Green cheek conure and pellets

[Spacecowboy88]

Hi everyone I have a green cheek conure he's 5-6 months old iv had I'm on a seed diet until recently I got some Harrison's pellets but he's not taking to them all day he's been banging his food bowl(something he dose when it's empty to ask for more food) so I put a few seeds in he ate them then started to bang his bowl. So I add some water to the pellets and he's happy eating them my question is how long will the pellets be ok in the bowl wet and if I have to add the water to then how many times a day should I be filling the bowl. Sorry if some ones asked this before I'm new to the pellets feed. One other thing will he every get use to having the pellets dry.

Many thank everyone

 

[MonicaMc]

I've ground up pellets, added about 50/50 with seeds and enough water to make a thick paste. I live in a dry climate so they easily dried out. Got all my birds onto pellets that way without any issues and they easily switched to eating dry pellets. Other birds have also done the same.

 

[Spacecowboy88]

Thanks for the reply. What kind of seeds did u add and how long would the mix be good for, would I be able to leave it in the cage all day. And I'm guessing u just reduced the amount of seed in the mix over time

 

[SilverSage]

What climate do you live in? The length of time that would be ok depends on how quickly it would spoil. Here in hawaii it would go bad within the hour. In other places it may dry out quickly and be fine all day. If you are going to use this method I suggest you feed meals instead of free feeding. Feed as much as he will eat at one time, three times a day, and then clean the dish. This is also a great time to introduce foraging toys.

 

[MonicaMc]

I typically feed Goldenfeast Petite Hookbill Legume or Australian Blend, although am now feeding Golden Gourmet which is a My Safe Bird Store blend. I usually mix this 50/50 with either Kaylor of Colorado Sweet Harvest Cockatiel no Sun seed *or* the Parakeet seed.

Since I live in a dry climate, I was able to leave it out all day, since it did dry quickly. I suppose if you live in a more humid area, you could try baking them in the oven slowly? To feed dry ones?

 

[Spacecowboy88]

I live in the uk so humidity is all ways up and down but he seams to have had enough after a hour so I'm taking it out then. I can only feed him twice a day like this will that be all right I am leaving dry pellets in there all day for him. The seed and pellets mash seams to be working but I think he's just picking the seed out lol. Iv got Harrison's pellets and Tropicana lifetime. Thank you for ur replys

 

[Aquila]

You might want to try some homemade "avicakes" or some birdie bread with crushed pellets. If you spread it pretty thin you can make a biscuit or cookie, just cook at a low temperature to dry it out rather than bake as long as there's no egg.

 

[MonicaMc]

That's perfectly fine if you can only feed him twice a day like that! Just make sure he is eating enough food and not losing any weight!!!


Do you have a gram scale to keep track of his weight during this transitional period?

 

[KzooKid]

My peachfront conure went from seed to Roudybush pellets in one meal, preferring the pellets over seed left in another bowl for the transition. Actually, she never touched the seeds again unless it was a special flavored treat.

What was amazing to me, though, was the complete change in her temperament. She was always fine with my son, but spent 25 years lunging at me unless I was offering a treat. Within days of the pellet switch, though, she was a different bird, even offering her head to be rubbed.

 

[Spacecowboy88]

I got some gram scales today to keep an eye on him what would you recommend to do if his weight dose start to drop. I was keeping any eye on his dropping but feel happyer now got that scales. It been nice if her took to them straight away like urs did kzookid but I have noticed that he's not that keen to come to me but I think that's just coz he's a bit annoyed that iv put him on the pellets lol

 

[MonicaMc]

You don't want a bird to lose more than 10% of their body weight. In fact, it would be better to stay under that, unless the bird is obviously overweight.


As an example, if your bird weighed 60 grams, you do not want him to lose more than 6 grams of weight. It's better that they eat than they don't.