How long to leave the same pellets

[AprilRobin]

How long would you leave the same pellets in a dish, if they are not soiled? Is it okay to top off/add more to some that were not finished last night, or even yesterday afternoon?

I pick up each dish and jiggle it around to make sure the food is actually clean...sometimes I find dirty spots underneath food that looked clean.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

I generally leave the dish in until it's eaten, then I take it out, wash the dish, and replace the food. Usually every other day, especially with Yvons, who likes to feed the dog, LOL.

 

[wrench13]

Salty uses pellets like a snack almost. A few in the AM when i change food and water and 1/2 a walnut. They stay out all day, and he moseys into the cage for a few every now and then. Lunch is around 2-3 , dinner 7:30 or so, but the pellets stay out (and there is always a few left) all night and get changed out in the AM. I know to within 8 pellets how many he will eat on a given day. Rinse repeat.

 

[rheashard2]

Nameliss is a bit like Salty. Pellets are treated as a snack to be nibbled on during the day. Serious pellet eating is before lights out (or if she rejected her chop). I put out about couple days worth. Then wash, dry food dish. High humidity means less pellets pur out. I avoid topping off. Mainly because of humidity and potential health problems. Also topping off makes it difficult to determine how much is eaten/wasted.

 

[nkrbkr]

I don’t personally free feed. I’ve given surplus of chop & pellets per day for several days in a row to determine how much my birds eat each day, so there’s never much leftover. I wash dishes & replace food each day.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

I don’t personally free feed. I’ve given surplus of chop & pellets per day for several days in a row to determine how much my birds eat each day, so there’s never much leftover. I wash dishes & replace food each day.

**Nods** I'm like that with my chop/veggies. Pellets depend on the bird(s).

 

[rheashard2]

**Nods** I'm like that with my chop/veggies. Pellets depend on the bird(s)

To decrease waste of (expensive) pellets, chop is in lower and different cage location. Same with water Chop is removed depending upon contents. If egg etc then removal is faster. Then cage liner replaced to discourage scrounging. Especially important if eggs or similar used.

 

[wrench13]

Salty only gets dry food in the cage. Chop, mixed veggies etc - we have a feeding station on his chain play area that gets the wet foods. Under that is a big 36" stainless steel bowl, with SS round bar-b-que grate with 1 sheet of brown paper under that.