starting training.

[stormhuntr]

Hi ok there may be somewhere in this forum that will be able to help me with some advice I have had a look but there are so many threads and posts that it could take me a very long time so if someone could help me with some advice or throw me a few links please that would be great.

Ok basically what it is I need to know is what is the best diet to help with training .... with my quaker I'm finding he doesnt like any treats only stuff that isn't great for them (when my kids have theyre lunch he tries to get theyre crisps and cakes lol) he wont eat apple banana grapes I have tried a few times but he turns his nose up at it. he is currently on a seed diet what I am wondering is ... is converying over to a pellet diet best for training coz he likes sunflower seeds but they are in his cage all the time so then it isn't really a treat. if I was to switch to pellets sunflower seeds could be the treat (I have read andies guide to switching over and that isn't a problem) but the real question is when they are on pellet diet how often to you feed them ... currently his seed bowl is in his cage 24/7 and I'm scared to take it out for too long as I would hate to starve him or make him ill / unhealthy.... (that question is the same for budgies aswell how long is the ideal time to leave no food in the cages or how many times a day would be best to feed them)... if I could get into a routine like 2 / 3 times a day feeding it would be easier to work a training time around that to say train half hour b4 feed time ect ....currently the budgies / quaker eat constantly so are never hungry enough to be bothered about treats for training lol (I have taken to not leaving millet in the budgie cage due to them eating excessivly) if I can sort out an eating routine for the budgies that will be theyre treat they love the stuff....

Any help or advice atall would be great I don't want to do it wrong and make my birds ill. thanks

Sarah x

[issy]

Hello Sarah,

I would start with this article first: LINK

Switching to a good quality pellet diet is ideal. You should give your parrot's two meals a day when training and make sure that you have the training session when the parrot is a little hungry and before it's meal. They can be without food for a couple of hours, so don't worry about taking out the food bowl out before training.

As for finding a treat, they might not like the food one day and like it the next. Just keep trying and make sure they are hungry when you offer the treats. I've also heard that sunflower seeds are high in fat and are not good to give to your birds in large amounts.

Hope this helps =D

-issy

[stormhuntr]

thankyou very much that answers is totally exactly what I needed to know thanks alot I'll start with finding a good pellet food then go with the switchover and in the mean time find a good treat that he likes then I can start with they training. thanks alot.

if that is the case with the sunflower seeds I will look into something else

Sarah x

and thanks also for the link I am just reading throu and it's a great guide I'll get working with all this have loads to keep me busy lol.

[stormhuntr]

I have just been round 3 pet shops and none of which sell pellets anyone know anywhere in UK that I can buy them from plz ?

[kimbo]

shop4birds.com 24hrparrot.com northern parrots, they r the ones i know.

[stormhuntr]

thanks alot :0)