step back in senior tiel's diet

[bug_n_flock]

Alex has stopped eating his pellets. He powderizes them and will slowly peck at them but isn't eating enough. This is my fault I'm sure. Had been giving in and giving him millet and oat sprays daily during out of cage time, now he only will happily eat seed. I'm worried. He isn't a young boy and I don't like him eating so much seed, but he doesn't eat enough of the pellets anymore and until I give in and give him seed, he pouts, tries to reach for any seed he can, fluffs up, and just acts like he hasn't eaten enough. Is this a me problem and I need to put my foot down? Is this just a spoiled bird provlem? should I go to a vet? He eats the seed just fine, is active and acts right when eating seed, is even willing to hang upside down from the cage top to eat if I place a spray millet on the top of his cage. Sigh. Maybe I should grab a bag of those birdy fruitloop pellets and get him eating that again and then switch him to harrisons again. I hate feeding those sugary, dyed, fake fruit things.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

If it's a sudden change (ie, him not eating pellets), I'd consider bringing him to your vet. My little guy suddenly stopped eating his chop but still went crazy for almonds right before he started vomiting and needed to be hospitalised. That being said, it might just be me fearmongering over here.

Is he losing weight if you don't increase his seed intake? I'm also wondering if it's hormonal or molting reasons, and next week he'll pick up eating pellets again?

My initial thought is to somehow make pellets appealing for him. If Cairo is rejecting chop, sometimes I'll mix in fresh batch of cooked brown/red rice or I'll warm up his chop slightly or I'll put a dash of probiotics (it's sweet) on top. Is it possible to maybe make a mash of pellets and hide seeds inside to whet his appetite?

 

[bug_n_flock]

I can do that. And no its not been sudden, this has been bugging me for a little while but I do think it is just him being picky. I have a sweet probiotic powder I can dash on. He also likes powdered ginger and crushed red pepper flakes. I'll put some of that on too.



He molted back in Late april-May so I don't think it is that. I'll go to giving him seed 1-2 times a day for a limited amount of time and pellets all the time(with probiotic, ginger, and red pepper. Hopefully that will help and I won't have to give him that fruityjunk.