How to switch my bfa from all seed diet to pellet

[brittani299]

My bfa Tiki came to me on an all seed diet. I have tried mixing the seeds and pellets and he just takes the seeds out and leaves the pellets. I slowly made less seeds and and he still has no interest in pellets. I also feed him fruit. So I made a couple meals for him of fruit and pellets and of course he takes all the fruit and no pellets. My gcc came to me eating pellets so I am unsure of how to get tiki to actually eat the pellets. I have tried pretending to eat them and that didn't work.

 

[thekarens]

You could try soaking them in some apple juice. I'd also recommend trying to feed your zon more veggies and less fruit.

 

[brittani299]

Thanks I will go that. And I will see if he likes the veggies. Hopefully he does

 

[thekarens]

Some times it takes patience. Keep offering as big of a variety as you can.

 

[brittani299]

I just gave him some green beans that I had and he liked them. What other vegs can they eat?

 

[dreamin_sqaw]

I cant get Sammy to eat veggies. he loves apples and banana's though. I am still trying to find a good pellet food in my area. When I do, I will be looking for help on the switch to. Glad this was posted!

 

[MomtoPercy]

I've had my bfa for about 7 months and he also came to me a total sunflower seed junkie. He still is not an avid pellet eater but I don't provide any seeds anymore except in his foraging toys.

He likes snap peas, corn on the cob, bell peppers and chillies, celery, beet greens, spinach, green beans (all raw). He also likes cooked root veg, especially butternut. In the fruit department he likes everything especially papaya and strawberries.

Try chopping his veggies quite small and add some chopped pellets in there. Also try making him some mash with cooked root veg and stir in some chopped pellets. Lastly, my baby loves birdy bread - do a search here for some recipes, its a grwat way of adding pellets to their diet.

 

[thekarens]

Here's a link to the food forum with a list of foods http://www.parrotforums.com/showthread.php?t=24213

 

[brittani299]

Thank so much for the info about soaking the pellets. He actually ate one and didn't spit it out. But if his expression while he was eating it was funny. He didn't know what to think of it. With eating pellets and fresh vegs he should be a healthier bird though

 

[BACON]

Good luck switching your BFA over to pellets.

My bird has always eaten seed. I decided to change her over to pellets, slowly to start with. She seemed to enjoy them so switched her over 100%. She picked them for a while, then went off them completely.

I put them in her cage ever morning, when I came back from work they were just as she left them, this went on for ages. She just wouldn't eat them. I tried soaking them, mashing them etc but didn't work. No switched her back, she seems fine, she always gets plent of fruit/veg so not tooo worried. I just limit her sunflower seed intake.

I will rob the root mash/pellet idea tho....

Didn't want to put you off..... Just sharing my experience with trying to switch a stubborn BFA from seed to pellets. I hope you have better luck

 

[JerseyWendy]

I've got a GREAT read for you here: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

 

[Vettechjamie]

Im going to pipe in on this comment. I recently got a RLA and he to is on a crappy 3d parrot mix seed diet. Im trying to switch him over. So I know this is still a seed mix but i am feeding him now a nutraberry 30% pellet mix. I work for an avian vet and we like harrisons food.. I bought him some adult lifetime fine mix and the reason for it is he cant grasp the pellet like a normal bird as he has a clubbed foot. So in his main bowl i have the pellets down and various spots in the cage I have his nutraberri food. I make him work for the "junk food"

any tips you could give would be great... He is also very picky. some of his likes (mixed vegetables, popcorn, breads/crusts. rice cakes, peanuts.. I want to feed him a healthy diet but he wont eat most stuff. Ive tried fruit apples, pineapple, and some greens and he wont eat any of it.. He is an older bird about 35.. Just want him to last a while longer lol

 

[SandyBee]

My Bosley is picky somewhat and not a big fan of pellets either. I feed nutriberries and I also make birdie breads and chops with fine ground pellets in it. Bosley also loves sphaghetti, so I make him a sauce with tons of veggies in it hidden by the sauce. Also I've gotten him to eat more veggies by mixing in a little red palm oil.He still doesn't eat much fruit, but will eat some apple if I give him a whole one.