Peeko's current cage setup

[Peeko]

(pictures removed: Tumblr deleted)

A lot of people told me he wouldn't like it so crowded, but he loves it! He climbs and swings around like Tarzan in there, having a grand ol' time.

And I know the cage looks really messy, but its really just seed husks. He decided yesterday that all of the husks in his food dish HAD to go. He still prefers the parakeet food that the breeder weaned him onto, as evidenced by all the husks...but he does eat the conure pellets too.

 

[MikeyTN]

You got him plenty of toys all right!!!!! LoL....

IF he is eating the pellets, why don't you remove the seeds for good?

 

[Peeko]

Because he barely eats any pellets - he might eat two to five small pellets a day, more like snacking on them than actually "eating". I was advised not to use the "he'll eat when he's hungry enough" method and remove the seeds, but to wait until he's eating about 50% of his daily food intake of pellets. Was that bad advice?

 

[MonicaMc]

Why not offer parakeet/cockatiel sized pellets instead of conure sized pellets?


Cage looks like it's got a lot of fun going on inside of it!!!!!

 

[Peeko]

The only parakeet/cockatiel food the store had was 90% seeds with just 10% pellets. We have a family friend who owns a livestock feed store, so I can see about having him order me some, if his supplier has any.

Thanks!

 

[MeganMango]

I weaned Mango by only offering seeds a couple of times per day, and only during the times he doesnt really eat. He eats when we eat, so he sits with us and eats his pellets and veggies. I even put some on my plate so I can hand them to him and pretend we eat them also. He still prefers to eat seeds of I offer them, but he eats his pellets now and just gets seeds for treats.

 

[wenz2712]

Wow.. he has alot in there to keep him amused

Great set up though.

 

[MonicaMc]

The easiest way I got a budgie to eat pellets was to find LaFebers Finch Pellets and sprinkle a little millet over the top. The seeds are almost the same color as the pellets, so once he was out of millet, he just continued picking at what was left - pellets. Since he ate pellets, so did his mate... so it was an easy transition, and from there it was easy to transition him onto more appropriate sized pellets.


Generally speaking though, the small pellets have the same ingredients as large pellets, so you could easily get away with feeding a smaller or larger pellet than what is recommended.


Hope you are able to find some small pellets to try! Or you could always contact several manufacturers and seeing if any are willing to give you a free sample!