Pelleted food vs. Seed Mix +variety

[Michael]

Then they are still being fed too much. Believe me. Results may not happen overnight but if you feed just the right (or slightly less) amount long term, the wastefulness greatly decreases.

[ishael]

@Grey_Moon Still, Id absolutely love to but I can't see it happening. I sometimes work at 7:30 AM until 4 and (I'm not 100% sure) but budgies need to eat every 4 hours at least. So meal times may not be the best thing for my situation, and I doubt fresh food like that can be left in a cage for too long.

@marie83 Thanks for the advice! I think I may go with pellets + fresh veggies, fruit and proteins. I guess I'm just trying to make everything perfect right away because I don't want to screw up another pet-decision, but thanks for your very down-to-earth advice.

And thanks again to everyone!

[Grey_Moon]

Hmm...

I'm not a budgie expert but I don't think that they'd need to eat every four hours---I've actually never heard that. Otherwise they'd have to wake up and eat during the night.
And actually from a birdie biology point of view parrots have crops. From what I understand crops hold food to be digested later, slowly 'refilling' the stomach as needed. So they're entirely capable of eating a large amount, and then sitting and digesting it. So I personally don't think time would be a problem.

If you look at the biology and environment of a wild budgie they fly far and long distances to find food. They also, like most parrots, forage in the morning and then only forage again in the late afternoon. In the heat of midday (especially in a desert-like environment where the budgies are) they roost and snooze. They don't eat constantly.

So personally for me I'd still feed a fresh diet. I'd get up an hour early (say 6 AM-6:30) and feed breakfast, when you leave take the dish out. Then when you get in feed dinner.
You could leave foraging treats during the day.

You're right in that you don't want to leave fresh food out more than an hour or two though, but most birds eat their fill long before that point anyway. I also don't like leaving food out just because it encourages poor eating habits and makes diet content hard to monitor.

[cmaygar]

I've had success mixing pellets with a good quality mix (Kaylor of Colorado or Noah's Kingdom)and I supplement this with fresh veggies and sprouts and fresh fruit. I also give them treats such as nuts (hazel nuts, pistachios, almonds and occasionally peanuts) and pumpkin seeds for the parrots and some flax seed (just a pinch) and Nutriberries for the conures. I'm lucky that my birds aren't picky so they eat the pellets plus the good quality mix and all of them love their fresh fruit and veggies.

[Scotty]

TOPS seem like good pellets, I make it into birdie bread and feed it to them...

http://totallyorganics.com/t-pellets.php

I forgot who gave the receipe here on the forum, but I followed that and added my own twist.

This is how I did it; (Of course add to it anything you like and create your own)

2 Cups TOPS
2 Tablespoons Hemp Seed Oil
3 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Banana
2 eggs

Hemp is one thing I don't see many people mention, but this is, I really believe it's good for birds, even people, very good oil and I'm starting to take it myself...

I'm getting ready to buy some Mommas Birdie Bread and I like what Grey Moon showed how he fed in the AM and PM, going to have to make up some stuff like that too.

I believe he mentioned, no one really knows the diet for parrots, well is that really true? I think all animals need some form of protein and with various animals I've had as pets, the smaller does seem to require less, so from what I can see and have learned 14%-20% is probably going to cover most birds, small to large...

So beans, legumes, fruits, vegetables, possibly certain herbs, grains, oils, pretty much covers it, or did I miss something? Hehe

I think we need a health food store chef, LOL...

[ishael]

I was originally going to go with Harrisons, just to make a decision finally and just to go with a good product. However, after looking around at TOPS as well as researching more, I've discovered that TOPS really is a better food and I can get it for the same amount of money, if not less. And I believe I'm going to leave it at that and just decide on a brand, I've been spending a little too much time on this considering my bird purchase is still a couple of months away! haha

Thanks for the info guys! its been a real help.