Hi New Here GC Conure Diet help...

[crossru]

Hi
Im getting a gc conure soon, i read that a pellet diet is best for them but this is extremely inconvenient for me. I live in New Zealand and the only pellets I could find in the pet store is Kaytee. This is already really expensive for me as I am a student. It also seems that the price for these pellets are much more expensive when compared to other countries. New Zealand is very expensive.

I was wondering if I could instead feed him an all fresh food diet as it is cheaper and much more convenient. If I can what would be the diet plan for breakie, lunch and dinner?
And how much seeds should he be allowed a day?

I also have some old toys(2 months old only) (from a bird that i helped looked after for about 2 months) they are fabric and wood but if i disinfect them can they be used for my new conure? The bird was never sick and is still healthy and alive.
How would i disinfect these throughly?

Thanks alot

 

[Squirt]

You need the pellets and I would use new toys only. You can even make some.

 

[psittac]

I don't know about the fresh food diet but I do know that a seed diet is very bad for a caged bird. I put my bird on seed for so many months because I was to buisy to get to the vet for her food. Eventually she started plucking all of her chest feathers and itching her skin to the point of sores.

I know that one of the bird stores here in town had these bird meals that you boiled up and froze then reheated for their food and I think it was a staple meal, not just a snack. I should get back in there and get some. But i'm sure someone will be able to let you know what a full diet would consist of.

How hard is it to get things shipped to you in new Zealand? Is ordering online not an option? I use harrisons super fine.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Harrisons-High-Potency-Super-Fine/dp/B0040QAESI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382922131&sr=8-2&keywords=harrisons+super+fine]Amazon.com: Harrison's High Potency Super Fine 1lb: Pet Supplies[/ame]

don't know if amazon operates in new Zealand but try find something online if possible.

 

[MonicaMc]

I've been to New Zealand.... the one shop I did visit was pretty baron of bird related items! And yet, they had aviaries and cages of little birds! It looked as if that was the only live animals that they sold, and the largest parrot they had was a rainbow lorikeet. I looked through the bird section and the bird food... and I'm like "junk, crap, crap, junk, crap, more junk, crap"... and it's also very expensive to ship items over!!! New Zealand is an island with some very strict rules on import and exportation. Gas (petrol) is very expensive, as is food in general. I couldn't believe how expensive things were. Gorgeous country, but "wow!" on prices!


Crossru, a fresh food based diet is recommended to be 15% healthy legumes, 30% healthy grains (either one cooked or sprouted - or you can make sprout as an alternative!), 45% vegetables and 10% fruits... or about that.

This might be of help to you.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html


If you can get them, look into Vetafarm - which are pellets from Australia.



It's generally not recommended to use toys from an "old bird" for a new bird, but considering the lack of variety you have over there, I'd say to go for it!

 

[crossru]

hi everyone thanks for your replys.psittac - sorry I can't bring things like pellets to nz it would be quarrantined. MonicaMC - I will try to feed him a fresh food based diet with very little seed

 

[MonicaMc]

I know people have gotten things into NZ!!! But I have heard it can take weeks, if not months, for some things to go through customs... if it even manages to.


You should at least be able to have access to Australian pellets. Found one site, don't know if it'll be of much help? Although I do see a large bag of soak and sprout mix.

Seed & Pellet Mixes



You can also try contacting the zoos, sanctuaries, bird gardens and other places that keep parrots and see what they feed them and where they get their supplies from.