Bird - Converting to Pelleted Feeds

For the average bird owner, pelleted rations have many advantages in that they provide a good basic plane of nutrition and are simple to store and feed.

However, many birds do not initially recognise them as food and many do not think they taste as nice as the high fat 'junk food' seed that they are used to!

How then can I persuade my bird to eat pelleted feeds?

Therefore various means must be used to persuade them:

1. For hand-reared birds. These often regard the owner as a flock member and as such will often follow their lead in eating. Therefore nibble (or pretend to nibble) a pellet before handing it to the bird as a treat.
2. 'Cold Turkey'. For well birds all other food can be removed. Pellets are placed in the usual food dish(es) and the bird is starved into submission. This method should not be used for ill birds especially those suspected of having some degree of fatty liver problems.
3. Flavouring. Remove all other food items and mix small quantities of seed or fruit juice with the pellets to persuade the bird to eat pellet. As soon as the pellets are beginning to be consumed cut back on seed. Alternatively use crushed pellets (or mash) mixed with the normal seed mixture. When using this method it is very important that only tiny amounts of seed are given - birds are very clever at only taking what they want to!
4. My usual method is to provide pellet only for 23½ hours a day. For the remaining ½ hour remove the pellets and offer the usual seed mix. This means the bird will be eating every day but will not have enough time to satisfy its energy needs on seed alone, ie use hunger, not starvation. Most birds will start eating pellet within 5 days. Once pellets are being eaten, do not offer further seed.

Should I offer other treats/foods?

During periods of conversion, do not offer treats (other than pellet) or fruit/vegetable. These can be given again once the bird has started eating pellet.

It is also important not to exceed daily recommended allowances of pellet and fruit/vegetables - obesity can still develop if excess of any diet is given.

Uneaten pellet should be removed each day and replaced with fresh food.

It is also important to realise that it is easy for the bird to consume pellets. Normally parrots will spend 6 or more hours a day foraging for food. With pellet it can be all over in 5 minutes leaving a lot of time to fill! Scatter feeding or hiding pellets within interactive toys (eg cardboard boxes, toilet roll tubes, etc) will help with this problem and provide some enrichment for your bird.