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Post by Amy Schmidt on Aug 15, 2009 11:27:30 GMT -5
My bird has been raised on a diet consisting mainly of seeds. I have read that it is healthier for birds to eat a diet of mainly pellets, and so I am trying to switch. However, Sprinkles (my cockatiel) doesn't eat her pellets and just scatters them around her cage to get to the seeds. I have been trying to gradually increase the amount of pellets and still have seeds, but she just doesn't eat them. Is there anything I can do to make her like pellets more. Maybe a brand that most birds like? I have been trying the zupreem brand. Thanks!
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Post by Just Ask Jan! on Aug 17, 2009 16:35:15 GMT -5
Try various brands of pellets until you find one that your cockatiel prefers. Mine all like Roudybush Crumbles or Nibbles. They will also eat Zupreem. I offer in a second dish and leave it in the cage always. This way they are not pushing the pellets out when searching for seeds.
Jan
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Post by tametielsaviary on Aug 19, 2009 18:46:00 GMT -5
Amy,
Does your cockatiel like to eat cheerios or other cereals as a snack? If so, try sneaking in a few pellets in with the cereal treat. You might also try offering the pellets as a treat when your cockatiel is spending out time with you. Place a pellet or two in your plam and offer it to your bird. If the bird is curious, part of the battle has been won.
Sherri
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Post by sarak on Aug 20, 2009 13:12:46 GMT -5
Mine prefer the Zupreem natural (not those strong smelling colored ones) and even more, prefer Roudybush Mini Maintenence pellets. I feed a variety of pellets as well, try to keep my birds from becoming stuck on one certain kind.
Sara K
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Post by Talk About Tiels Admin on Aug 24, 2009 12:32:27 GMT -5
I put Roudybush Crumbles in the cockatiel seed mix and they end up eating them and they don't even know it. Little by little you can add more and more crumbles to the diet and you will notice it start disappearing.
Hope this helps!
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Post by Sue on Oct 3, 2009 21:13:57 GMT -5
I feed pellets and some seed however I put 2 dishes of varried pellets on the top part of their cage. My tiels love to be on the top perches so having the pellets up there helps. I also mix seed and a variety of pellets in their dish on the bottom of the cage. They also love fresh veggies which are given in the am and pm. My tiels do not eat much fruit not sure why. Hope this helps. Sue
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Sue A
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by Sue A on Oct 3, 2009 21:20:07 GMT -5
The last post is mine forgot to sign in. By the way I am trying different pellets to see what they like and mix some together like one post I don't want them stuck on one brand. They also like Harrison's fine. Sue
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Shirl
New Member
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Post by Shirl on Oct 4, 2009 10:44:03 GMT -5
My fellows like exact pellets and some seed . I put the pellets at the top of the cage . Very small amount of seed at the bottom . Have to say the eat mostly the pellets . They have some cereal or eggs in the am and some of our left overs for lunch and there vegs when we have our supper . They are much on fresh fruit . So I give them the dry and they eat that . I also mix in some oats and goats and dry vegs in there seed every day . plus there millet
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Post by Crystal in NC on Jun 14, 2010 14:59:28 GMT -5
The best way that I've found to get a cockatiel to eat pellets is to place them on a flat surface, scatter the pellets around, then tap at them with your fingers. Make your fingers into a beak like shape, kind of hard to explain, but your thumb with be at a point with the other four fingers...and tap, tap tap. I didn't believe this would work myself until I tried it, and it works EVERY time. The cockatiel can't help themselves, it's instinctual for them to start tapping at the food with their beaks as well. Next thing you know, they're picking up pellets and trying them.
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Post by Talk About Tiels Admin on Jun 15, 2010 14:52:40 GMT -5
Thanks all! Always a great debate. Crystal, get a username and password and enjoy the fun!
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Post by mackerel on Jul 7, 2010 23:05:11 GMT -5
I make bird muffins. I have a very healthy happy 10 year old who has never had seed, except for the very rare millet spray. The muffins are very easy to make, two dozen at a time, which lasts 48 days. I also clamp one or two fresh veggies in the cage daily, but "Tater" is real picky with the raw veggies. He LOVES the muffins, and never tires of them. My vet recommends this recipe to his bird owners, and I think it's a very healthy diet. The recipe is attached Attachments:
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Post by jperkins on Jul 8, 2010 23:11:32 GMT -5
The above suggestions are great!
I put seed in one dish and my Zupreem pellets in another dish. If you mix together, most of the time alot of the pellets are waisted when you throw out the hulls. That's why I sepearte the seeds and pellets.
Let us know how your bird comes to liking the pellets and your success. Let us know too, which techniques worked best!
GOOD LUCK!
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Post by cpardee on Aug 17, 2011 13:49:43 GMT -5
My bird was a seed junkie two weeks ago. I mixed 4 different brands and the one I observe Brooklyn eating is Zupreem Entree (most expensive, made of corn). IT took a lot of time and money to figure this out. I always use seed as a reward.
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Post by folmonty on Nov 19, 2011 14:20:34 GMT -5
Should have found this site a long time ago. This threat is very interesting! We tried and tried years ago to get KatoBird eating pellets. He flat out refused. Period! Had to laugh at the suggestion of mixing with Cheerios ;D That's something we didn't think of trying. Anyway, too late for us now. Kate's gone from regular cockatiel seed & millet sticks to budgie food and now finch diet. He's not strong enough to crack anything larger. Over the years Kate ate about everything under the sun. Except pellets! Some of the more interesting items included, chicken, carrots (orange face ;D ) , rice, cookies, almost anything crunchy. The all time favorite were millet spray. He went nuts for those. But he won the pellet battle  |
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