
Bird Foods - www.wombaroo.com.au


If Dr Mac's Organic Origins was in production still, I might recommend them as well. Since the website is gone, I'm assuming this company went out of business.


You can buy Harrison's as well, although I suspect it would be quite expensive. If not Vetafarm, I would recommend this brand!
http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/states/overseas/australia.htm


I know Kaytee is available in New Zealand, so I assume it's available in Australia as well, but I wouldn't recommend them!



And something that isn't pellets, but could be a great addition to the diet (especially the sprouts) would be the blends from this company.
Birdzone


I don't know of other companies or brands being in Australia. I knew about three of those companies as I've heard about two before and met Dr Mac in person.


Btw, I have a mitred conure that weighs 250 grams, give or take... and although alexandrines are larger in body size, I know they are around same weight, give or take.. and Charlie typically eats 15-20 grams of pellets per day, if not more. The days where he eats more fresh foods than pellets, he may eat as few as 10 grams of pellets. The amount of pellets he eats also seems to vary on the season, with him eating more in the winter and less in the summer months.

Thank you very much for your reply. Very useful information it's people like you that make these forums and absolute gold mine of information. Thanks again

jhatcliffe said:

I am in Australia, judging by the fact you mentioned Vetafarm I assume that is what you would have recommended for someone in Australia. Would the maintenance pellets be suitable?? I know I could get the info from the website, but they are trying to sell, I'd much prefer to hear it from experienced avian keepers. Thanks

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HI, Welcome to the forum. I'm in Western Australia and I use Vetafarm parrot pellets maintenance. my Ecky, which I think is a bit bigger than an alex goes through about 350gm in about a fortnight.
Hope that helps.

I'm also in Australia
I use Passwells because thats the one i can get ordered in for me. My ekkie has been eating them for nearly 2 years.

Even though i also only have one bird i buy the 10kg bag, then i store half of it for dry pellets, and mix the rest up with various ingridients into my own little birdie-cake mix (lol dont ask for recipies i make it up differently every time), and then i freeze these. In this way the 10kgs never last more than 5-6 months
-> although i do end up throwing a fair bit out from his cage bowls, he likes crumbling them up, so i need to give him enough big pieces, but he doesn't eat it all once he's made it powder.

Oedipussrex said:

I'm also in Australia
I use Passwells because thats the one i can get ordered in for me. My ekkie has been eating them for nearly 2 years.

Even though i also only have one bird i buy the 10kg bag, then i store half of it for dry pellets, and mix the rest up with various ingridients into my own little birdie-cake mix (lol dont ask for recipies i make it up differently every time), and then i freeze these. In this way the 10kgs never last more than 5-6 months
-> although i do end up throwing a fair bit out from his cage bowls, he likes crumbling them up, so i need to give him enough big pieces, but he doesn't eat it all once he's made it powder.

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My Ecky does the crumbling too. He also like to make soup with it by dumping it in his water bowl. LOL. He loves making birdie soup.

Aims said:

Oedipussrex said:

I'm also in Australia
I use Passwells because thats the one i can get ordered in for me. My ekkie has been eating them for nearly 2 years.

Even though i also only have one bird i buy the 10kg bag, then i store half of it for dry pellets, and mix the rest up with various ingridients into my own little birdie-cake mix (lol dont ask for recipies i make it up differently every time), and then i freeze these. In this way the 10kgs never last more than 5-6 months
-> although i do end up throwing a fair bit out from his cage bowls, he likes crumbling them up, so i need to give him enough big pieces, but he doesn't eat it all once he's made it powder.

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My Ecky does the crumbling too. He also like to make soup with it by dumping it in his water bowl. LOL. He loves making birdie soup.

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hahaha anything just to wast a little bit more food! at least pellets don't stain the walls XD

A little OT, but if you feed Passwell's, is there any concern that they use meet meal in some of their pellets?

Oedipussrex said:

..... at least pellets don't stain the walls XD

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Fruit and Vegetable stains on the walls drives me crazy. :30:

Welcome to the forum... I too use vetafarm - maintenance pellet for my pet birds, breeder pellets for my breeders, and paradise pellets for my eclectus...

I also use vetafarm for handrearing...