Pellets

[Cockatielsongs]

Hi everyone!

I finally food a good pet shop and got my hands on pellets the other day, naturally, I tried the 'mixing pellets into food' method with no luck at all. Bandit would just chuck out all the pellets and eat his food or eat his food and leave the pellets... if you can I'd appreciate methods in which you got your fids to eat pellets.

[Eric&Rebecca]

I have been through this for the past year LOL. There is an argument around pellet at the moment but from I've seen providing your bird has a balanced and varied diet it shouldn't cause any problems.

1. I tried the gradual increase method: this worked to a degree but then the minute we moved up to the next stage Edmund wouldn't eat them at all.

2. No seeds only pellets and wait till he eats it... this just didn't work he refused anything and I couldn't implement this for too long for obvious reasons of starvation!

3. Eating them myself (not literally)- this actually got him starting to try them and then we realised he just hated Harrison's

4. Different consistency- sometimes they prefer a smaller size to the recommendation for your species.

5. An odd one but its worked for Edmund- changing the seed portion to canary seeds or something they don't usually go for. This finally was the last bit for Edmund, which we discovered by accident when I ran out of seed mix. We've had them both on TOPS for about 30-40% now, the rest is a mixture of pulses, fruits, veggies and seeds.

6. Try a different brand of pellet- its always possible your bird just doesn't like the brand you are giving.

7. Offer it as a treat from your hand- psychologically confuses them into eating it but still works sometimes

I think overall its a case of patience, sometimes for no rhyme or reason they just decide to eat them. Like the fruits and veg when you start with these you just keep offering in different ways until you get it right.

[Cockatielsongs]

I have been through this for the past year LOL. There is an argument around pellet at the moment but from I've seen providing your bird has a balanced and varied diet it shouldn't cause any problems.

1. I tried the gradual increase method: this worked to a degree but then the minute we moved up to the next stage Edmund wouldn't eat them at all.

2. No seeds only pellets and wait till he eats it... this just didn't work he refused anything and I couldn't implement this for too long for obvious reasons of starvation!

3. Eating them myself (not literally)- this actually got him starting to try them and then we realised he just hated Harrison's

4. Different consistency- sometimes they prefer a smaller size to the recommendation for your species.

5. An odd one but its worked for Edmund- changing the seed portion to canary seeds or something they don't usually go for. This finally was the last bit for Edmund, which we discovered by accident when I ran out of seed mix. We've had them both on TOPS for about 30-40% now, the rest is a mixture of pulses, fruits, veggies and seeds.

6. Try a different brand of pellet- its always possible your bird just doesn't like the brand you are giving.

7. Offer it as a treat from your hand- psychologically confuses them into eating it but still works sometimes

I think overall its a case of patience,sometimes for no rhyme or reason they just decide to eat them. Like the fruits and veg when you start with these you just keep offering in different ways until you get it right.

Ill try all your methods problem is if it is the brand thats the problem the only pellets in Australia that ive found readily available is Vetafarm, no Roudybush, TOPS or Harrisons... Ill be persistant and see if I have any progress...

[Eric&Rebecca]

If that's what you can get your hands on then that's ok. Don't worry. I'm sure other people will have some ideas on this.

[Pajarita]

Sorry I can't help on this. I do transition my birds to a different diet when they come in but it's not to pellets and, as my food seems to be pretty agreeable to them, all I do is just put it there and they eat it

[Strawfrawg]

Pretending to eat them myself (and putting them on my dinner plate, because Marvin eats with me) worked like a charm for me with both my cockatiel (Weebo) and my new Sennie. Marvin always wants what I'm having. The more I act like I am trying not to share, the more he wants what I have, so I just ran with that dynamic. Weebo was the same way.

I have mentioned several times previously (even today) that I like to bake my own mix for Marvin. I pulverize and wet down pellets, then add in a little rice, nuts, and grains and bake in little balls. They encourage eating with the feet, they're a good consistency with a little moisture, and he doesn't think of them as pellets so much as treats. They freeze very well.

If you can't find a brand your bird likes, this option can disguise the taste a bit. Big batches can be made all at once and last a long time.

[feathermum]

Sorry I can't help on this. I do transition my birds to a different diet when they come in but it's not to pellets and, as my food seems to be pretty agreeable to them, all I do is just put it there and they eat it

i'm w/ u Pajarita, never use pellets, and not looking to argue bout it. but i did have to change a R.B. toos diet before b/c she was accually allerigic to the tops pellets. so mabey be carefull w/ that ?? idk only herd of few birds w/ allergys to any organic type feed.