How to implament pellete food/diet.

[Travis]

Well a few weeks back I was reading a book that said a pellete diet was nutritious for my Parakeets. I have been trying to convert them and have tried just about everything I can think of. They seem to just pick up old seed shells and move around the pellets without eating them. I have tried slowly converting them, wetening the pellets, eating pellets in front of them, mixing in a little seed, and giving them nothing but pellets "in which case they just don't seem to eat".

I can guess that they may be eating when I'm not looking but I'm not entirly sure. Whenever thier given seeds they eat all of them, but they treat the pellets like coal and just move them around like rocks. So I'm really at a stand still and am not entirly sure what to do.

I'm looking for any advice on the subject. I have seen them pick up pellets but they usually just spit them out.

[Michael]

I'm not sure anymore that Budgerigas can or even should be converted to a pellet diet (unless weened onto one initially). I have barely heard any success stories in this regard. Unlike the larger parrots, they really don't seem to convert or benefit from a pellet diet.

[Travis]

Well I guess this all started because one of my parakeets died recently. I thought it could have been due to some sort of vitamine defficiencey or a improper diet. I also tried them with apple and they don't seem to care for it.

Are there ways that I can tell if there healthy as far as diet goes?

[kaylayuh]

Hi Travis,

I also have budgies and have been trying to implement a pelleted diet. They haven't taken to it yet, and I'm not sure they ever will. What I've been told to do by my vet is mix their seed with the pellets in a 2:1 ratio. So for every 2 tablespoons of seeds, they get 1 tablespoon of pellets. I'll increase the pellets gradually until they're eating nothing but pellets.

My budgies don't like fresh fruits and vegetables and haven't been willing to try them, but they do seem to like dried fruits and vegetables. I currently buy a fortified seed mix from Alta Loma Seed Company on Ebay that has dried papaya, dried mango, dried bananas, dried spinach, dried peppers and all kinds of other things.

So currently my food mixture looks something like this: 2 tbsp. fortified seed mix, 1 tbsp. pellets, 1 tsp. dried oatmeal, 1/2 tsp. uncooked rice, 1/2 tsp. dried legumes, 1/2 tsp. dried pasta, 1/4 tsp. raisins.

If you're unsure whether your budgies are healthy or not, I'd get them to an avian vet. I would especially get them to a vet now since you've just lost a member of your flock.

[Travis]

Well the one that died, I'm fairly sure was egg bound. There really was nothing I could due because I'm almost certain we don't have a avian vet within 100mi. Her partner "Eddy" seems to be extreemly energetic but is currently seperated from the new male, in a different cage. I had to seperate them out because eddy was picking on the new one. I think he's going through that stage I read about were he's like a teenager... But still Since the incodent with the other one I was concerned and went ape on reading books and browsing forums.

I thank you for your help so far. I'm extreemly tempted to try that mix you gave me! I'm excited to learning and trying new things.

[kaylayuh]

There really was nothing I could due because I'm almost certain we don't have a avian vet within 100mi.

I would call around and see if you have one in the area. It's always important to have good veterinary care for your birds. Birds are extremely good at hiding illness, so you may not even realize they're sick until it's too late!

I've played with my mix for a couple of months to find what works for me and my birds. It's a combination of what I usually have on hand and what they're willing to try and usually eat. Most seed mixes don't often have dried fruits and vegetables in it, so I was lucky to find one. It's really cheap, too. I spend about $20 for 10lbs of it, shipping included. It lasts me about six months with three birds, and probably longer when completely mixed with everything else.

[Travis]

I just checked Eddy's cage and from the looks of it there is a bunch of pellet dust in his food dish..... I wounder if he's eating? I wish I could tell

The pellets right now are moist so my guess is he's crushing them and eating the dust >_>

[kaylayuh]

If there's pellet dust, they're probably eating them. I would change their cage liner and watch for changes in their droppings. If the droppings change color, amount, or become watery or particularly hard, I'd add back more seed. If everything seems fine, then you're good to go.

[Travis]

Well only one bird was eating them. That was probably because they didn't have seed available at the time.

[Travis]

Doesn't uncooked rice kill them? I just did a little research.. The rest of it sounds great tho