Parrot Diets - pellets vs seeds

[findi]

Parrot, Cockatoo diets: pellets vs seeds; what do you use? My view: http://bitly.com/N9rApf

 

[MaraWentz]

Never used "seeds" myh baby wouldn't eat it. Did create my own fruit, veggie, nut , pellet mix, that she picked by hand and loved, but after 3 days she was yet again picking out her favourite pieces to eat and throwing the rest, which was unhealthy and expensive. SO we switched to only pellets and she eats it but not without a 5 minute screaming about how she is so hungry lol. It's easier to get down other mixes than pellets, but most birds wont starve over a switch. Plus its healthier.

 

[Parrotmamma]

I use a good seed mix , pellets and fresh fruits and veggies. I think it is important to keep it new and interesting for them . Straight pellets are just to boring for my guys : )

 

[MaraWentz]

Mine too, but she throws out have her food which isn't healthy

 

[Parrotmamma]

Mine too, but she throws out have her food which isn't healthy

True .....their like feeding 2 year olds (humans) ...Actually , I think 2 year olds are easier ...lol

 

[Brodie]

My cockatiel wont touch pellets, no way haha. So he gets his fruits (he wont eat any veggies) and seeds, ive tried with him for a long time, but i actually think he would starve himself before he will let me change his diet lol.
My Eclectus on the other hand will eat anything, shes a guts. In the mornings she will have a mix of veggies, corn, peas, carrot, broccoli, chilli ect. Lunch time is fruits! Apple, bananna, pear, kiwi, ect. Dinner is whatever she wants, lol. Through the day i keep a mixture of seeds, pellets, dried fruits and a couple of almonds in a bowl, then she gets some sprouted seds too, she will eat both the seeds and pallets, it doesnt bother her lol. Guess i got lucky!

 

[DebsFlock]

Our tiel and Cape eat pellets just fine, but I've never been entirely successful at getting Scooter to. He was on a seed diet for close to a year before we got him. I keep offering them and keep hoping, but he eats fresh foods very well so I'm not overly concerned.

While few birds will starve themselves, I've heard of cases where they actually have, so if I tried to go cold turkey on a conversion, I'd weigh daily to make sure they weren't losing too much weight.

 

[lene1949]

My birds get seeds... Eating seeds is in itself a foraging activity...

Most of their diet consist of fresh fruit and vegies... I just love watching all the birds with their beaks into the fresh foods, all at the same time...

 

[Ash]

My parrots get a good seed mix. Along with a large range of fruits and vegetables. My alexandrines will eat anything, and my IRN wil eat anything my alexandrines eat.

Flynn my conure eats anything aswell. ;P

I do add other things to their seed mix though.
I would try pellets but it's hard to find here in New Zealand. The ones we do have are the "bad" brands. Well ive been told to stay clear from it. I think we can get harrisons(Only 1 vet sells them) but it costs heck of a load. I think it was like $30 for 400grams. That includes shipping.

 

[caliopi]

This interests me because I have a real problem feeding pellets to Puffin. At first I thought it was the container we kept them in and the noise it made as I pulled the lid off but I have changed it numerous times and we still have the same problem which is as soon as Puffin sees the pellets coming near his cage he starts puffing himself up and makes a deep growling sound and if I actually make it inside the cage he full goes to bite.....HARD!

He does not do this with his seed or his fresh food or water so I have to assume he just HATES pellets! Has anyone else had this reaction to a food from their FID?

 

[Oedipussrex]

I only ever give seeds to pickle if they are sprouted, because im worried about his liver, and all the 'good' mixes i can find have a looot of sunflower seeds in them.

When i got him i did intend on going easy on the pellets, because i had heard they are not as good a supplement for ekkies than other parrots, But now there are always pellets in his cage, sometimes with museli or organic wholegrain cereals as well. (along with his fresh things)

But he wont usually go to them unless he really feels like eating something dry, or if i have only given him green veggies and leafy things (which he HATES) in which case he will stubbornly only eat the pellets, and wait until his next meal time comes along and i change the bowl. -_-

 

[dishgal1]

This interests me because I have a real problem feeding pellets to Puffin. At first I thought it was the container we kept them in and the noise it made as I pulled the lid off but I have changed it numerous times and we still have the same problem which is as soon as Puffin sees the pellets coming near his cage he starts puffing himself up and makes a deep growling sound and if I actually make it inside the cage he full goes to bite.....HARD!

He does not do this with his seed or his fresh food or water so I have to assume he just HATES pellets! Has anyone else had this reaction to a food from their FID?

My green cheek eats a few pellets (when he chooses) which is usually first thing in the morning. He seems to know what he needs. He loves his fresh foods, his main diet and also his seeds later in the day. He only eats his seeds late in the day even tho they are out all day. Pellets make for a pitiful and boring life for birds in my opinion. They need to be happy with a variety of things they love. JMO and a lot will not agree. It would be a boring life if I had to live on mush. LOL I try to see things from their point of view. I love food and they do too. They love variety even with fresh foods my GCC expects something different every day.

 

[WharfRat]

I feed exactly what my breeder feeds, including her homemade baked/cooked goods and she does not feed pellets to any of her flock that I'm aware of. I'm a pretty good well-rounded cook myself (I do all the cooking here). I've also been asked to cook for friend's gatherings/parties. JMO...... you want a "can of corn" or do you want fresh corn on the cob hot off the BBQ pit? Kinda how I see it.

 

[findi]

Hi all,

Thanks so much for the useful feedback and observations.

Caliopi - I've had birds react that way to unwanted foods (storks, bald eagles at Bz Zoo, have heard similar stories from parrot owners).

Debsflock - good point re weighing. While reptiles & amphibs will starve themselves, birds, outside of true dietary specialists, are not likely to. But severe weight loss can be a problem, esp. if an undetected health problem is present.

Thanks again, best, Frank