Switching seeds

[bean]

So i have recently gotten my cockatiel (13/14 weeks old now) about 4 weeks ago. the breeder gave me seeds to have him on until i could switch it over slowly but life issues came up and i wasnt able to find the time to get any new seed to switch during that time so he had just been on the one from the breeder aswell as pellets and vegies (he eats both now). i'm just wondering if it would be okay to buy the new seed and since hes been eating pellets aswell for the past 4 weeks it would be okay to slowly give him some new seed without the previous seed there? not sure what to do thanks

 

[jm0]

The ultimate would be to have both seed mix and pellets, and then gradually remove the seed mix from the diet. Make sure that he actually eats the pellets, and not just drops them on the bottom of the cage, fooling you to think he has eaten them. If he truly eats the pellets, then i don't see any reason to still have the seed mix in there IMO. Try to present a foodbowl with pellets only, and walk away and observe in a distance if he eats them. If not, then he still needs his seeds to be there as he is used to from the breeder. You don't want to starve your little birdie

 

[bean]

The ultimate would be to have both seed mix and pellets, and then gradually remove the seed mix from the diet. Make sure that he actually eats the pellets, and not just drops them on the bottom of the cage, fooling you to think he has eaten them. If he truly eats the pellets, then i don't see any reason to still have the seed mix in there IMO. Try to present a foodbowl with pellets only, and walk away and observe in a distance if he eats them. If not, then he still needs his seeds to be there as he is used to from the breeder. You don't want to starve your little birdie

yes he does eat them but he did eat seed a lot too, im not sure but im thinking maybe he has started screaming a bit since i havent had the seed for a day now as i cant see how else it would be triggered. so would it be okay to add a small amount of seed even if its new or no?

 

[Flboy]

I believe in a high quality seed mix as part of a good diet, sprouted even better! Especially since most pellets are mostly wheat, corn, or soy!
TOPS brand is a great quality!
https://topsparrotfood.com/

 

[Teddscau]

I agree with David on the whole seed thing. In my opinion, cockatiels and budgies NEED to have at least some seed in their diet. They've evolved to eat primarily grass seed, wild millet, wild grains, etc., and to eliminate seed from their diet often causes psychological, behavioural, and digestive problems in my experience. Although the seed we provide them with in captivity is far different in terms of nutrition from what they'd eat in the wild, they still need to eat at least a small amount everyday. Many would disagree, but if you saw what my budgies are like when they've gone without seed for too long, then I introduce it to them, you'd probably agree with me. You should see the look of absolute desperation when they all rush over to the seed, and they won't quit eating it until they're stuffed.

You can think of it like with pandas. Bamboo has almost no nutrition, yet zoos still feed it to them. And finding a bamboo supplier isn't cheap or easy. You'd think you could just give them an alternative, however, the pandas would quickly begin displaying behavioural problems, develop digestive problems, and would be distressed. Carnivores in zoos pace because they don't have the opportunity to hunt, and herbivores do weird things with their mouths because they are given concentrated foods (kibble, pellets, highly nutritious veggies) rather than being allowed to graze or browse.

For animals, you can't just think about food in terms of taste or nutrition—no, you have to think about what the food means to them in terms of natural history and behaviour. Large carnivores spend the majority of their time sleeping, and only hunt once in a while. For them, they need to engage in hunting behaviour (for a cheetah in captivity, that can be chasing a hunk of meat on a pulley; for a captive polar bear, that can be waiting for bubbles to appear at an artificial hole in the "ice", then smashing their "prey" against the "ice" to simulate bashing open a seal's head that has surfaced to breathe). For small carnivores like aye-ayes and shrews, providing live food (mealworms, crickets, etc.) in foraging devices is important to keep them active and engaged, as small predators are constantly searching for high energy foods. For large herbivores, they should be allowed to graze for extended periods of time on large quantities of high-fibre, low nutrition plant matter, otherwise they're bored out of their minds. Small herbivores need to be provided with high energy plant matter that has been put in foraging devices and hidden throughout their enclosure.

Right, kind of got off topic. For parrots such as budgies and cockatiels, seed should definitely make up at least some of their diet. By no means should it make up their entire diet, though. Putting a bit of it in food grade cardboard boxes for them to tear open is a good idea, as is stuffing it in a clean pill container with holes drilled in it. And even better, using seed as a reward during training is more than an adequate substitute for flying vast distances in the wild in search of seed during droughts. For small animals (herbivores, omnivores, carnivores), it's about the search for these high value foods, not necessarily the consumption, that makes them happy. Still, make sure they get an adequate amount of seed.

 

[GaleriaGila]

My thoughts...

Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. 30-ish years ago, Harrison's was still a small company. My vet was actually able to talk to Dr. Harrison about my bird's species and status, and they decided on the High Potency. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff. My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. Nuts can be so fatty... I have red that almonds are realy good. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

 

[texsize]

Seed mix varies a lot from brand to brand.
Best bet IMO is a seed mix without sunflower seeds. There are several on the market.

I put seeds on the bottom of the food dish and sprinkle pellets (Zupreem) on top.
another trick is to soak the pellets in juice (Apple works for my birds).
Because your Tiel is already eating pellets it's probably not necessary.


texsize

 

[bean]

i agree with having some seed in the diet as thats what i've always read. aswell as vegies and pellets. that was not what i was asking really, but i really have no choice then to buy all new seed since i can't get the breeders seed. thank you for all your answers i have given him some millet for the time being until i can get new seed probably this afternoon or tomorrow hopefully.