How do I get 2 Parkeets on a pellet and seed diet

[Parakeet]

I bought a bag full of a mix of but for some reason, my two parakeets leave all the pellets and just eat the seeds. Can someone please tell me how I can try to encourage them to eat all of it?

[Rue]

Don't refresh too often. If you do, they'll just keep eating what they prefer and ignoring the rest.

Keep a close eye out to make sure they are eating. But let them get to the point where they're hungry enough to eat the pellets.

Don't laugh, but I use the vacuum cleaner to suck up the seed hulls from the top of the bowl (don't stick the hose into the seed, just hover it above the surface while shaking the bowl gently. When you get empty seed hulls off, you'll see what's left, and can monitor it as you put it back in their cage.

[ptuga72]

Don't laugh, but I use the vacuum cleaner to suck up the seed hulls from the top of the bowl (don't stick the hose into the seed, just hover it above the surface while shaking the bowl gently. When you get empty seed hulls off, you'll see what's left, and can monitor it as you put it back in their cage.

That is a genius idea! if I ever get budgies again I will totally do that!!

[Rue]

LOL...thanks...it started with the finches...they only eat the top layer of seed, and if you quickly look in to check the amount all you see is what appears to be a full bowl...then you realize it's partly the hulls...

Rather than dump out good, still fresh, seed, I thought I'd see if I could vacuum off the empty hulls. I've vacuumed seed at work - when I handled agricultural seed samples...and lo and behold...worked just as well with the home vacuum!

[Parakeet]

Don't laugh, but I use the vacuum cleaner to suck up the seed hulls from the top of the bowl (don't stick the hose into the seed, just hover it above the surface while shaking the bowl gently. When you get empty seed hulls off, you'll see what's left, and can monitor it as you put it back in their cage.

I just take the bowl out and blow the top lightly. All the shells fly off. I think if I use the vacuum, the vacuum might get hungry and eat all of it! Haha

[Rue]

Yes, you can blow off the top...but that always makes a huge mess, and you don't get it as clean as you do with the vacuum. And be careful, if you stick the hose in the seed...it will suck up all of it.