The food switch isn't going so well

[IcyWolf]

It's been about a week now since I went and got her a new seed mix and the zupreem fruitblend pellets. At first, I just added some of the pellets to her seeds and she did eat a few of them the first day. The next few days though, I noticed she was just picking the seeds out and leaving the pellets. I tried seperating the seeds and pellets into different bowls(there are four in her cage) and she was only using the water, seed, and veggie/fruit bowls and not touching the pellets. So, after a few days of that, I tried switching the pellet and seed bowl, all that accomplished is her eating on the other side of the cage I have never had a bird not like pellets before and I'm not really sure how to go about convincing her to eat them. I don't want to completely remove the seeds because I'm afraid then she won't eat anything(except for the fresh stuff I give her daily). I think she might be eating a few pellets here and there but it's hard to tell because the food bowl doors are solid so I can't really see her while she's eating unless I walk up to the cage and that usually causes her to stop eating. I have even tried just mixing a little bit of seed into the pellet bowl and it seems like she just picks all of the seeds out. Does anyone have any advice? I really don't want her living off of seeds As far as fruits and veggies goes, she has been getting chickpeas(garbonzo beans), shredded carrots, corn, peas, leaf lettuce, celery, tomatoes, black cherries(pits removed, of course), seedless grapes, apples, and a few other things that are completely blanking from my mind right now lol. We tried bananas but she didn't want anything to do with that lol.

 

[Pedro]

Instead of giving her dry seed mix try sprouting the seed, I find with my birds they are more inclined to eat the sprouted seeds before the dry stuff.

 

[IcyWolf]

How do you sprout the seed, and do you just use regular bird seed to do it? Is this any healthier than dried seeds? She has no problem eating the dried seeds, it's the pellets I'm trying to get her to eat. I have probably switched over ten birds to pellets from seed and never had a problem but she just isn't interested in them.

 

[MikeyTN]

Sprouted seeds is very nutritious for them to eat!!! Search through google, there's different ways to sprout seeds!!!

Mix the seeds with pellets, do 75% seeds/25% pellets, change to 50/50, then 25/75. During any time you see them eat multiple pellets, remove seeds 100%.

Im inbetween seeds and pellets, its a debating subject....I do believe in seeds in their diet as well!

 

[IcyWolf]

Ok, thanks for the info. About how long to the sprouted seeds keep and do you think after she starts eating the moistened pellets do you think she will take to the dry ones or is moistening them something I should get used to? I know that's not something you can really answer as it depends on the individual bird, but in your experience, after they start eating them wet will they then start eating them dry?

 

[IcyWolf]

I also agree about the seed thing, I have always given my birds a little bit of seeds, maybe about 10% of their entire diet, but right now it seems to be about 65% seeds, 30% fresh food and under 5% pellet. I would like it to be more like 60% pellet, 30% fresh food and 10% seed or something along those lines.

 

[Pedro]

Here IcyWolf i came across this link that may help with Ziggy, she maybe just to set in her ways. LOL. Also an article on sprouting from the Landofvos.

How to Switch Your Pet Bird from a Seed-based Diet to a Pelleted Diet

Sprouting For Healthier Birds

 

[MikeyTN]

I use that site as well Pedro! Its a good site!!!

 

[oled]

It is dificult to give advise regarding food so this is only my opinion:'

Go from seed to pellets I just take the seed away. Then I only handfeed seed
Sprouting seed is easy. Have seed in water for 24 h, then taken the vater away and keep the seed moistered for about 48 h.

 

[HRH Di]

Sprouts are a significant part of my birdies' diet. In fact, sprouts are Ruby's favorite food...over grapes, apples and berries.

 

[Mandy60]

Try putting pellets on top of the seeds and leaving a tiny bit of the seed showing. I did it for my budgies and they would have to eat at least a few pellets. If it doesn't work you can give them vitamins in their water or maybe some seed supplement. :cool26:

 

[MikeyTN]

Most parrots would scoop it out and go for the seeds if you did it like its suggested above....

 

[Spiritbird]

You may need to try some different types of pellets. Sometimes you can call the manufacturer and ask for samples. Harrisons will do this. As far as mixing seeds with pellets I think this way is not as good. The bird will just pick out the seed and not eat pellets but everyone does this differently.