Hello from North Texas

[Wolf]

And so it is with most things parrot. At first no self respecting researcher would even try to obtain funds to study anything about parrot due to it being a bird that some people kept as pets. Then about 25 to 30 years ago parrots as companion animals began to grow to the point that about 20 years ago the booming parrot industry embarrassed mainstream researchers into the realization that there was almost nothing know about these birds and everyone started doing parrot research. Most of the studies are short term studies, because there has not been enough time for there to be any long term results.
Although it is true that very little is known, we have started to learn some of the things that are really bad at least in the short term. We are now at the stage where the short term study results are beginning to be available and these results often clash with what was previously thought which is why there is so much contradictory information to sort through.
I don't know off hand, but I am certain that I have read proof of toxic effects of various pellets, but I don't think for the most part that the manufacturer of the pellets used were named. I will have to look into it a bit more. Pajarita may very well already have this information on hand, but I don't know. She is a great source for a lot of useful information although her delivery of it still needs some improvement. She is aware of that and is improving. She does a lot of study especially on avian nutrition and has been trying to share the results of scientific research on this for a long time and often to people who get angry when the research is counter to what they have been taught to believe. I am sure that it is a source of a great deal of frustration for her as she cares about these birds a great deal, I know it would frustrate me a lot.
Most of the nutritional information about pellets can be obtained right from the packaging, but nutritional information on whole foods are more difficult to come by in a useable form for birds but here are a couple of links which might help with that.
http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww48e.htm
http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww54eiii.htm

[ninaroo1216]

I have yet to find one person that thinks seeds are a good idea long term. This is not me being argumentative, its just what I see over and over again every place I look. Myself I don't see how good quality seed is an issue as long as its not the entire diet.

I am constantly trying to find things for the birds and lately edible flowers are a favorite. We try as best we can to create a natural diet for them, but these are not wild birds and what they need is different as far as energy needs.

Its a learning process that never stops.

[Wolf]

Actually they are wild birds that have been forcibly removed from their parents for the purpose of imprinting them on humans. They are only just a few generations from living in the wild, usually only two or three generations. They are not yet domesticated, they are captive birds.
Yes their nutritional needs are different as captive birds because they live a different lifestyle than the free birds live and are subjected to different stresses, including lack of exercise. The nutritional requirements for a boxer are much different than that of an accountant, pretty much the same thing.
So far, I have not seen any objection to seeds for long term feeding of birds as they eat them in their natural state and their beaks are specifically designed for the seeds that they eat as well as how they eat them. The issue with seeds is when humans base the birds entire diet around seeds as they are only a portion of the birds diet in the wild, as they are not available all of the time in the wild.
It is a constant learning process and I do not see that you expressing your point of view as being argumentative at all. In fact we welcome differing points of view and I thank you for sharing yours with the rest of us.

[ninaroo1216]

Well I understand they are technically still wild. What I should have said is they don't live as wild birds and do not have the same energy requirements. Sorry!

[Wolf]

It is fine and really a non issue and we are still in agreement with the basic premise that their nutritional requirements are not the same as if they were living wild.

[modifieddesign]

Well after this discussion I got home last night from work (My wife is a stay at home mom and gives the bird attention while I'm gone) and the bird seems to have picked a side for me.

Yesterday I left her Roudybush pellets in one bowl, and the other had apple and pear chunks, pumpkin seeds, and a glob of coconut oil that I tossed the seeds on to. All organic as that is all my wife brings into our house. When I first handed it to her she like the pumpkin seed and the apple, hated the peaches. When I got home last night the fresh food bowl was totally empty and the pellet bowl was mostly untouched.

So I'm still not convinced a quality pellet will cause much harm, purely because I haven't seen the scientific evidence yet and my mind is the type that needs it. But clearly the bird prefers fresh.

This morning I prepared her the apple and peaches, almonds, pumpkin seed, and cilantro leaves, and oats. All fresh and organic. Only a few of each seed. She seems to dig it.

I guess now I just need to work on varying the diet (won't be a problem in my house).

Thanks for the point of views everyone. I appreciate it.

[liz]

Thanks to Maggie who showed them what was good, my cockatiels eat so much soft grain and veggies that they are full when I offer the seed.

[modifieddesign]

As a supplement to her diet would the soak and feed food be better than pellets since it removes the dehydration issue?

[Wolf]

It all depends on the ingredients, but it would remove the dehydration issue.

[modifieddesign]

Well I just went shopping at The Green Market, a locally owned organic grocery store, and picked out this week's diet for the bird.

Everyone says variety is important, so is it ok to vary it by week instead of day? It's much easier to pick up a random assortment of fresh foods weekly.