Breeder mistake

[JohnD]

I posted the other day talking about how the breeder I got my GCC from only clipped one wing, it was a shoddy job too. Now I noticed that she cut two of his tail feathers off too. I don't know if she did it on purpose but they're gone halfway down the feather. It's too straight of a cut for him to have done it somehow.

Another mistake she made was she weaned him onto a seed mix and it's impossible to get him to eat pellets. If there's only pellets in his bowl he just wont eat. I don't think I'll be buying from this breeder again to say the least.

Any tips on how to switch him onto pellets? I've tried slowly decreasing the amount of seeds and completely taking them out but I can't stand to see him go hungry. Anything would be much appreciated! Much love!

 

[Abzeez]

I had a lovebird long ago that wouldn't go to pellets, so I gave her nutri-berries. I would crush them for her, because even the small ones were hard for her to eat. Just a thought.

Parrot Pellets, Cockatiel Food, Parakeet Food, Parrot Seed, Pet Bird Food, Parrot Bird Food, Parrot Food, Macaw Food | Lafeber Pet Bird Food

 

[JohnD]

I'll have to give those a try! Thanks a lot~

 

[Spiritbird]

Avi cakes have 50 50 mix of seed to pellets. Do not give up as it takes a good while.
It is worth the effort for the health of your bird. Make sure to feed fresh foods that are healthy such as the orange vegies. sweet potato, carrots, winter squash and lots of legumes, beans, brown rice and other grains, corn bread can be mixed in as they love it, nuts but no peanuts, yogurt, cottage cheese, berries, apples, grapes, papaya, melons and most all fruits but not apple seeds. You could start out by mixing the baby foods that are sold with the corn bread.

I talked to my breeder first and asked her to wein baby to Harrisons pellets. Best thing I every did.

 

[JohnD]

I wish I had thought and did that, I just sort of took for granted that she would wean him to some sort of pellets. I'm going to made some bird bread tonight and see how he takes to it.

 

[Abzeez]

Avi cakes have 50 50 mix of seed to pellets. Do not give up as it takes a good while.

Avi cakes? I have never fed those. Just nutri berries, and also they came out with a new line called pellet berries. My parrots love nutri berries.

Also Roudybush has a california blend. It has tried veggies and fruits in it, that might be a place to start.
Pet Bird Food: Roudybush Maintenance Diet: California Blend at Drs. Foster and Smith

Lets face it, some parrots, try as we way, refuse to switch over. Give it a good effort though, and as stated above fresh veggies and fruits! Good luck

 

[Abzeez]

It has tried veggies and fruits in it,

Dried veggies! Sorry.

 

[ellsiebird]

I havent tried this fully myself, but about to begin it within the next few days

In the morning give the bird a coouple of spoon fulls of seed and only leave it for a limited time so they learn its there 'breakfast'...the bowl is then taken away, this is repeated for 'dinner'.

During the day leave only pellets, this way if they are hungry, they can take some pellets, The parrot will not be starved. you can also monitor the pellets eaten during the day this way, and they dont have the option to seperate from seed....

Again i have not tried this myself but it is what i plan to do...

 

[ellsiebird]

And for the clippings, My parrot also arrived with what seemed like a child hacking at its wings and tails, she is now growing all er feathers back, and has lost the chopped tail feathers and all grown back lovely and healthy, it may take quite a while, but they will return.

If your still worries maybe see a vet to even out the clippings if possible so both wimgs can grow at the same rate? thats if the orginal clippings are not to savaged!

 

[MikeyTN]

The way I've always use to change to pellets is by mixing. I start out 75%seedsx25%pellets, then few more days later I change to 50/50, then few days later I do 25/75. But during anytime they start to eat multiple pellets, I remove all the seeds and do 100% pellets. But do observe to make sure they're eating it pretty good! Sometimes they can be stubborn and process can last longer.