Topic: Pellets? Seeds? Calcium? Fresh? Raw? Help? (Read 212 times)

Elliott · « **on:** January 16, 2012, 01:15:56 PM »

Hi everyone...

We are about to put an order in on www.scarlettsparrotessentials.co.uk and I'm thinking of adding either pellets or calcium supplements... but...

... there are SO MANY different opinions as to what to give???

We currently give Dolly (12 weeks old) a good quality seed mix, vegetables and fruit, plus of course fresh water.

The thing is, I have read a lot about calcium deficiencies, pellet diets, vitamin D deciciency etc...

We have a huge bag of good quality parrot mix, so we would like her to go through most of this, but equally we want her to be getting the appropriate nutrients.

So... What more do we need to add to the seed mix diet she is currently on and what pellet mix should we move onto, to include vitamins and calcium?

Also, do we need calcium supplements or anything else for now?

Help help help!

Thank you!

Elliott, Michelle and our Dolly! x

Mandi · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2012, 01:19:00 PM »

if that was me, id either throw that bag of seed away as if it is a real big bag , by the time you come to the bottom of it there could be alsorts of things in it inc mould spores in the monkey nuts
or you could bung it in the freezer and just take out a little at a time for forragin toys so she has to work for any seed she gets

and i would then order some animal zone pellets from scarletts
the musili and fruit chunks seem to be a favourite with most on here
and they all seem to take to it well

Elliott · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2012, 01:47:46 PM »

We currently use this, which seems to have vitamins and minerals in. It seems to be one of the best on the market, but I would like to know all your views...

Mandi · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2012, 01:51:14 PM »

if your grey ate every single seed that is in that packet then maybe just maybe she would have a balanced diet
BUT and its a big but, they usually pick out their favourites which are usually the sunflower seeds which really are pure fat
where as pellets and everything in them to keep your grey healthy

you could keep the seed and hide in toys for her to find til its al gone
those of us that use a seed usually use tidy mix as its very clean, all been hulled and is just that bit better for them than a petshop bought one

Elliott · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:02:07 PM »

Fortunately she does actually eat most of it, she has a hearty appetite and when we change her seed bowl round, it is mostly shells and the odd bits left...

We also give her carrots, broccoli, sweetcorn, peas, chili peppers, red peppers, apple and the occasional grape or two...

Should we add anything else while we still have this mix?

Mandi · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:06:18 PM »

you could always order just the 1 bag of fruit chunks from scarletts
put the seed in for a hr each morning and replace with pellets then put back the seed for a hr befor bed
that way she gets both until the seed has gone and then she should already be eating pellet

you really could do with a calcium supplement but getting the rite does isnt easy
how do you know how much they consume ? and you can overdose

if you do as i said in this post regarding seed n pellets she should do ok and then once she is pn pellet you wont need to worry x

Polo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:09:01 PM »

Hi Elmoses, i feed my bird a mixture of harrison's pellets and seed but no sunflower or peanuts included, pellets are the main food source and seed as a treat daily, its the right time to get your young bird use to pellets, i will post a link as to where i buy my pellets free delivery and cheapest too.

You will no doubt know that getting your bird to eat pellets can be a pain in the butt and the sooner you do it the better reduce the seed and add the pellets soaked in a little orange juice at first, be prepared for some time to pass so make sure your bird is eating enough and not left hungry it will take time some birds will take to pellets sooner than others, if you read the ingredients from the link you will not need supplements pellets include what your bird needs daily.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/bird-supplies-harrison-s-bird-food-c-529_469

Mrs Piker · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:13:46 PM »

I would agree with Mandi, that they need to eat all their seed mix, but by the looks of it you have a lot left, so it would be a waste to throw it all away.

The veg etc that you give her daily are very good so I would continue giving her them

I think most who feed a seed diet have to also give their birdies supplements too, these are (I think) calcivet and daily essentials, but I do know that Animalzone do these sort of sups too, Scarletts sell them all http://scarlettsparrotessentials.co.uk/Birdcare.aspx

I'm sure if you gave Scarlett a ring, she would be more than happy to help, I've rang her lots and she's always glad to be helpful

Julie

Elliott · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:18:40 PM »

You guys are a real help... thank you so much.

I think the combination of weening her off the seeds and maybe keeping them as a treat is best.

We got a huge bag when we got the cage and accessories (as a bundle!) but being novices, we probably wouldn't have bought such a huge bag... that said, at least she is eating most of it and likes her veggies.

A combo should be ok and eventually when she moves onto pellets, we will just use the seeds as an occasional treat or to use with some foraging toys we are looking to get her this week.

Should I get animal zone or harrisons and will both of these include calcium and all the other additional nutrients she requires?

Also, coarse or fine? High potency or Adult lifetime? (she is 12 weeks old). Size bag?

Thanks again and any other words of wisdom would really be appreciated, to do with health, foraging toys etc...

Elliott x

Mandi · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:22:05 PM »

Elliot , pellets are a COMPLETE diet so you would have no need to worry abput any supplements
in my experience and i so far have converted 5 greys from seed to pellet
one of them bein 18 n half yrs old

i found the animal zone was the easiest to convert to as it has a fruity smell so i guess taste too (not that i have yet tried them)
they are cheaper than Harrisons too

Mrs Piker · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:25:46 PM »

I would say convert to Animalzone pellets, like Mandi said, the birdies take to them easier and they are cheaper to buy

They are a complete diet so no need to add sups

Julie

Polo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:33:54 PM »

Hi again, i would buy a small bag of each brand and see what your bird likes best, after all its the bird thats going to eat it.

I do prefere harrisons my bird took to them better than the others and it was a costly lesson, the choice is yours of course.

My bird has the lifetime course and High Potency Coarse to vary his diet with seed the harrisons fine i find messy as its too small for my bird who likes to hold his food.

LesleyR · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2012, 02:40:45 PM »

The breeder I got Dexter from (bundle with cage etc) also supplied us with some pellets, seed, supplements, vitamins etc. I also purchased an additional supply of food which as it turned out consisted mainly of a massive bag of seed mix - most of which appears to be sunflowers 👎
I have now got Dexter on AZ pellets and he loves them. I only wish I'd found this forum before the breeder (wouldn't change Dex tho!!) 😠

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Elliott · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2012, 03:30:39 PM »

Ok guys, you are amazing with your help...

Just one last thing (as the great Columbo used to say!)...

Ultimately what is the difference between harrisons high potency and animal zone food natural?

The fruit animal zone looks nice, but it seems that it would need to be used with other pelleted foods (muesli etc.), whereas either of the other two I mentioned above both seem to be complete... so which is best?

Mandi · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2012, 03:40:29 PM »

the animal zone has also been created by a avian vet as has Harrisons
so none need mixin with others
but i find with the musili they sometimes pick at bits and leave others as its a bit of a mix so thats why i mix it with the fruit chunks
everything in it is natural, its not got added cr*p like some so called complete biscuits you get in a pet shop xx

Elliott · « **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2012, 03:53:55 PM »

Hey Mandi, thanks for the heads up.

So should I try Harrisons small bag and/or Animal Zone? Also, there are a few types of Animal Zone... which is the most "complete"?

Thank you again (I hope that these questions are driving you mad?!)

Harrisons is £7.55 for 453g, whereas Animal Zone Parrot Natural Food is £5 for 1kg, so there is a massive difference in price...

Mandi · « **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2012, 04:04:30 PM »

Elliot they are all complete, al mine wil eat the fruit chunks, the feather enhancer and the musili

sometimes they wil pick out the corn first in the musili but it all goes in the end

with the AZ none of mine took much persuading with eating it, they just seemed to like it from day one
where as the Harrisons took a lot of tempting as its just a little brown cube
plus with the AZ theres less waste as its slightly softer so it doesnt ping everywhere when they bite it

its up to you but id leave the Harrisons and go with the AZ from the off
as you say the price is a lot different

all mine did eat Harrisons but i never got a empty bowl with the AZ i get all empty bowls every day

Mrs Piker · « **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2012, 04:17:21 PM »

I've got to agree with Mandi on this again, only two of mine would eat Harrison's, but as soon as I gave them AZ, all three of them ate it with no problems, I give mine the feather enhancer, fruit chunks and muesli, I also give them the AZ cereal too and they love it

Also when you're feeding three Hobbits the price makes a huge difference too

Julie

Mandi · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2012, 05:19:27 PM »

try havin 5 julie

Elliott · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2012, 06:44:10 PM »

Thank you again.

Last question (you guys must think I am a right old one!)...

Is the fruit one better, worse or the same in terms of nutrition for our Dolly compared to the natural one?

I heard about not giving too much fruit?

Thank you again in advance... but I think I will go with the AZ now (just working out which one to get first?)

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Author Topic: Pellets? Seeds? Calcium? Fresh? Raw? Help? (Read 212 times)