Book About Food Management

[GreenWing]

Eh, I would totally prepay for a book written by Michael. 30 bucks isn't unreasonable. 'Glad to hear that Michael is actually writing a book, too! I have to say, though that I like the idea mentioned by cml and friend2parrots that an entire chapter dedicated to Food Management in your book would make sense. Either way, I'm totally buying.

[cml]

Glad to hear the book about general parrot care and taming is in the works Michael, I am sure it will be a huge hit in the parrot community:D!

By the way, will that book be available on the kindle etc? If so I will definetely pick it up =)!

[Michael]

Hi Michael,

I don't think it's necessarily too expensive... But you really need to figure out exactly what your target market for this book would be. Unless you deeply understand who it is you want to be buying, you won't be able write and advertise the book correctly, meaning less copies sold and potentially disappointed customers.

My general book (which is well under way) is going to be for everyone, in print, and at a balanced price. That one I'm not too worried about. It has something in it for everyone from beginner to veteran. And it's like nothing out there.

The Food Management Book idea on the other hand is extremely specific. It's for people who really want to get the most out of their food management, want reliable motivation, and want to take things to the next level. Or they don't really plan to do it but want to know in depth how I do. It could suit beginners too but they don't need that level of precise food management and can get the gist of it from the general book.

But like I said before, I have been playing around with varying levels of food management (and getting feedback from consultations) for long enough to have way more than I could possibly fit in a blog post or single chapter. I can easily fill 100 pages about this topic. On the flipside it would never be a serious enough or popular enough book to print. This is why the ebook version would cost as much as a paper book should to help cover the time it would take to make this.

I just thought there is more interest on this topic. I'm not going to do in depth market research. Either I see enough interest and feel the motivation to write this or I don't. The other side of it is that I was planning to experiment my parrots from freefeed down to the lowest I take them and record the motivation I see from them at each weight. I'd be able to offer feedback and tables to show how different levels of food management play a role. Then there's also skip feedings and quick drop offs. I'd have to go back and record the effects of those too. So this is no simple project. I know how to food manage my parrots for what I need but if I write a book about it, I'll have to spend a few months collecting data to make it more accurate and persuasive.

The ebook would also come with printable worksheets and things like that to help track your own parrot. So this is no pamphlet. It's an in depth study of food management and more importantly motivation. This is a very serious book idea. It would take a long time to prepare. Yet it would be out of reach or interest for most people. So I'm asking who'd be willing to pay for this information and knowledge and not worry about the medium it's delivered on.

I didn't think $30 is too much. That's the price of 2 parrot toys or a bag of food. For a book it's a lot or for an ebook it's insane. But in the realm of parrot products specifically and compared to what we spend on birds it's not really that much. It's less than 1/4 what people would pay me to privately consult them on food management to tell them what to do.

[friend2parrots]

Michael, I think it might be worthwhile for you to ask some professional trainers, parrot professionals, parrot rescue center managers what they think about your idea to write a specialized book on food management. it sounds like something they would be interested in. and I do think it would contribute to parrot science enough to warrant publication. you may want to consider inquiring with a press that deals specifically with reference books on animal behavior.
an editor at an animal science press might pick up your book, if your ideas offer a new, original, and useful approach to the topic. so I wouldn't rule out inquiring at presses, and with professionals, as part of your decision making process of whether to go forward with this or not.

if you have a unique knowledge on the subject of food management, I think it would be worth it for you to write some sample chapters, and present it to the editor of an animal science publishing house, and see what they say. if they accept it, a lot of your marketing work is done. they will generally take care of that. and they may give you an advance as well, and offer you an attractive contract. so the finances for completing the rest of the book may be taken care of if you go that route.

good luck with the project. in my opinion, if your book will fill a lacuna in the field of parrot science or parrot training, then it is worth writing and seeking publication.

[GlassOnion]

Actually, I think I would buy it. Now that you explain, it seems much more than just a "read".

[CaitlinRice413]

[Pralina]

I have detected at least 5 good reasons why food/weight management is a must for most parrot owners. I've also noticed that people are afraid of trying it, so I hope to lay out a technique that would put their minds at rest and be able to implement it. Keep in mind that my reasons for food management are not just for training. I think it benefits any parrot kept at home for health and hormonal reasons beyond just training.

Yes I do agree with your statement, and a book on Food management would be an interesting idea.
However, like someone said, why wouldn't you also consult other avian professionals on the matter?
It would be nice to be able to get professionals as readers of your book, not only " amateur " parrot owners

This would imply also a more thorough research on the subject. I see that you have a lot of personal experience on the matter, however for a publication to seem credible and to interest a wider audience, it would be nice for you to write it as somewhat of a research "report" and quote also the findings on Food management of other avian trainers. There is A LOT of material out there going along the same lines as your practice, so why not combine it all in one project.

I don't give much free public advice on the subject because it is complicated and extensive. I feel that things can be easily taken out of context and done the wrong way so I offer private consultations to work it out on a case by case basis.

This is the reason why I think you should be careful when publishing a book on that matter with direct suggestions on what to do and not to do. Many people aren't as much at ease with trying things with their parrots and it could become dangerous in some situations. As a responsible author, I think you should consider NOT encouraging all parrot owners to experiment with their birds if they will put their parrots' health in risk. Food management can easily get out of control and done the wrong way.... and YES it should be applied in a case by case manner, thus making a book of how-to's a bit risky.

[9Beaks]

Michael, Please, write the book!!!! It is exactly the information I've been searching for and can't find anything like it on the web. I don't think your price is unrealistic at all, as I would classify it more in the college textbook category since it is so specialized. (And we all know how expensive college textbooks are! Your price is a steal!). I've read so much of your online posts, watched many of your videos, and see the kind of condition your birds are in. They appear happy and healthy, and I want my flock to be like that, too. You obviously spend a lot of time with your birds and know what you are doing. The problem I've found with the feeding information online is that it is too generic. I want hard data and a system I can use to measure the progress of my birds weight. I recently got your training perches and will use treats and praise as rewards, but frankly, I am afraid of causing my birds to gain weight as I train them. I know two of my sun conures could stand to lose some weight, but how do I safely put them on a diet? Another of my birds is a budgie, and everything I've read about feeding them is to make sure they have food all the time since they are so little and can't go long without food. I have a Nanday conure that is 30-years old, is her diet going to be different than my 4 month old green cheek? The last thing in the world that I want to do is to inadvertently over or under nourish my birds and cause them any harm. Please write and publish the book as soon as possible! I WILL buy it at the price you want in email form, if possible please make it so I can print it out and be able to reference it often. Thanks for all your hard work, Michael, as you are helping to improve the lives of many pet birds through your articles and videos.

[9Beaks]

P.S. Michael, When you have it ready, I will purchase your general bird information book, too!