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Post by quakersgonnaquake on Feb 17, 2015 13:38:11 GMT -5
Hi, I'm going to be getting a Quaker and have read that a whole seed diet is bad for them. I also have looked for a pellet diet designed specifically for them, but found none. Is a pellet diet made for cockatiels okay for them to have? I also need to know if Parakeet seed is okay for him to eat until I get good seeds.
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Post by aaron on Feb 17, 2015 14:44:29 GMT -5
Greetings and welcome!
That is correct, a whole seed diet is bad for Quakers (and parrots in general)... Seeds should be treats at most, and it is often best to forego them entirely if possible. A pellet diet for cockatiels will probably be acceptable at least short term-- I'm honestly not entirely sure on the details of what makes a pellet different between a cockatiel formula and say a quaker/conure formula. Parakeet seed is a woefully inadequate diet for a quaker parrot, but I'm not sure it's any worse than any other seed mix, really.
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Post by julianna on Feb 17, 2015 14:53:15 GMT -5
Don't forget the fresh fruit and vegetables.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Feb 17, 2015 16:18:05 GMT -5
I feed Mr P cockatiel zupreme natural. I don't think there is much of a difference in the formula in the pellets, I think it has more to do with the size. Mr P does not like the larger pellets and won't eat them.
If you go to the websites of some of the larger pellet manufacturer's and tell them you are converting your bird from seeds to pellets, a lot of them will send you free samples or coupons in the mail.
Budgie seed is not the best of diets, even for a budgie! If your quaker will ONLY eat seed at the moment, try Lafaber nutriberries or avicakes instead of budgie seed (or in addition to).
Grains such as quinoa, bulgar wheat, couscous and oatmeal are also good for them and most will eat that right away.
There are also many recipes on the internet (the florida parrot rescue website has a few) for birdie bread. Again, most parrots like the birdie bread and if you grind some pellets and mix it into the bread, your FID will get the nutrition from the pellets even if he is not eating them plain.
I would make a HUGE effort to get him off the seed, however do not go cold turkey as some birds will just refuse to eat.
Lastly, birds are hungriest at daybreak and dusk. Remove all budgie seed and offer only pellets, birdie bread, veggies and fruit at these times of the day. Give him/her an hour with only "good stuff" in his dish, then, offer him the seed. Leave the seed in for enough time that he gets to eat if he so desires, then remove it, leaving pellets in his cage over night. Do not offer him the seed again, until after his first morning forage. Never leave him with no food, but limit the time he gets budgie seeds, extending the time he gets pellets and the other stuff.
I should add, if he is not eating seed at the moment, dont get him any! LOL
Good luck!
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Post by quakersgonnaquake on Feb 17, 2015 16:19:29 GMT -5
aaron+julianna Thank you so much!! I only want the best for the little guy and I will convert him from the seeds he is used to to pellets using the 'Andie Method' I read of on this site!! I'll also give him plenty of fruits and veggies! I'll also be giving the parakeet seed to my cousin after he's converted to pellets unless I can find better seed, so not a big loss!!
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Post by quakersgonnaquake on Feb 17, 2015 16:24:16 GMT -5
Sharyn and Mr P and Mr P Thanks for the advice!! I will definitely remove all seeds after he is converted to use only as treats, however, what if he only eats seeds? Should I just buy a cockatiel seed mix until he is converted?
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Feb 17, 2015 21:52:11 GMT -5
Higgins Safflower Gold natural is what was recommended to me during the conversion of a bird that only eats seeds. I have a budgie/cockatiel mix in the house from the conversion of my foster tiel, but they may make something for bigger birds. I'd check out the Higgins website and see what they offer. Stay away from seed mixes that contain peanuts and sunflower seeds.
For whatever reasons, it seems like Quakers like the fruit flavored pellets. Zupreme also makes a fruit flavored which you might want to try. Although the "natural" pellets that don't contain artificial stuff are certainly best, ANY pellet diet is better than ANY seed diet so keep that in mind when you are looking for a pellet that your quaker might eat.
Also, a number of folks have had success soaking the pellets in unsweetened apple juice before feeding.
Just don't give up! It's worth it!
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Post by picoides on Mar 10, 2015 18:43:16 GMT -5
I feed Kermit the cockatiel size Zupreem pellets. I think on the package it says also for conures, lovebirds, and similar sized birds. I agree it is more of a size thing, but there are special diets for African Greys, Lorikeets, etc. But, quakers, cockatiels and conures are pretty much on the same diet.
Jeff
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 10, 2015 20:28:36 GMT -5
Higgins Safflower Gold natural is what was recommended to me during the conversion of a bird that only eats seeds. I'd check out the Higgins website and see what they offer. Also, a number of folks have had success soaking the pellets in unsweetened apple juice before feeding. The Higgins Safflower Gold is what I buy for Ralph for his small daily ration of a seed mix. There is a Parrot version and a Conure/Cockatiel version, with slight differences between them. The Conure/Cockatiel mix contains millet, which the Parrot mix doesn't. There is a sprinkling of Higgins InTune pellets in both, larger ones in the Parrot mix. The Parrot mix contains a few peanuts in the shell (which I throw outside for the squirrels) and some almonds in the shell also. Both contain dried vegetables and fruits and a few other kinds of nuts. It's easy to remove anything from the mix your parrot won't eat, or that you'd rather he/she didn't eat. Ralph liked the Higgins pellets in the mix well enough so that I bought a bag of only the InTune pellets. Ralph really enjoys a few soaked pellets every day. I just use spring water to soften them. |
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Post by aaron on Mar 10, 2015 20:35:19 GMT -5
Before we switched Cupcake to pellets we were using Safflower Gold. At this point we don't use it any more, but Cupcake sure did love those safflower seeds.
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Post by grimtheparrot on Mar 11, 2015 21:13:04 GMT -5
Bananas, are a huge treat for them as well.
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Post by quakersgonnaquake on Mar 14, 2015 20:48:49 GMT -5
Thank you guys! I will use all the information I received here to help keep him happy and healthy!
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