Changing to pellet diet

[Loubie]

Any tips on encouraging a galah who has been on a seed diet to get a taste for pellets instead? I have started off adding a small amount of pellets to his seeds, but pretty sure he doesn't touch them!
I'm wondering about grinding some up and sprinkling them over sprouted seeds, which he seems to love.
Thanks!

 

[Jayyj]

Try the Harrisons fine grade big potency - I know a few people who have had good success with this for galahs. You won't need to crush them up as they're pretty small to begin with. I had to offer a few to Alice by hand to start with but she accepted them pretty much straight off.

I've also faded nuts from her diet in favour of nutriberries which she loves. Nuts and seeds are very much treats now.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I managed to change Plum over using TOP's (Totally Organics) pellets first of all as he wouldnt touch Harrisons to start with and will take some of the ones mentioned above by Jayyj now. TOPs were accecpted very well from a seed junky really and surprisingly they have a nice smell unlike the others.

Nutriberries are great in as much as they give great nutrition and contain hulled seeds and grains so win win really nutritionally balanced with a few seeds and grains. Sure to be loved. Watch how many you feed though and Plum will only take Cockatiel ones not parrot.

NB If you offer seed still that will be picked out before anything else. RB2s love seed!

 

[Loubie]

So I've been reading about sprouted seeds being better for them than
Unsprouted. Is that true? And if so in the meantime, until I get them onto a pellet diet, could i feed them all their seeds sprouted? Or would that not be a good thing? Thanks!

 

[plumsmum2005]

So I've been reading about sprouted seeds being better for them than
Unsprouted. Is that true? And if so in the meantime, until I get them onto a pellet diet, could i feed them all their seeds sprouted? Or would that not be a good thing? Thanks!

Absolutely, I feed mine them they are great, very nutritious.

If you are going to do this yourself you need a few things to ensure that what you are producing is good and not bad ie molds etc.

Have a look here http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/57416-sprouting-made-easy.html

from experience if you take the seed away and give pellets esp if its one that has been mentioned here they should have a go at them.

Quirky I know but Plum will not eat them in his cage only on his playstand. ????

 

[Psittaciformes]

You could try birdie bread, there are tons of recipes on here. Crushing the pellets and mixing it with the seeds could also work.
Putting them in fruit could be another way to go, pushing small pieces into an apple or banana etc.
Good luck!

 

[Loubie]

Ok, thanks everyone!
I might even try giving them only pellets in the morning, and holding out on the seeds til afternoon, and see how that goes as well.. They can be stubborn creatures!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Ok, thanks everyone!
I might even try giving them only pellets in the morning, and holding out on the seeds til afternoon, and see how that goes as well.. They can be stubborn creatures!

Definitely battle of wills.

 

[2greenconurestostart]

What about mixing the pellets with sweet potatoes? Not as informed as many of these fine peeps but I know my conures love sweet potatoes.

 

[Loubie]

Woohoo, after trying most suggestions, I got some of the ZuPreem fruit blend ones, and to my surprise, Frank the Galah has taken a liking to them! He does pick out the red and orange pellets, and leave the green and yellow-coloured ones, but it’s progress!
They have such a strong fruity smell though – I do worry about all the colour and flavour additives!
Whirly remains steadfastly stubborn, refusing all pellets in any shape or form, and is not fooled by any of the tricks I have tried!
Birdy bread with ground pellets will be my next attempt.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Woohoo, after trying most suggestions, I got some of the ZuPreem fruit blend ones, and to my surprise, Frank the Galah has taken a liking to them! He does pick out the red and orange pellets, and leave the green and yellow-coloured ones, but it’s progress!
They have such a strong fruity smell though — I do worry about all the colour and flavour additives!
Whirly remains steadfastly stubborn, refusing all pellets in any shape or form, and is not fooled by any of the tricks I have tried!
Birdy bread with ground pellets will be my next attempt.

Hi good news re the pellets, I would worry too. Now one sort of pellet accepted try another as it seems to be the initial acceptance is the biggest hurdle.

 

[ToMang07]

Not direct an answer to your question, but here is my experience changing Willow's diet.

I felt bad switching Willow from Zupreem to Harrisons, because I felt I was torturing/starving her. I tried starting with a small, counted 50:50 mix, and a few sunflower seeds to entice her. She would not touch the Harrisons. So I tried 75:25 Zupreem/Harrisons and a little less seed.... still nada.

So I played hardball, nothing but Harrisons all day, with a couple sunflower seeds and lots of fruit.

By the end of the first day it was like she was an addict going through withdrawals. (I believe from the high sugar content.) Very grouchy, lashing out, and ill-looking. That night I gave her a few Zupreem pellets right before bed, because other than fruit and a few sunflower seeds, she refused to eat.

Pretty much the same second day, except I only gave 2 pellets. Very angry bird. Nothing but Too'de, lol

Day 3, she finally tried the Harrisons, albeit it with some enticement. (I soaked them in applejuice and placed one in her beak, the others in her bowl. She proceeded to dunk and eat a little bit of them.

A couple more hesitant days and I weened her off the Sunflower seeds, (other than as a special treat) and that is her primary diet now. (Lots of fruit and occasional veggies...when I can get her to try something)

Overall I'm very happy with her health, and now I can tell a difference in her personality as well as her weight has gone down (she was overweight for a U2) and even her feathers are healthier, or so it seems to me.