Converting birds from seed diets to pellets can have some
fantastic benefits, from cutting down on waist to increasing activity and
breeding success, not to mention simplifying the huge task of trying to find the
right nutritional balance for your birds.
Some birds will take to pellets very easily, others may need a
little more persuading. Although this process takes a little time it's definitely
well worth the effort and the benefits will be easy to see in your birds health,
feathers and attitude...
1.) Familiarize! Always feed the birds from the same dish.
Do Not change feed containers when introduction a new food source, birds relate
their normal food receptacle or container to food.
2.) Mix it up! When introducing pellets to your birds for the
first time, add a very "small" amount of hot water to the pellets
until they are slightly sticky and mix them with the normal seed diet at a
initial rate of about 50%/50% to form a seed/pellet dough.
3.) Squash it! Push this mix into the bottom of the birds normal
feed container, the birds will initially try to pick through the mix to obtain
the seed, this process is used only to give the bird a taste for the pellets and
to recognize the pellets as a food source.
4.) Be Consistent! Continue this system for several days, then slowly
reduce the seed content in the mix, after around ten days add just pellet dough
mix to the feed container and two days after that present just dry pellets and
that should be that!
5.) Monitor! Keep a close eye on your birds during the
conversion process and make sure they are all still feeding once the conversion
process is complete. Then you can relax with the peace of mind that your
bird is getting the best nutrition available for a long and healthy life!!!
While pellets are by far the most nutritionally balanced and
superior food source available, it's always a good idea to offer your birds
plant and vegetable matter for behavioral enrichment for those species where
necessary.
Considering the rising cost of seeds in today's commodity
markets and the nutritional quality being questionable, perhaps it's time to
rethink how you feed your birds...
