Converting your bird to pellets is actuall easier than you think it is.
What we have to do is simulate the seasonal availability of seed crops in the
wild. Wild parrots will engorge on the seed crops if they are in season. But
this season doesn't last foever and when they are gone they have to move to
another food source. This allows for a natural progression to a better and more
balanced food source.
After your bird has been converted to pellets, you must make sure that
the pellets are always fresh and not being wasted excessively. You still need
to watch yor bird's body weight as a bird can get fat on pellets too. Some-
times pellets also need to be fed in a cafeteria style to keep the birds from
becoming obese. Some birds actually do better if fed just twice daily for the
rest of their life but this should only be at the recomendation of your avian
vet! Fresh, healthy "people food" can be offered in small amounts through out
the day, but don't leave vegetables, fruits, etc. in the cage overnight. With
all this being said, lets start converting your bird:
Step 1: Replace the seed with the pellets of your choice in the main or most
used feeding dish. Do not mix the pellets with the seeds in the dish
as the bird will search through the pellets to find the seeds. Most
birds love to search for goodies! Make sure that there are no other
sources of seed in the cage. Leave the pellets in the cage 24/7!
Step 2: Offer seeds in a seperate dish that is easily accessed by the bird and
easy for you to get in and out of the cage. Offer the seeds in a
cafeteria feeding style. Remember that cafeterias have very set hours
of being open to the public. Only keep the "seed cafeteria" open for
30 minutes in the morning (breakfast) and 30 minutes in the evening
(dinner). Make sure that you provide the seed by the clock, not by
whether the bird eats them when they are provided. If the bird doesn't
eat during a feeding, don't be alarmed! The bird will make up for
seeds that it didn't eat during the next feeding.
Step 3: After two weeks, decrease the morning feeding to 5 minutes. Continue
feeding seeds for 30 minutes in the evening. Remember, pellets should
always be available!
Step 4: After two more weeks eliminate the morning feeding all together. Again
continue feeding the seeds for 30 minutes in the evening. Pellets are
always available!
Step 5: After two more weeks reduce the evening feeding down to 5 minutes. The
pellets should always still be available 24/7!
Step 6: After two more weeks, your bird should now be completely converted to
pellets.
Email me here: