Switching Lucy to a pellet diet

[bpenniman]

Lucy has been on a petsmart seed diet since I got her, but I recently decided to change her diet to roundybush. Right now her diet consists of a seed mix and I give her fresh fruits and vegetables. But I've done some research and want her to eat healthier. We used to go through the McDonald's drive through together and get French fries and burgers. She loved it but her moods would get iffy. I read a pelleted diet is better for moods. And don't judge me for feeding my parrot Mcdonald's food. It doesn't happen anymore. But what I am wondering is do I make a transition to pelleted diet or just change it all at once?

 

[Allee]

Good for you for changing to a healthier diet. Here is a link with tips on converting a bird to a better diet.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

It's better to slowly change a parrots diet. A sudden and complete change will cause undue stress and can lead to nutritional deficiencies. A good rule is to offer the new foods and the familiar foods, when you are sure your bird is eating enough of the new diet you can slowly reduce the amount of the seed diet until you can stop offering it. It's a good idea to weigh your bird daily to make sure she stays healthy through the transition.

 

[henpecked]

The first step is to establish a routine of weighing her every AM before feeding. Only then can you judge her eating habits when switching her over.I make a game out of it and the birds look forward to getting weighed and a treat. Just my .02 on the subject.

 

[WilliamKenyon]

To get your bird to eat pellets first i would start by mixing pellets into her normal food food for approximately two weeks. this will help the bird see that the pellets are a type of food even though it is likely that it will not begin to eat them. The next step you should take is to give the bird pellets exclusively for no more than twelve hours. as the bird to feel hungry it will try eating the pellets. If the bird does not start to eat the pellets on the first go (usually they don't) put them back to eating its normal diet for one week then repeat the previous process. Most birds will begin to eat pellets on the second go (just as my bird did). Should the bird still not be eating pellets let them eat their normal diet for a week and then try again. I hope this will help your bird become a healthier eater, good luck.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Lucy has been on a petsmart seed diet since I got her, but I recently decided to change her diet to roundybush. Right now her diet consists of a seed mix and I give her fresh fruits and vegetables. But I've done some research and want her to eat healthier. We used to go through the McDonald's drive through together and get French fries and burgers. She loved it but her moods would get iffy. I read a pelleted diet is better for moods. And don't judge me for feeding my parrot Mcdonald's food. It doesn't happen anymore. But what I am wondering is do I make a transition to pelleted diet or just change it all at once?

I certainly wont judge you,cause I'm bad lol..Amy and Jonesy will get a couple McyDee's French frys from me IF I go,which is seldom < I watch my junk food intake too lol> and they love 'em..mostly they'd eat the first one,then make a game out of tearing apart any other. And you know what any doctor will tell you..."in moderation"!

Jim

Ji

 

[bpenniman]

Thank you all for the input. And she is finally eating green peppers and leafy greens so that's good as well.