Another pellet conversion method

[Zooey]

I found this site while looking up methods to get my stubborn birds to eat pellets, and I found this:
http://www.drdsavianpellets.com/TECHNICAL/ConvertPellets.html
So I think that for smaller birds I'll be able to hull the little seeds with my hands. Then I'll get Roudybush Nibles, which should be small enough to match the seeds. This will probably be easier than just mixing in pellets.

[liz]

That sounds like a good idea. Good luck.

[Zooey]

I just ran into a small problem...
I don't know how to hull millet. There are tons of sites about hulling machines, but I'm definitely not going to waste money on that.
I was wondering if anyone knew how to hull millet?
I was thinking... sometimes, when we hard boil eggs, it cracks, because it expanded due to the hot water and shrunk inside because of the ice water right after. Would that work to help hull the millet?

[Shelby]

sometimes, when we hard boil eggs, it cracks, because it expanded due to the hot water and shrunk inside because of the ice water right after. Would that work to help hull the millet?

I think that would actually start the sprouting process. But sprouts are very healthy and I know a lot of people offer sprouts with the seed diet to encourage pick eaters to try new foods!

[Zooey]

That is better! Half sprouts that look like seed... My birds will be so healthy.
But I was thinking only boil for like 5 minutes and shock them in ice water so that it can contract, then immediately start rubbing off the hull. Do you think that that will work?

[sintpaljaske]

I am using a similar method now to change Arthur, our lovebird from a 'Millet-Only-Bird' to pellets.
He refused to eat anything but millet, would not even touch other seeds let alone fruit or vegetables. When I mixed pellets in with his seeds, he had great fun throwing them all out of his foodbowl.

So I first started to grind the seeds in a mortar so that he would see that also other seeds had nice food inside them. This made him start to eat also those.
Now I grind in also pellets and to bind, eggwhite. This makes it more of a paste which, due to seeds all being mixed still tastes like millet but is only 1/3 millet.
Will now hope he accepts fruit and vegetables in the mix as well...

Best wishes
Sint

[allirho]

As for hulling millet,
Can't you purchase a bag of pre-hulled millet?
I've seen little bags of pre-hulled millet at grocery stores meant for people to eat. I'm not completely certain whether this is the same as bird millet or if it has somehow been processed in a manner that is not suitable for birds but you could look for it next time you're shopping and see if it's any good.

[Zooey]

Hmm. I actually never thought about that. What stores carry it, though? I've checked the sites of Walmart and Whole Foods, the closest stores that might, but no actual millet came up.

[allirho]

Well, I've actually never bought any myself, but my room mate bought some from a local asian food market (he's chinese). Apparently his mother has a recipe for a really good millet soup, which surprises me since I didn't realize people eat millet too.
Anyway, if your grocery store has an asian food aisle you could check there, or you could take a look in a local asian food market if you have one around.
Or try looking carefully in the grain section of your grocery store.
Good luck!

[Zooey]

Maybe it's at 99 Ranch. I'll go check. Is it completely natural and safe for budgies?