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Post by just4birds on Mar 31, 2008 13:01:29 GMT 10
I watched a bird related dvd on the weekend which got me thinking about my own birds diet ... and when i thought i was being a pretty good birdie mum ... i dont think i am ... I have now mixed pellets in with my bird seed ... but same not having to much luck with it ... but i dont think its as easy as that to convert over ... I think we are somewhat getting a mix message about bird diets ... but it halves the birds life ... and isnt terrible good for the birds if its just a SEED ONLY diet .. If we are feeding out birds little seed ... along with a mostly fresh fruit and veggie diet plus cooked or soaked grain diet ... then things arent as bad as people make out when they hear "SEED" Off the topic alittle bit ... i didnt realise John you were sydney based ... maybe us sydney siders should get together sometime and show some dvds , book and hand on experience with each other .. *Lisa* --Edit-- sorry i should re read what i'm trying to say so it at least makes sence  |
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Post by vankarhi on Mar 31, 2008 15:55:37 GMT 10
John I have heard what you just said about the pellets being an American beat up......but didn't want to put it that way.
I personally think the thing here is ....... or the key words are "all pellet or all seed diets". I personally think that seed with a good variety of fresh stuff/cooked stuff and maybe some added vitamins from time to time.......also sprouts too of various types .......... our birds must be healthy???
If you choose to substitute pellets for the seeds then the same goes...........as long as it is not "an all pellet diet". I know I will not have my ekkies on pellets, I have read too much about problems they can and do have when on them.
I must say I was almost swayed a few days ago...........but after reading the link on ekkies that Robert put up a few days ago.........I am sticking to what seems to be working for my birds at the moment.
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Post by avinet on Mar 31, 2008 22:11:04 GMT 10
I personally think the thing here is ....... or the key words are "all pellet or all seed diets". I personally think that seed with a good variety of fresh stuff/cooked stuff and maybe some added vitamins from time to time.......also sprouts too of various types .......... our birds must be healthy??? I must say I was almost swayed a few days ago...........but after reading the link on ekkies that Robert put up a few days ago.........I am sticking to what seems to be working for my birds at the moment. I had a long talk to Adrian Gallagher and Stacy Gelis about this topic on Sunday at the Bird Fair in Brisbane, and they both said that they see lots of birds on a seed, vegies and vitamin diets come to them with malnutrition. People just don't know the signs. Only today at the shop a customer bought in a pied cockatiel about 7 years old on such a diet, and which had developed overe time a yellow colour through the feathers. Such a colour in a cockatiel almost always indicates a major liver problem due to poor diet. Examination of its feathers also indicated poor nutrition and yet it had been on the diet you suggest is just fine. Both vets say that the single most common problem they see is malnutrition due to a seed based diet. These vets are two of Australia's best vets, they see hundreds of sick and healthy birds, and their opinions are not based on an American beatup, but on extensive research and experience of birds. Both are aviculturists besides being avian vets, and and anyone disagreeing with their comments should be able to come up with valid arguments based on a sound nutritional base. cheers, Mike |
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Post by avinet on Mar 31, 2008 22:16:15 GMT 10
I meant to add to my previous post that Eclectus are different and a fruit and vegie based diet is probably best for them, with limited seed or pellets.
The toe-tapping syndrone in Eclectus seems to be caused in some cases by coloured pellets, certainly a FLorida breeder I know found that giving coloured pellets (Pretty Bird or Kaytee) set off toe-tapping while uncoloured pellets such as Roudybush did not. I will try to find the emails from he ron the topic and post them here.
cheers,
Mike
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Post by abby-oldaccount on Apr 1, 2008 6:35:24 GMT 10
Ok you've just hit upon another point with the pellets Mike. I have a real issue with the coloured pellets. Why do they need to be coloured? I have bought some in the past and a) can't stand the smell and b) have to query what is being used to colour them therefore would potential issues from dyes outweigh the benefits of the nutrition?
This is actually a genuine question.
I use 3/4 different types of pellets depending on what's available. My birds also have small parrot available at all times.
Vetafarm South American (conures and quakers)
Avian Nutrition (nice all rounder)
DR Macs species specific grey
and have just order some Harrisons as well.
None of these have any colouring in them to my knowledge.
I've had problems with one of my children in relation to artificial colours so I do tend to err on the side of caution.
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Post by farseeker on Apr 1, 2008 7:05:33 GMT 10
Abby - I avoid coloured pellets as well. Jedi started off on them and while some of her issues settled she did become a lot more uhh...flighty? Not very focussed at all which I wasn't happy about.
I also avoid Kaytee on principle because I've heard of them owning a bird mill over in America, and having links to a chain of pet stores that is generally thought to not take the greatest care of its birds. I don't really want to support that kind of practice and it gives me doubts about how much care has gone into their product if they're willing to link themselves to such things. That's just my opinion though - I have heard that they've since sold the bird mill, but I'm still not willing to give them a go.
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Post by robert on Apr 1, 2008 16:11:34 GMT 10
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Post by Jane on Apr 1, 2008 20:07:48 GMT 10
Thanks Farseeker and Mike for the comments on wastage I know I could not have so much available to them but I worry in the mixed aviaries the littlies will miss out if I try to only put out 1 day at a time  Might be easier in breeding season when they are all divided up abit. I have got a 10kg bag of Vetafarm Breeder Pellets and some Finch and Budgie Crumbles to give this thing a try. I am hoping they won't waste too much at the higher price of pellets  but I guess if they are recieving a higher nutrient intake from them they shouldn't need to eat so much on a per kilo basis. I'll see how this goes....... |
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Post by farseeker on Apr 2, 2008 9:14:12 GMT 10
Jane - just remember, it will take a while to get them eating it so it is a very gradual process especially with the smaller birds or ones that are less likely to stick anything in their mouth. I'm going to try putting crumbles on the budgie's fruit and vegies to get them used to the taste first I think, since they're so picky.
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Post by Jane on Apr 27, 2008 18:38:49 GMT 10
Well I should report on progress here  I can safely say I have solved the seed wasting problem the darlings are soooo happy to find any seeds they haven't left a single millet on the floor Actually the neophemas have been more acepting than the polytelis's and 'tiels I am trying to gradually reduce the seed content of the mix and make them go longer between refills of seed/pellet mix. I know this is for their own good but they definately prefer seed although vegies are getting thoroughly polished up too now. Oh well I'll keep persisting....... |
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Post by farseeker on Apr 27, 2008 19:51:16 GMT 10
That's nice to hear, Jane. The two budgies up here are coming along quite well - Tristan will eat it quite readily, but Anath still needs some convincing. She does try it though, which is an improvement. Trouble is also on the budgie crumbles at the moment - he seems to prefer them over the South American ones so he gets mostly budgie crumbles with some South American and a little bit of seed thrown in. And yeah, they will always prefer seed. Tristan is the least fussy but that's because Anath is bossy and doesn't like to share the seed. So half the time he just eats the crumbles even if there's seed around and Anath isn't at it. Trouble always eats the sunflower seeds first, followed by a couple of other types, then some pellets/crumbles and then his least favourite seeds. Of course, the fresh stuff is always the first to go. Although half of it ends up on the bottom of the cage or the floor, haha. |
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Post by avinet on Jan 29, 2009 16:31:04 GMT 10
Just posting to this topic to bring it back to the front - there is a lot of good pellet/seed stuff here to read through.
cheers,
Mike
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Might be easier in breeding season when they are all divided up abit. 
but I guess if they are recieving a higher nutrient intake from them they shouldn't need to eat so much on a per kilo basis. 
I can safely say I have solved the seed wasting problem the darlings are soooo happy to find any seeds they haven't left a single millet on the floor