Planning for Galah!

[MustLoveAnimals]

Since I've decided that the Galah 'Too is the bird I want to bring home in the near future, I've been doing lots of planning and researching. I already have two names narrowed down (Eden or Lucca)! Which one do you like more? I'm having a difficult time deciding.
I know that I would like to get a cage that is 48" long, 36" deep, and 72" tall. At the very minimum, 40" long, 30" deep, and 60" tall.
I've found some foods online that I'd like to get. Good or bad? I'd like some input.
https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...10&ei=3jEuVK6hHs2HyATw3oGwCg&ved=0CPUBEKYrMAg

Totally Organics TOP Organic Bird Pellets

 

[Dinosrawr]

I love both of those names to be completely honest - but if I had to really pick, I think I'd go with Eden. I like how it sounds in comparison to Lucca.

The cage sizes sound great, just be careful with bar spacing Sometimes the bigger cages only come with huuuggeeee bar spacing, or so that's what I've encountered while shopping. But I also live in Canada and in a province where there's hardly any decent shopping for when it comes to birds.

As for the food, honestly your bird will decide for you, haha! I've tried many different food brands with my birds (TOPS, Roudy, Harrison's, Goldenfeast, Hagen, the list goes on..) and there's only a few that they'll eat. I feed my birds Roudy and Harrison's, and I've started giving them a small amount of Goldenfeast seed mixes on top of their veggie chops/mashes.

I'd also be rather cautious of getting parrot foods that have a lot of dried foods in them because they may preserve the food using sulphites or dehydrating them (which creates an excessively high amount of sugar). So look into sugar content and how the foods are preserved when buying them. I really like the MSBS mixes. I'm also weird in the sense that if I couldn't safely snack on it without getting grossed out, my birds shouldn't be snacking on it. I don't know how many times I've looked at parrot treats or food sold in pet stores that say on the back, "Not Safe for Human Consumption".

It's also a good idea to look into making your own mixes. I just made my own this weekend that has green lentils, green/yellow split peas, chick peas, brown rice, with sweet bell peppers (red/green/yellow), parsley, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, and kale. I added a bit of my Goldenfeast Conure Seed Blend into it as a treat. Then I freeze it and warm it up for my birds... they go wild over it the mashes I make them. So that's always another option too

You must be so excited!

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

I love both of those names to be completely honest - but if I had to really pick, I think I'd go with Eden. I like how it sounds in comparison to Lucca.

The cage sizes sound great, just be careful with bar spacing Sometimes the bigger cages only come with huuuggeeee bar spacing, or so that's what I've encountered while shopping. But I also live in Canada and in a province where there's hardly any decent shopping for when it comes to birds.

As for the food, honestly your bird will decide for you, haha! I've tried many different food brands with my birds (TOPS, Roudy, Harrison's, Goldenfeast, Hagen, the list goes on..) and there's only a few that they'll eat. I feed my birds Roudy and Harrison's, and I've started giving them a small amount of Goldenfeast seed mixes on top of their veggie chops/mashes.

I'd also be rather cautious of getting parrot foods that have a lot of dried foods in them because they may preserve the food using sulphites or dehydrating them (which creates an excessively high amount of sugar). So look into sugar content and how the foods are preserved when buying them. I really like the MSBS mixes. I'm also weird in the sense that if I couldn't safely snack on it without getting grossed out, my birds shouldn't be snacking on it. I don't know how many times I've looked at parrot treats or food sold in pet stores that say on the back, "Not Safe for Human Consumption".

It's also a good idea to look into making your own mixes. I just made my own this weekend that has green lentils, green/yellow split peas, chick peas, brown rice, with sweet bell peppers (red/green/yellow), parsley, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, and kale. I added a bit of my Goldenfeast Conure Seed Blend into it as a treat. Then I freeze it and warm it up for my birds... they go wild over it the mashes I make them. So that's always another option too

You must be so excited!

I was leaning towards Eden as well.

Right! I was told that bar spacing should be no more than one inch.

Silly parrots, they are so picky. I'll buy multiple different foods to see what he likes. I'll also look at the ingredients to make sure there isn't a lot of sugar content.
I'd love to make my own mix! I do this for my Cockatiel, and she LOVES it.

I am ecstatic! I've been having dreams about it. In the beginning, I thought it would be another year before I bring one home, but it's going to be much sooner than that. I couldn't be happier.

 

[getwozzy]

Oh I like the name Eden; but I'm biased because that's my youngest niece's name

Your cage dimensions sound good- and yep- 1" bar spacing would be the max, Chili's cage has 3/4" and she does fine. Also, keep in mind that Galahs like to hang upside down, wings spread, and screech as their morning and evening calls (it may not happen all the time, but it's bound to happen). So you'll need enough room inside the cage for her(?) to do this lol

I also buy my mixes from MSBS because I haven't been able to find sulphite or sugar free dry mixes from a store yet, and I haven't made the trek to a whole foods store.

TOPs is good, but we don't do pellets right now because her diet is so varied I don't feel they're necessary. I would get a variety and see what she likes...

Good luck!

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

Oh I like the name Eden; but I'm biased because that's my youngest niece's name

Your cage dimensions sound good- and yep- 1" bar spacing would be the max, Chili's cage has 3/4" and she does fine. Also, keep in mind that Galahs like to hang upside down, wings spread, and screech as their morning and evening calls (it may not happen all the time, but it's bound to happen). So you'll need enough room inside the cage for her(?) to do this lol

I also buy my mixes from MSBS because I haven't been able to find sulphite or sugar free dry mixes from a store yet, and I haven't made the trek to a whole foods store.

TOPs is good, but we don't do pellets right now because her diet is so varied I don't feel they're necessary. I would get a variety and see what she likes...

Good luck!

I agree!

Lol I'll make sure that there is enough space for *him (yes, I want a boy ) to do this.
Thank you, I'll look into these foods!

 

[aether-drifter]

Agreed, the cage size sounds great! The bigger the better.

My galah eats TOPs, but I mix them with Oven Fresh Bites just for the nutrient and texture variety. She's kind of picky when it comes to food, so I'm shocked she eats some of the healthiest pellets out there, especially being a seed junky when she came to me! I've yet to find any fruit she likes aside from apples, but she loves mini peppers and jalapenos. Also cooked grains. And she goes NUTS for nuts! Almonds and cashews are her favorite treats.

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

Agreed, the cage size sounds great! The bigger the better.

My galah eats TOPs, but I mix them with Oven Fresh Bites just for the nutrient and texture variety. She's kind of picky when it comes to food, so I'm shocked she eats some of the healthiest pellets out there, especially being a seed junky when she came to me! I've yet to find any fruit she likes aside from apples, but she loves mini peppers and jalapenos. Also cooked grains. And she goes NUTS for nuts! Almonds and cashews are her favorite treats.

Great! I'll keep those in mind!
And the jalapenos.....are the really hot ones safe? We have a jalapeno plant that produces quite a bit, but they're so hot! I can't even eat a tiny slice without my mouth feeling like it's on fire.

 

[getwozzy]

Parrots LOVE chili peppers -they don't have the receptors for capsaicin, so they don't burn their mouth like it does with us...

Be careful about kissing your fid- the oils transfer very easily- I've had my lips and cheek on fire because I forgot Chili ate jalapeños[emoji33][emoji33]

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

Parrots LOVE chili peppers -they don't have the receptors for capsaicin, so they don't burn their mouth like it does with us...

Be careful about kissing your fid- the oils transfer very easily- I've had my lips and cheek on fire because I forgot Chili ate jalapeños[emoji33][emoji33]

Ooh lovely! I'll give some to my 'Tiel as well.
Oh no, I'll try to remember that!

 

[aether-drifter]

Parrots LOVE chili peppers -they don't have the receptors for capsaicin, so they don't burn their mouth like it does with us...

Be careful about kissing your fid- the oils transfer very easily- I've had my lips and cheek on fire because I forgot Chili ate jalapeños[emoji33][emoji33]

That has happened to me too, lol.

 

[chucka]

Out of all the different food options ive tried for my galah she seems to enjoy beans carrot capsaicin sweet potato , she will often choose carrot over pellets but only if its cut into sticks so she can hold it.
She has never really eaten much fruit.
We have lots of wild galahs in town and they seem to only eat grass seeds ......

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

Out of all the different food options ive tried for my galah she seems to enjoy beans carrot capsaicin sweet potato , she will often choose carrot over pellets but only if its cut into sticks so she can hold it.
She has never really eaten much fruit.
We have lots of wild galahs in town and they seem to only eat grass seeds ......

I'll expect the Galah to pick and choose different veggies and fruits. But I'll make sure that I try out the ones you mentioned.
Wild Galahs, what a sight to see! I wish we had them out here.