Pellets

[RoseBandit]

Hi everyone!

I finally food a good pet shop and got my hands on pellets the other day, naturally, I tried the 'mixing pellets into food' method with no luck at all. Bandit would just chuck out all the pellets and eat his food or eat his food and leave the pellets... if you can I'd appreciate methods in which you got your fids to eat pellets. :confused:

[keepsmiling]

Put the food they eat under the pellets. You have to keep trying. What is it Bandit is currently eating? There is a method that is outlined by a member on another site, in which you make a sort of ball using pellets and seeds. The bird has to work it to get the food it is used to, and by doing so does ingest some of the pellet. I believe he simply reduces the amount of seed given, until it is just pellet. He successfully switched a type of Australian parrot that is very difficult to get off of seed. I can go read up on the details and post back if you are interested.

[Kalidasa]

I introduced pellets by coaxing her to try them while she was relaxing on my shoulder, acting as if they were treats and like I was enjoying a few for myself. I also put them in her treat dish as well as her food dish, and just phase the seed out.
I also mix them with crushed Nutriberries, which makes everything more tempting.
Good luck! :)

[keepsmiling]

Nutriberries have propylene glycol in them.I do not use or recommend them.

[RoseBandit]

Hi guys! Thanks for replying! Bandit currently eats a variety of vegetables and fruits and occasionally seeds, usually for treats only though. I'll try both methods! And I'd love to read more Carole! :)

[keepsmiling]

Let me ask the person if it is ok to share his info. I think it is only polite to do so.:encouragement:

[RoseBandit]

Let me ask the person if it is ok to share his info. I think it is only polite to do so.:encouragement:

Certainly :) Thanks for your effort to help :D

[roxynoodle]

With all of my birds I put a few pellets into the bowl each day for a few days to let them get used to seeing them. Then gradually I reduced the amount of seed and increased the amount of pellets over about a 3 week span until they were on the pellets.

[roxynoodle]

Oh, and some info on propolyne glycol (it is NOT antifreeze!). And just so everyone knows, my vet is a nutritional consultant for Lafeber, and feeds almost exclusively Nutriberries. She has a 100 year old amazon AND had another live that long who passed a few years ago. Pretty sure it's not poison :th_hmmm:

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[keepsmiling]

Audrey, come on. I love ya, but it isn't a natural substance, it is a chemical.

[keepsmiling]

Read here


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[keepsmiling]

It was also banned by the FDA for use in cat food, due to something called heinz body anemia. We can go around and around about how the FDA deems chemicals as safe or not. To me it is at the very least a controversial item, some sites saying it is safe, and others saying it is not. I choose, for my birds and my family to err on the side of caution. Why put chemicals in ours or our pets bodies if we don't have to? There are a lot of healthier choices out there, and a "nutriberry" type food can be made with known simple ingredients, and without chemicals or preservatives.

[roxynoodle]

Actually it is an organic compound.

[roxynoodle]

Carole, come on now. You cannot possibly think that the 20 or so avian vets who are nutritional consultants for Lafeber are trying to poison companion parrots. That just doesn't make any sense.

[keepsmiling]

I do think people accept certain things as safe, that are not. The FDA also approves artificial colors..I do not use them either.The FDA also says things are ok that other countries ban, so who is right or wrong? Propylene glycol is a derivative of petroleum. It's not going in my birds, that's all I know. I guess we just have to agree to disagree. I will never condone anything with this ingredient. You may do as you wish.I will keep trying to persuade you to reconsider. And I still love you!:th_LOL::th_hug8::th_hug8:

[jtbirds]

Pellets are so controversial honestly and the best thing I can add to this is, never look down upon anyone for feeding any kind of pellet. If it is a colored pellet and organic pellet a kaytee brand pellet, o well at least the birds are not eating sunflower seeds and peanuts all day long. So i never really judge anyone by the pellets they use or disagree with any certain type. At least they have taken the initiative to offer the parrots a balanced diet.

[keepsmiling]

Certainly :) Thanks for your effort to help :D
Ok, I got the ok to share the info. I will start a thread.