Feeding problems

[Emma]

Hey
I've got a little hand-reared GGC and he has been on just small parrot mix and fruits and vegs. I've bought some vetafarm pellets for him. But hes not really taking to them, I've tried mixing them in with his other seed and he just leaves them. Then I've tried just leaving the new pellets in his dish all day but he won't take them. Any tips on how to get him to try them?

[avinet]

Mar 19, 2011 9:08:08 GMT 10 Emma said:

Hey
I've got a little hand-reared GGC and he has been on just small parrot mix and fruits and vegs. I've bought some vetafarm pellets for him. But hes not really taking to them, I've tried mixing them in with his other seed and he just leaves them. Then I've tried just leaving the new pellets in his dish all day but he won't take them. Any tips on how to get him to try them?

I always found the best way was to sprinkle a layer of pellets over their seed so the seed is just covered. They know there is seed there, and in getting through the pellets to get the seed they will eventually realise they are food and taste OK.

Also have always found that smaller pellets are best. Pellets that are similar in size to the seed mix. For a conure I would give the Vetafarm Maintenance diet, Mini size, or possibly the Nutriblend Mini pellets if you think a coloured pellet will interest him. Just one thing with the coloured pellets - some birds only eat one colour and leave the rest. One of my cockatiels will only eat green pellets, which colours her dropping a rather revolting green colour.

Don't bother with their South American Pellets, I found most conures won't eat them and they have no benefit over their standard mix. I'm pretty sure no one has done research on the ideal conure diet, and they are just a marketing ploy to be able to charge a bit more for basically the same pellet.

cheers,

Mike

[Emma]

Thanks Mike, I have finally managed to get him onto Maintenace Vetafarm pellets, I just had to mix them with warm water and honey to start with he took to them straight away then. Since I've just been putting less and less of the moist components in and hes eating it dry no problems at all. And thanks for the info on the South American pellets as I was looking at them and wondering if they'd be a better option or not, I think I'll just to stick to what hes finally on.