Chia seeds to chop

[rheashard2]

My daughter decided to eat healthy. For reasons unknown she bought a 5 pound bag of chia seeds. Then never opened it. I read that chia seeds are bird safe. Several weeks ago I filled a small pepper shaker about half ounce size. I originally measured (yes I have measuring spoon) between a dash and a smidgen. I didn't want too much. Now it's just a shake for the same amount added and mixed before serving. Since then Nameliss has dramatically increased the amount of chop. Sometimes asking for second servings during the day. So the experiment. Same chop with and without chia seeds. She definitely is eating more chop with the seeds. To get the seeds she has to eat the hated carrot, detested spinach and other vegetables. Have anyone else had this? The amount of pellets eaten is down. I noticed this more because she's preferring increased chop instead of increasing pellets during this molt.

 

[onamom]

I always add chia seed to my chop too! I don’t measure it. I make big batches at a time and just toss some in. I do pumpkin seeds sometimes too.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'm reading about Chia seeds and experimenting with them to figure out how to add them to my budgies diet via their chop or some other way. I put a teaspoon of chia seeds in a small container with a few tablespoons of water to see how they absorbed liquid. They sucked up the water quickly and swelled a lot. I read that if you feed them to your parrots dry they can absorb so much water inside your bird that they cause dehydration so you must provide the bird with a lot of drinking water. I worry that a parrot may not drink enough water quickly enough to counter this effect and develop a blockage or systemic dehydration.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[rheashard2]

I'm reading about Chia seeds and experimenting with them to figure out how to add them to my budgies diet via their chop or some other way. I put a teaspoon of chia seeds in a small container with a few tablespoons of water to see how they absorbed liquid. They sucked up the water quickly and swelled a lot. I read that if you feed them to your parrots dry they can absorb so much water inside your bird that they cause dehydration so you must provide the bird with a lot of drinking water. I worry that a parrot may not drink enough water quickly enough to counter this effect and develop a blockage or systemic dehydration.
Any thoughts on this?

I read that too. Same for people. I add a scant 1/8 tsp to moist chop ingredients she hates. Rinsed dreaded carrots, it might bite broccoli, is it poison kale. I use a base from a recipe found here. Nameliss is kinda weird. She won't eat things that lack shape if it's supposed to have it. That's most veggies. The rinsed veggies start to absorb the moisture. I allow it to sit. (While I'm making my breakfast.)There may be additional egg, rice, sweet potatoes. Things I like and she loves but require moderation for us both. I add some to her chop. Mixing well. The seeds are starting to swell and ooze that gel. She dives in. I stress dives in. Yes she tosses the 'dreads'. Later she'll go to bottom and pick up large pieces of dread. To get the seeds she's ingesting dreads. About midday she'll go to her chop stop. Root around the mt bowl and stare. I'm expected to get her something fresh, preferably with the chia seeds. I use a bare sprinkle then! She's cut back on her pellets. Using pellets for snacks, before lights out and more during molts. I watch her food intake. I became aware her pellet intake dropped but weight unchange. I verified this by looking at purchase record. Originally it was because she was eating chop recipe from here. Then the chia seeds are like icing the cake. I'm happy that she's eating more veggies especially the dreads. Even with her ulterior motivate.

 

[Pickle's Mom]

Piccolo loves chai seeds. I have been mixing them in his mash for several years now. He always eats more mash with them in it. He too likes pumpkin seeds mixed in sometimes.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Doesn't the sliminess turn them off? Do the hull the swollen chia seeds? Would budgies and other small birds just swallow them whole? I've got a 3 lb bag of chia seeds. That's a lot of those tiny dry seeds. I hope I can put them to use because I'm not eating them. Too slimy for me!

 

[rheashard2]

The slimy turns me off. But the taste is delicious to me. Judging from Nameliss's care in getting every seed, she feels the same. I feed for the two of us when slim is starting to form but before the glue stage.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Does Nameliss shell them or just swallow whole? What would a budgie do?

 

[chris-md]

I'm reading about Chia seeds and experimenting with them to figure out how to add them to my budgies diet via their chop or some other way. I put a teaspoon of chia seeds in a small container with a few tablespoons of water to see how they absorbed liquid. They sucked up the water quickly and swelled a lot. I read that if you feed them to your parrots dry they can absorb so much water inside your bird that they cause dehydration so you must provide the bird with a lot of drinking water. I worry that a parrot may not drink enough water quickly enough to counter this effect and develop a blockage or systemic dehydration.
Any thoughts on this?

This can easily be overstated. Giving them a big ole tablespoon of JUST chia seeds? Sure. As a part of any sensible mix? Not a problem at all.

I also don’t notice the sliminess in my chop from these. But I suppose it’s because I don’t put them in large enough quantities for it to be noticeable.

 

[rheashard2]

Nameliss gets a 'shake or dash or smidgen' of chia seeds to her chop. The measuring is about 1/32 to 1/8 of a tsp. Yes originally I used measuring spoons (they're on Amazon). I was worried about too much esp when acclamation was going on. Mixed well with chop no worries about 'clumps'. Nameliss goes after every seed. She's fallen in love with her morning chop. Before unless it had a well mixed desirable, she'd take it or leave it. Painstakingly picking out the desirables. Now she waits impatiently at her chop stop. Makes noises of anticipation and impatience, then dives in. Because of her love of chia, she'll go to bottom of cage, pick up a dread (carrot, broccoli, spinach etc). Return to chop stop and remove seeds. That involves ingesting pieces of dread. In past her normal was pick, discard and ignore. Now she begs for seconds of something that's not a pecan, almond or sunflower seed etc. Nameliss is a grinder. She turns pellets, nuts into dust. She eats chop the same. A sensible amount is safe. The benefits are a natural bonus. Minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, fiber, omega 3, protein, more in a natural and easier to absorb package. Nameliss does a birdie equivalent of licking the dish clean. Had to change paper replacement to after chop. This to prevent ingesting of contaminated food.