Pellets vs Seed

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:36 pm

When you say that you give you birds pellets instead of seeds, please explain. I have been feeding mine a seed mixture that I get from ladygouldian in Atlanta. They love the seeds and do not pick through it rather eat it all. But what are the Pellets?

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:30 pm

Pellets are just formulated food with added vitamins and minerals made into pellets or crumbles. Here are some links to see what some of the brands of pelleted foods are. Hope this helps!

Kaytee Finch Pellets

Roudybush Pellets/Crumbles

Lafeber's Brand Pellets/Crumbles

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:50 pm

Thank you so much. I have only feed mine seeds. Do you think they will accept the pellets. Also, are they less messy and do they have everything that the birds need?

Post by **Sally** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:25 am

Just my personal experience--I switched over to pelleted feed because I thought the birds would have a more balanced diet, and I wouldn't have to supplement as much, and it was definitely less messy. After some time, I noticed that the birds just didn't seem as happy, and they looked a little off. Nothing big, just didn't seem the same.

I went back to a good finch seed mix, and they all seem happier and brighter now. I think the pellets do a good job of balancing the nutrition. What they don't give the birds is interest--same old thing every day. I see that my birds search thru the seeds, seeking out their favorites. It is a more natural food.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:45 am

Thanks. I want happy birds. I had talked with someone at the last bird fair who used Dr Marshalls products. They did not feed their birds any veggies, fruits, mealworms etc.....

They told me they just didn't need them when using these products.
But I decided against that because I love giving my birds variety and I do not have them for breeding purposes only. I think the birds like to have these things. As you said, it keeps them from being bored and is more interesting to them.

So I think I am going to forget about the pellets. Especially since mine are all doing so well.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:20 am

give the birds a choice, one dish of seed and one of pellets. that way they get the best of both worlds. its funny how everyone feeds their birds ripened seeds when in the wild ripe seeds form a very small part of the diet

Echo · Post by **Echo** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:21 pm

When we first got our finches, we fed them seed (I think because it was what they had been fed before). It was messy; every time they ate, half of the seeds were flung everywhere. We then mixed in a pellet mix so that they would get accustomed to the pellets. Now they're eating pellets exclusively. And it is much less messy; no food on the floor.

Besides the pellets, we also give them a cuttlebone and a block of vitamins and minerals, similar to the cuttlebone.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Thu May 29, 2008 10:56 pm

Seeds offer birds the chance to work the beak and forage. They are more messy than pellets, but since so little is understood about what exact ratios different finches need to have a balanced diet that I don't understand how pellets can give them then proper balanced diet alone.

Sean

Post by **Sally** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:08 am

I switched my birds to an all-pellet diet at one time (not really 100% pellets, as they still got veggies and eggfood). Anyway, after a time, they just seemed 'off'--nothing I could pinpoint, but they seemed quieter, less active. I went back to seeds, and they all perked up. I try to give them as much variety as I can, not only for the nutrition, but to keep them interested--has to be boring sitting in a cage all day! I had a freezer shelf full of pellets, so now I add them to my eggfood--some get eaten, some left. I loved not having the mess of seeds, but I love hearing my birds sing more.