Topic: No Pellets (Read 476 times)

karen 2 · « **on:** June 15, 2011, 10:17:34 PM »

Why is Pablo in such good condition ,he has had seed from pet shop for 7 years as that's all I can get here. Ok I give him mash and all the things irina mentions, but I cant get harrisons or anything like that. Did manage o get loose multi colored pellets but Pablo would not eat them , we ave given them to him or 2 years, but he throws them out. He is a very happy contented bird and he knows we love him too bits, no feather issues or anything no biting unless heis well pd off. I have started grinding the pellet things into his mash so he is getting the goodness out of them. So what I want to know is Am I doing the right thing for pabs or should I be more strict and not give him his seed mix and just give him pellets ,bearing in mind they are not Uk pellets

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geffsgrey · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2011, 10:30:59 PM »

They can and do look good, but seed diets can reduce the lifespan, as they're not balanced, and also makes them liable and susceptible too more illnesses.
Irina can give you a more eloquent and consice answer.

Laurie Durand · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2011, 10:37:14 PM »

Malcolm, there are many people with a great deal of parrotty knowledge on here, but sometimes I think we do ourselves a disservice with overly fretting and stressing about the "pellet police" and not giving seed etc

I know there has been a great deal of research into parrot diets in the past 20 years or so and thinking has changed, just as it has about clipping wings......

I was introduced to parrots many many years ago by my great-aunt and uncle, who had several parrots, but most notably a CAG called Paul.......I knew Paul from my early childhood in the '60s and he was hale and hearty on his diet of sunflower seed and fresh veg and fruit - by the time my auntie and uncle passed away in the '90s, Paul was still very well and in fine feather - he must have been at least 45-50 years old by then. He never saw a pellet in his life - they hadn't been invented when he was around - and he went on to live with their grandson, by the time I lost touch with the family and returned to Blighty some 10 years later, he was still well, never plucked a feather in his life.

I think you need to do what works best for you and your beloved bird - I think those bright coloured pellet things aren't much good anyway, and if your circumstances are such that you need to use a good quality seed taking care that there are not too many nuts sunflower etc, and your bird is well and happy given that you are also feeding fresh food, I would simply go with what I considered the best option available to me at the time.

Don't get me wrong, top quality pellets like Harrisons are superb, but if they are not an option then they are not an option and if your bird is flourishing then you are doing a lot right. Greatest respect for the knowledgeable pelleters and diet gurus like Irina, but everyone needs to do what they consider appropriate for their circumstances. I remember Paul, though, being incredibly long-lived and very well and never met up with a pellet in his entire very long life........

Pablo looks very happy and well

geffsgrey · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2011, 10:44:02 PM »

London Zoological Society now use pellet feed, with a wealth of Avian vets at there disposal, and most informed Avian vets will recommend pellets, for a balanced and less fatty diet.

karen 2 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2011, 10:54:02 PM »

OMG condor you are a breath of fresh air To me, I was getting quite stressed out over Pablo,s diet not that he doesn't eat healthy just no as good f or him as the Uk parrots .
I try to give him loads of different things and he will eat it if I eat it first . I quite like mash ha. Ha ha .
Yes I think you at quite right if I can't get harrisons and all that type o pellet ,I can give him a good home with all the love and care that he deserves. Well they don't have harrisons where they come from do they.. Thanks for setting my mind at rest as I was really worrying me , thinking I was not doing good by him, but when I read paulas post on that poor little parrot Connie,boy then I i cry, thank again for your post as it as made me feel better.

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geffsgrey · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2011, 07:18:50 AM »

I 'm neither going too praise nor otherwise, If you live where they are not sold, then that's it done and dusted.

I know if you could you would.
And not act like a dinosaur and feed seed because my grandad did, we have moved on since putting leg chains on parrots.

Laurie Durand · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:40:17 AM »

Geff, I'm not for a moment suggesting that we feed just seed or act like a dinosaur - just that there isn't a one-size-fits-all panacea to solve everything related to the diet of our complex feathery companions - as a doctor, I advise people not to use (much) alcohol or smoke for instance- most people ignore that advice, many use alcohol moderately and their life expectancy is not unduly affected, others smoke like chimneys for years and years despite advice. They don't all succumb to liver-related illness or lung cancer. And sometimes tragedy strikes the healthiest of individuals with the healthiest lifestyles. Life's like that, the future is not certain. And sometimes its just not feasible for whatever reason, to go down the "perfect" route.

I'm doing my best for my birds as all like-minded people are - there are numerous kind and knowledgeable people on this forum willing to take the time to share their knowledge and experience.

In many many years of medical practice, one of the biggest things I've learned is not to be judgemental......and I try to expand that to every area of life. Diet is hugely important for parrots (and for us) and I'm very grateful for all the advice here but in the end we all have to do what we decide is best and appropriate for our circumstances. Not much in this life is ever ideal!!

geffsgrey · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2011, 11:18:32 AM »

My damn signal keeps dropping out.
But in short, Why should I or anyone else, not take seriously what is claimed by Avian Vets and dietitians, when they say that Pellets are balanced and seed diets are inadequate, I myself was a seed feeder, and accepted that's what Parrots eat, but through reading on here, and speaking to an Avian Vet about a bird I have here, he could not praise Harrisons enough, and no he did not sell me any.
Please see the picture of one of mine, this was caused by Diet alone, not a knife. Stuff the previous owner fed it.

I put my faith in those that know, not by people that guess.
He also suffered Kidney damage, just by an insufficient diet a grossly inadequate diet.
I agree about people eating the wrong foods and smoking, but that's their choice, birds have no choice in captivity, they eat whats given, and I want too give the best.

Lesley · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2011, 01:05:32 PM »

We all do Geff

But I think a good quality seed and lots of fresh veg etc is still and excellent diet for a grey if pellets aren't available.

Poor Stumpy was fed human food with a lot of salt etc which led to him losing his feet - is that right? I totally agree that we have a responsibility to feed our pets the appropriate diet - its cruel not to, if we can then pellets are the best as they contain everything needed - but its not the only option for a healthy bird.

I think Pablo has an excellent varied and healthy diet and lifestyle

geffsgrey · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2011, 01:23:09 PM »

I agree, as stated earlier in the thread.

I personally will feed Pellets, as I say its upto the individual,
but give it the best you can,
as they have no choices in captivity.

Thats me finished on this one, just do your best for your birds.

Lesley · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2011, 01:24:20 PM »

I think Stumpy's story keeps us all motivated to provide the best diet we can for our birdies!!

Polo · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2011, 02:18:46 PM »

I think the argument of pellets/seed will go on forever, my own birds eats both and also greens ect i feel he is on a healthy diet when he is fed seed veg one day and pellets on another as directed years ago by an "well know zoo" avian vet.

No peanuts/sunflower seeds or human food other than a hard boiled egg once a month mashed, plus slices of unripe "green" bananas the odd green grape/cherries/chillies, it must be hard for those owners who can not get pellets and feel bad about it, for those people i say feed your bird a variety of seed food and a fruit/veg/nuts diet and i feel that your parrot will thrive on it.

I read on here that some people feed tidymix, i have never used it but my son has bought it in and in my and my sons opinion its it the same as a good seed mix but cleaned up which cost extra.

lizduncan · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:44:55 PM »

I think if birds aren't on pellets then you have to work that little bit harder to make sure they are getting what they need.

Pellets have it all mixed in the right quantities but it is still possible to provide a good diet on seed. In my opinion.

lovebirds · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:53:50 PM »

I agree that I wouldn't feed those coloured things if that is all that is available. I would continue with seed mix plus plenty of fresh foods, not forgetting beans and grains for protein and would also get a good vitamin/mineral supplement on top of that. I would probably give it for 3 months, then take one month brake, then resume. Or supplement for 5 days and give 2 days break, just to let the body work for itself at least a little bit.
The most common deficiencies in african greys are calcium/vitamin D and vitamin A. Pablo shouldnt' have any problems with vitamin D as he is outside a lot as far as I understand, and there is plenty of calcium in plant foods which will get worked in the system with all that vitamin D.
As for vitamin A, just order some palm fruit extract from the UK, if you haven't got it already and provide plenty of orange veggies and leafy greens.

As Liz says, it is possible to provide an adequate nutrition without pellets, just need to make more effort.

lovebirds · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2011, 09:55:06 PM »

oh and of course it is best not to feed any peanuts and if the seed mix is rich in sunflower seeds then remove most of them. And offer a bit of walnut/pecan/hazelnut/almond instead as a treat (maximum two medium size nuts per day, or half a walnut/pecan).

karen 2 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:01:53 PM »

I give pablo mash about 4 or five times a day just to make sure it's fresh, as it's so hot here it goes off quick.I did try to get pellet s. Shipped over bit either they would not ship them or it was an extra 20 pounds per kilo. He does get pellets but in the seed mix but nine times out of ten he chucks them.. Anyway I got some and ground them up into his mash, so alls well . But I'm still trying to get ahrrisons or something will have to brush up on my Spanish and see if I can get a vet to order them for me

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lovebirds · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:05:15 PM »

Karen, you don't need to give it that often

You can give it in the morning for breakfast and remove it straight after he had eaten and then again for dinner and then just provide some seed plus veg and fruit during the day, it is plenty of food for a little bird

karen 2 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:05:20 PM »

It's not just the colored pellets everything comes in a huge bin that all the stuff is loose and millions of beasts yuck

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lovebirds · « **Reply #18 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:06:08 PM »

oh yes, yuck, I dont say that often, but I'd rather stick with the seed mix if you can get a pre-packaged one

karen 2 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:06:35 PM »

Yes but if it goes off quick and I replace it he will go for that rather than the seed mix which does have rather a lot of sunflower in it

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No Pellets

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Author Topic: No Pellets (Read 476 times)

geffsgrey

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lizduncan