Green cheek conure diet question.

[Aloha071687]

Just a quick question. The breeder we are getting our little Green Cheek from has told us that she weans her babies onto a mixture of :

Zupreem Fruit Blend Maintenance diet for parrot/conures (a pellet diet)
Pretty Bird Natural Gold (a pellet diet)
Hagens Gourmet for small parrots
Hagens Small Parrot Mix

Is there anything wrong with any of this? I'm not a big fan of the first one.. but I was wondering if the "pretty bird - natural gold" was bad to feed?

What type of pellet diet do you feed your GCC? Is there anything wrong with the Zupreem Natural pellets?

 

[Rio Mom]

I'm currently feeding my GCC pretty bird natural gold because that's what the breeder weaned him onto. I plan to switch to a mix of Harrison's and Roudybush once I'm close to finished with the bag of pretty bird.

 

[Aloha071687]

Hi Rio Mom,
Thanks! The pretty bird is what our breeder is using as well. I would much prefer to have him weaned onto Roudybush, but she said most of her birds prefer not to eat it? I think I'll start out with that as well, and gradually introduce the Roudybush! Thanks again

 

[Bobioden]

Maxx is on Roudybush Crumbles and loves them. He was on a seed diet when I got him, but quickly converted him over to Roudybush.

 

[lexx510]

Guavo has, too, been recently switched over to Roudybush. He seems to like it!

 

[birdmama61]

Im sorry but I feed zupreem parrot diet garden goodness and a mix of fruit blend flavor and my birds have never looked better and i also make sure they get a hard boiled egg every morning and some fruit such as strawberries and or blueberries and etc .... I would have a problem with a breeder telling me what to feed . I have had birds for many years and honestly I have never had a breeder tell me what to feed . I also know people who own avairies and have never heard one of them say certain brands are bad . Also zoos feed their birds zupreem so I hardly doubt something is that bad if the zoos are feeding it .

 

[Pedro]

Forgive me but do any of you feed fresh foods to your birds? Seems to me pellets are so boring with out fruits & veggies. My Conures, in fact all my parrots get about 20% pellets, a bit of small parrot seed & the rest is made up of sprouts, veggies & fresh fruits. Because i have a few different species they get the extra's that they need to balance their diet.

 

[Rio Mom]

River gets lots of fruits and veggies, the only reason I didn't mention it in my first post was because the OP asked what type of pellets do people feed.

 

[John]

My Green Cheek eats Zupreem Fruit Blend Maintenance diet for parrot/conures. Sometimes I get him the smaller, cockatiel version. He has also had various other Zupreem flavors.

I will probably try to switch him to the Zupreme Natural Pellets, as that is what I just switched my new baby Red Bellied Parrot to. My vet (whose feeds her birds the Fruit Blend, but only because they won't eat the natural) thought it would be better to feed the Natural, if possible, (because of the dye in the Fruit Blend), but said the Fruit Blend is fine as well.

My birds also get fresh fruit and/or veggies every day as well, and a little bit of seeds and nuts as treats. The Red Bellied seems to prefer veggies so far (baby carrots and snap peas), but the GCC likes fruit better, though he also loves baby carrots, chopped into small pieces. His favorite is banana and he also gets peaches (sliced, no pit, as it could be toxic) apples, mango and an occasional strawberry.

 

[Pedro]

That's what worried me with the OP. That list of pelleted foods & no mention of fresh foods. But i guess i maybe jumping to conclusions.

In Australia we do things a bit different & pellets still are not on the complete diet list for our birds. I am also finding it very hard to change my mind on pellets mainly because my parrots are so used to their varied diet they would freak out if i just gave them pellets.

 

[birdmama61]

Pedro ,
I dont think you were reading right I did say mine get fresh hard boiled eggs and fresh fruit every morning and they also do get fresh veggie mash most evenings . I was responding to the OP who asked what kind of pellet .

 

[Aloha071687]

Pedro,

The breeder said our baby would be weaned onto fresh fruits and veggies as well, so no worries! I just didn't include that part of her email! We plan to feed plenty of veggies, fruits and sprouts, but I was concerned with the pelleted food he's being weaned onto. I don't like the fruitblend zupreem, because of the dyes, so I'm going to try and switch him to TOPS or Roudybush I believe.

thanks everyone for your great answers! We're super excited to be bringing him home. 2 more weeks! Woo!!

 

[Rio Mom]

Be sure to share pictures!

 

[Aloha071687]

Rio Mom, that will be the first thing I do! I've got some baby pictures, but I'm not sure how to post them?

 

[Rio Mom]

In the technical section of the forum there are step by step directions. If they are on your computer you can upload them to your album here, or you can copy and paste photos into a thread. Myself, I take all my photos with my phone, then send them to facebook or email, then upload them to my album, or copy/paste from facebook to here.

 

[Aloha071687]

Rio mom, I created an album on my page The breeder has two little green cheeks, both she believes to be male. DNA results are supposed to come back this Friday! Enjoy!

 

[Echo]

.... I would have a problem with a breeder telling me what to feed.

A breeder will tell you what her babies have been weaned on.....then it is your choice to gradually change the diet. When a baby is weaned onto a diet, you need to continue with it to make the transition to its new home as easy as possible. You don't want a baby that along with the change of people/environment has to also eat a different food, it should be introduced slowly. Yes I am a Green Cheek Conure breeder and I do tell my parents what they should feed their baby at first, which is a continuation of what I feed them prior to them going home. What they do get to feed their baby later on is their own choice.

Please weigh your baby weekly to make sure he is not losing weight and that he is eating when you are transitioning to a new diet.

 

[Aloha071687]

Hi Echo, thank you very much for the advice! This is our first bird, so we want to do whats right. It makes perfect sense to continue on with the diet he was weaned onto, so we will do just that. Thank you again.

 

[Rio Mom]

Rio mom, I created an album on my page The breeder has two little green cheeks, both she believes to be male. DNA results are supposed to come back this Friday! Enjoy!

Very cute!!

 

[Echo]

You are most welcome!! It is so exciting to be getting your first baby! Congratulations! I know you want to do everything right and get the best for him! You will learn that you will do what is best for you and him, get him to eat what he will eat and be happy that he is healthy! Birds are individuals that have their own likes and dislikes. You will learn what those are, no one can tell you what the best food, toy etc is best...your baby will tell you. With all my parrots I end up feeding Zupreem Fruitblend, Pretty Birds, Harrisons and Roudybush because they all have their favorite pellets!!! Guess what? I feed them what they will eat! Fresh foods and sprouts are very important, pellets and seeds are as well, although in moderation but important all the same.