Topic: Seed diet vs Pellets? (Read 380 times)

Kamaljot · « **on:** January 05, 2012, 05:53:10 PM »

Whats better a pellet and seed mix or just seed mix?
I know parrots eat their favourite seed/grain and discard the rest, so I think a mixture of pellets and seed is optimum? but some 'people' think that pellets can induce self-mutalition and plucking. Also is their a certain ratio/ per centage for
seed and pellet mix like ''80% pellets and 20% seed'' ?

Thanks

Pat · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:14:13 PM »

If you get a decent pellet like Animalzone then all you need is pellets and a little fruit and veg if you want to feed it to them. Just seed is a rubbish diet, plus you would need to give them supplements, but with Animalzone, it's a complete meal and they can live just on the pellets. I give mine the Plumage Enhancer and then give them some of the Museli after a few days, to give them variety. No seeds at all.

Kamaljot · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:24:21 PM »

I was on Yahoo answers and I suggested a pellet diet to the person who asked the question and some person who has been breeding for '29 years' said to me 'Pellets are quite artificial and can cause stress and mutilate. You wouldn't like eating JUST pills, would you? You would like some normal food too, right?' then I said to him I have joined a forum full of experienced people that suggest a pellet diet and he said 'Forums can easily lie to you which will get you into trouble. I believe I have the experience because I'm a breeder for 29 years now'

Pat · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:30:40 PM »

Ahhhh God bless him...... 29 years ago there was no pellets and he's obviously stuck in his rut. Pellets are the best, there is every vitamin, nutrient and supplement already in there and they can't pick and choose what they eat, so less waste.

If you give a seed diet to a Grey then it is more likely to develop fatty liver disease, you will also have to give calcium and other vitamins in the correct doseage because you can overdo the supplements as well. Years ago people fed their birds on seeds and nothing else because that's all that there was and they didn't know any different. There has been progress in the nutrition of birds and the pellets like Animalzone and Harrisons have all been scientifcally produced will the right amount of whatever it is a bird needs, for healthier birds.

Kamaljot · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:34:04 PM »

Well that 'person' hates me now! They just hate my every post on Yahoo answers, they contradict me everytime I say that a pellet diet is much better!

Pat · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:40:17 PM »

Oh well, you don't have to go on there, leave him to his own little world of seeds and supplements. He might have been breeding for 29 years, but on here we have so many rehomes that weren't fed properly, been plucking and have other issues, some because of diet, some because of other reasons and maybe if he has been breeding for 29 years, it's time for him to stop and maybe that would help the number of birds on the rehome merry go round find a home as well.

I'm sure others will be along later to back me up with the pellet diet.

Kamaljot · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:42:08 PM »

I cant wait to get my AG!! I need to complete my parents agreement first

How can you avoid plucking AG's?

Pat · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:44:37 PM »

Parent's agreement? What does that entail?

Kamaljot · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:46:47 PM »

They want me to lose weight

Then they will get me a parrot

Pat · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:08:58 PM »

Oh! Dunno what to say about that really, how old are you?

Kamaljot · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:28:49 PM »

Im 15 :/

pinky · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:39:01 PM »

I will offer my opinion..... Casper came to me on a really poor seed diet. I got him some Tidymix seed straightaway as recommended by Paula. Over time I started converting him to Harrisons which I managed to do quite readily. Obviously alongside either of these diets he had fresh veg and some fruit.
Casper started plucking and mutilating a couple of months ago. There are a few ideas as to why he should have started but one member did suggest that there was evidence that a totally pelleted bird could start plucking etc!!! Now Casper was subdued, stopped talking etc. I have tried moving his cage, adding a UV light, increasing interactions etc etc but when I read that I bought him some Tidymix and I have to say its the only thing that has perked him up. He became more active and vocal within the day I reintroduced it and is now starting to talk again. I am using a tablespoon of Tidymix in the morning and then he has pellets the rest of the time and also has his fresh fruit and veg etc.

Now I don't know what to think and I am way too inexperienced to have a proper opinion on this but its rather co-incidental.... I would welcome other p[eoples thoughts on this. To be honest, I don't really care what has improved things for Casper as long as they have hahaha

Pat · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:48:11 PM »

That's interesting Pinky...to be honest I don't think any bird should be on 100% pellets, they all have to have treats of nuts, fruit, veg etc and a tablespoon of seed a day isn't going to do him any harm as long as he eats his pellets and gets all the nutrients he needs from them. Whatever works for your bird is right for him. Tidymix is the best of the seedmixes with everything being fit for human consumption, so it can't be all bad.

Kamaljot...at 15 you are still growing, I can't tell by your name if you are male or female because I know both male and female called Kamal.....do you do sports? Maybe that would help you to lose a bit and be a little bit nearer to getting your grey. If you have lots of weight to lose, then maybe get some help by going to see your Doctor surgery for leaflets etc. to give you an idea of what you can and can't eat to be healthy, if it's only a little bit, then maybe be a little more active and that will help.... I don't know, I can't see you and don't know your situation.

Soo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:58:34 PM »

I agree that a total pelleted diet is not healthy either.

There are times I put my lot on to total pellets for a short period, one of these reasons was due to a blood test result which I wanted to see if a total pellet diet for a short time would inprove the second result....... Which it did, another reason I sometimes do it, is when I get new birds that have been feed 100 percent seed and need converting, this is so I can ensure their weight stabilizes and that they have been successfully converted before introducing new foods.

Somes vets will say no seed at all, others will say a small amount wont hurt, it all depends. My preference is to give a small amount once or twice a month as a treat.

Kamaljot · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2012, 08:44:30 PM »

Thanks for all the info!

@ Pat, I do regular exercise as I have to loose a lot of weight and I'm a boy

I will reach my goal later this year (Hopefully)!

Mrs Piker · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2012, 08:53:26 PM »

As Pat said, breeding 25 years ago was different, breeders fed their birds what was available at the time, but like most things in life, we progress, Avian specialist find/invent better foods for our feathered friends, and I'm sure in years to come, their will be even better foods available because their is always room for improvement in anything

Although my three Hobbits have a pelleted diet (AZ), all of them also have a daily selection of veg, chop etc, they get fruit two to three times a week, toast with Palm oil on daily, AZ cereal every other day, hard boiled egg (scrambled) once a month and Frodo and Bilbo get a little bit of Tidymix every day (not Rosie, she hates it)
They also get a couple of nuts as treats daily and I make spoon treats etc for them, which contain Pellets, tidymix, nuts, almunds etc too.

So I think my three get a very varied diet, even if their main foods are Pellets

Julie

karen 2 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2012, 09:08:45 PM »

Kamaljot I'm sure you will get your parrot quicker than you think, Keep going you are doing well with the goal you have. I think you are so special to post on here before you have even got your bird,just goes to show that you are going to be a special parent for your new bird when you get it . Keep posting and asking questions as it will help you loads when you do get it .
Lots of love , keep your chin up and you will do brilliant xxxxx

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Pat · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2012, 09:09:49 PM »

Quote from: Kamaljot on January 05, 2012, 08:44:30 PM

Thanks for all the info!
@ Pat, I do regular exercise as I have to loose a lot of weight and I'm a boy I will reach my goal later this year (Hopefully)!

good for you!! At least you have an incentive to keep you going, I wish you all the luck in the world. Please stay on this forum, learn all about the Grey that you can from us and it will keep you motivated with losing weight as well because you know you will get your prize baby at the end of it.

Kamaljot · « **Reply #18 on:** January 05, 2012, 09:52:15 PM »

Awwww! Thanks for the support guys, I have a tendency to get addicted to forums, as well as being obsessive with my pets

Pat · « **Reply #19 on:** January 05, 2012, 10:24:20 PM »

Well this is a good forum to get addicted to lol.

Seed diet vs Pellets?

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Author Topic: Seed diet vs Pellets? (Read 380 times)