Food for Pod

[Pajarita]

I used the Kashi pilaf for a while to see how it worked out with my birds but they did not like it as much as the 'other' gloop and I am pretty sure it was that they did not like the rye in it because I had tried it before and had the same response from them.

I know a lady who runs a rescue who feeds only once a day (she has no help and over 300 birds so, although she realizes it's not the ideal, it's the only way she can keep up) and what she does is layer the food in the bowl so she would put a portion of budgie mix seeds at the bottom of the bowl, the fruit and veggie of the day second and the gloop on top so the bird has no choice but to go through the 'healthy' layers before getting to the bottom. I don't know how well that works because, if you ask me, these birds are so smart that they can easily figure out that what they like best is at the bottom and simply pick up and throw the top layers out just to get to the seeds but you can try it and see what happens. Personally, I suggest you find somebody who can come two hours before sunset, let the bird out and interact with it, turn off the artificial lights one hour later, feed it the dinner you had left ready from the morning and leave the bird in its cage, ready to go to sleep. Of course, this means that the bird would have no interaction with you at all in the evening (and that's the reason why I said that keeping it as a personal pet is not doable for somebody with your schedule and obligations) but it's the only way of keeping it healthy.

[DanaandPod]

If I get someone to come...that seems to be the most suitable time then. How many beans allowed per day? And what would you include or not in todays breakfast? wheat bulgar, (The veggies were twice the amount of the wheat) a few white beans, carrots, green beans and a side of mango. Also, I put some blueberries in his foraging cups. By the way...his poop color has already changed...not to mention that he gladly flew to my laptop and wiped this mornings breakfast off his beak onto my computer. I can see how this will be a little more time consuming...but it is fun to see him getting a new diet. I myself had a chia seed drink this morning... so am eating healthier as a result too. No more zupreem. And, Dr D's pellets are free of preservative etc and will be his evening meal.

[Pajarita]

Dr. D's pellets have soy in them so, personally, I think it would be healthier for him to eat a nice budgie mix than dried out pellets made with soy.

My gloop has different grains (oat groats, kamut, wheat kernels, hulled barley, black japonica and red Himalayan rice), a sprinkle of flax seeds, small white beans (about 1/4 of the amount of grains and from cans) and cooked veggies: chopped broccoli, sweet corn, peas and carrots, diced butternut, blue kale, green beans and artichoke hearts (all of them from the frozen section of the supermarket and the only ones that need anything done are the artichokes and the green beans which I chop into small pieces), white hominy (I buy giant cans but they come in small ones, too), and sweet potatoes (6 minutes in the microwave inside the 'potato express' bag). The canned stuff is rinsed thoroughly under running water to get rid as much as possible of salt and the final product has 50% veggies, 50% grains. This is what I call the 'basic' recipe and it gets frozen in individual baggies with a daily portion each. Each day I take one baggie out and let it thaw to use the following morning when I add the flavor of the day (I alternate sweet and spicy).

[DanaandPod]

Hi. Ironically, Pod refused to eat his pellets this evening. I think part of the reason is that I have commpletely taken away his Zupreem and oftentimes...he will eat that verses the other or before eating the other. Anyway, so, what is a budgie mix???? Is this a pet store bought seed? Why budgie and not a parrot seed? And, how much to give???? Also, you named a lot of ingredients and I was wondering do you always make the same goop and mix it all together? Do u blend it? Do you keep the ingredients semi seperate? And, how do you or what do you use to flavor it either sweet or spicy? I dont think Pod likes spicy...but I could try this again... I need to know if everything u mentioned is what u feed daily or on varying days....? Thanks a bunch! It seems the organic and natural is not only healthier but understandably what he will like best. Also, I am unfamiliar with flax seed...do u cook it first? And, is chia seed okay? Sorry but I need to get this right. again, thanks

[Wolf]

Everything in the list is used to make each batch of gloop if it is available. If any couple of items are not available you just make it without those ingredients. A sprinkle of flax seed, that would be uncooked and just sprinkled on top of the gloop when it is served, you could use chia seed for this as well I believe. You mix it all together.
Budgie mix is the seed mix used to feed budgies, it doesn't contain any sunflower seeds. If you buy any of the parrots seed mixes it will contain sunflower seeds or safflower seed and usually other things you don't really want in your bird.
I believe that you would start with about 1/4 cup of this and then adjust from there as required.
I answered as I am trying to get this all straight in my head as well, because I am still new to feeding gloop and have been working on my gloop recipe. So I think that what I said is accurate, but will see what Pajarita says.

[DanaandPod]

Thanks. I was just online and looked up "Chop" I'm guessing is the same thing for the term "Gloop" and what it/the woman was saying is that you put everything in it! All the grains, all the veggies in one huge batch and then seperate into baggies and freeze. Of course, as it was mentioned on here...twice the veggies to the amount of grains. The only thing is fuit isn't mentioned so I am guessing I could make a separate fruit batch and do the same? Or serve individually. And, then I will purchase the Budgie mix for evening feeding. In a way, this is sort of exciting to make it all up and freeze it and not have to put any more work into it over the month or more afterwards. And, exciting to know that he will have such variety and healthy food. I think he will be quite surprised and excited to have seeds back in his diet again too! PELLETS! BAH!

[DanaandPod]

oh wait I just reread and pajorita said fifty fifty grains and veggies.

[DanaandPod]

And, Wolf...lastly...could you please direct me on this site or tell me or start a new thread regarding the exact how to with lighting for the birds. Thanks!

[Wolf]

Chop is similar to Pajarita's Gloop except that chop is usually uncooked at least as far as the veggies go. Either way is a much healthier way to feed your bird. The closest thing that I have seen to it online is something called the Circus Diet. Gloop is Pajarita's very own recipe and comes from her many years of work with avian rescue. Some birds are not very much of a fruit eater which is why fruit is usually served individually to your bird.
Here is the link to the full Spectrum lighting thread that I started here.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13243&start=0
On the second page it gives a link to where you can order the one that I liked the best. Liz was having difficulties in finding a suitable full spectrum bulb for her birds, so I went window shopping to find one for her. I am sure that she would be happy to let you know what she thinks of the bulb. The easiest and probably the best way to use it is to put it on a timer and set it to where it comes on automatically after the sun comes up and shuts off about 2 hours before sunset.

[DanaandPod]

Thanks! Pod prefers cooked. And, he loves fruit so I will give it separately. And, he still seems fine with the pummeled tid bits of a few sun flower and one or two halves of a peanut as his trick training treats. literally a crumb...but he is still motivated. I can't believe I have been nearly killing him all this time with the amount of sunflower seeds I've been giving. Right now he is foraging for popcorn. I maintained the fruit flavored zupreem in a foraging toy that he doesn't like and he gives up on easily...just to put something in there. Plan to get the budgie seed this evening... and I will take a look at the lights. thanks again. I think this sums up all as best I can do for him for now and will keep an eye out for a Jardine's or Meyers...I have to go small because I am in an apartment...though what I truly want is a Cape. Again, thanks for all the correspondence.