F-vite is bad and pellets are best??!! HELP!!!

[sundancekid]

As many of you have probably seen, I pick up my first finches (societies) on Friday. I have their cage all set up and am just rounding up the necessities. I thought I knew everything I needed/wanted to feed. I found an avian certified vet who also has a retail shop and I decided to buy Volkman seed from them. It is the only place anywhere near me that sells better value/quality than the big box stores.
So I arrive at the store and find my seed. I then ask the lady (wife of the vet who is listening from the desk) if she has anything similar to F-vite (I had to explain that it's a vitamin fortified grit). She IMMEDIATELY stated firmly that grit was not necessary and actually very bad for all birds. She said it stays in their system and they are unable to excrete it. I don't remember what exactly she said because I was so taken aback by her response.

They were also claiming that pellets are the best diet for a bird and that people who say otherwise don't know what they're talking about. They were trying to push me to purchase Higgins pellets at $10/lb. They gave me a paper with the advantages of pellets and how to transition them. The logic seems sound, but I'm still confused by the bad things I've heard about pellets. I decided to stick with my Volkman and told them I would think about it.

They also talked me into buying a spring and water stopper with a free Snapple bottle to switch them to a water bottle drinker. I'm going to try it out I guess, but I need to get a smaller bottle.... it seems to heavy and keeps sliding down. Very awkward to try to place as well.

So now I feel kind of uncomfortable going back to buy my seed, but I don't have a choice. I'm mostly confused about the claims of grit being harmful. I'm really thrown off by the fact that he's a certified avian vet, so he must know what he's talking about right? Thoughts??

[Sally]

You will find many arguments for both sides of the 'grit' question. My personal feeling is that I feed a mineral mix that contains oystershell grit for the calcium benefits, not for the purpose of grinding the seed. Finches hull their seed, so they don't need 'grit' or 'gravel' to grind up the seed. My birds eat lots of the mineral mix I offer, and it hasn't killed them yet.

As far as pellet diets, I think you will find that many if not most vets will say that pellet diets are best, because they are balanced. Again, to me it is a personal choice. Birds in the wild do just fine without pellets, so as long as I offer a varied, balanced diet, I think my birds are just as well off without the pellets. Some offer both, letting the birds make the choice.

I did switch my birds over to an all-pellet diet at one time. I loved it, because there was no hull mess, no discarded seeds. Then one day in the bird room, I realized that my birds were less active, quieter. I had taken all the 'fun' out of eating, they were lacking stimulation. I switched back to a seed/veggie/egg food/mineral mix diet, and in no time, my birds were singing again. I think they need the mental stimulation of hulling the seed, picking through the mixture for favorites.

[cindy]

Honestly...I used pellets for year, my birds did well on them. I decided to try the powdered vitamins in the soft foods....I got good results but still liked what the pellets did for my birds.

As far as Higgins pellets I have only tried the larger parrot size and they did not go over very well. I love Roudybush high Energy Breeder with extra protein, calcium and D3....it contains vitamins and minerals as well. I just ordered a fairly large order and will be putting the birds back on it. I will still use the powdered vitamins a couple of times a week and the calcium/D3 when needed.

I will still serve seeds and chitted seeds, quinoa and veggies, egg foods. I also soak pellets and use them in soft food mixes.

[delray]

cindy sounds like you give a great varied diet. And your mixes sound awesome.

[lovezebs]

sundancekid
Don't get upset over this. As mentioned above, birds in the wild do just fine without pellets and have eaten seeds as far back as birds and seeds have been around. Nothing wrong with pellets as such, but how would we like to eat pellets everyday instead of normal food, even if we were told that they contained all the nutrients we need. Blah!! If you want to try some pellets, I would buy a small bag somewhere and offer them together with the seeds. I wouldn't let some lady dictate to you what to feed your birds, or make you feel guilty.

Good seeds, veg, greens, fruit, eggs, and yes, some fortified grit etc. And your birds will be happy and healthy.

[dutch]

sundancekid.....certified avian vet doesn't mean anything

I went to one of the best....and he had no idea....also kept going on about pellets

[MiaCarter]

Agreed with all the points stated above.

I'd also add that F-Vite is formulated by a certified vet --- Dr. Marshall, who's widely regarded as one of the best in the avian world. So it's just representative of the dissent in the avian world. Everyone has their own philosophy.

I feed F-Vite and my birds have been all the better for it. I sprinkle a small amount over their foods and they devour it.
And it's only 10% grit, so no real worries there. Indeed, they don't really need the grit, but it's not harmful in small or reasonable amounts.

I've heard of birds with impactions resulting from grit and charcoal, but that occurs when a bird engorges him/herself on those items.
But really, nothing is healthy when you eat it in vast quantities.

No real opinion on pellets, as my guys won't touch them. LOL

[cindy]

Pellet are a great source of vitamins and nutrition....but my vet said not to do a straight diet of pellets for finches and especially budgies. The metabolism in finches is to high. Documentation she said shows that certain species need seed along with pellets. Ratio if using seed and pellets is recommended at 60-80% pellets and 40 to 20% seed. The diets should include leafy dark greens along with yellow and orange veggies daily. Extra protein such as eggfood not exceeding 25 to 30% protein when parent birds are feeding young.

All my birds get seed and some form of vitamin/supplement or pellets plus the veggies. Eggfood is given when breeding, feeding young...non breeders get it between one and two times a week. The pellets I use contain protein, seed contains plant proteins in small amounts.

The only time I had a bird on strict pellets was for a medical condition....it was required to control an issue. The bird did fine but was also supplemented with fruits and veggies. This was done under vet supervision.

I also use Goldenfeast Australian Blend on some of my species such as the Chestnut breasted, tri colored munia, java, owls, goldbreast and grasskeets. The diet is varied as not to have them bored. Foraging is vital to mental stimulation. My conure gets a variety of Goldenfeasts blends that they offer.

When I have tried Mazuri, Zupreem, Higgins (hookbill) Roudybush, Lafebers, Hagen and found the two most favored are the Roudybush and Lafebers. Lafebers is great mixed in soft eggfoods, easy for parents to feed to the young. Mazuri was to hard and the hookbills did not like it, same with Hagen and Higgins. I was also not a fan of the KayTee pellets...they were ignored.

Not all avian vets are unknowledgeable....the ones I have used in my area are extremely helpful and very well educated and up on all current information regards avian health....it also pays to do a bit of research on your own and ask lots of questions. I have used Roudybush for years and never had issue with it. The birds do prefer the High Energy Breeder over the Maintenance Formula.

[sundancekid]

I'm sorry I haven't been back to reply. I'm in nursing school and things got crazy this week. Thank you all for explaining this to me. I had no idea that there was such controversy over grit and pellets. All of your perspectives make sense and I understand that pellets are more well rounded, but could be boring to eat! I might try out the pellets in the future once the birdies settle in. Definitely going to place my order for F-Vite though. I'm relieved to hear that there's nothing wrong about that. Thanks!!

[lovezebs]

sundancekid
Good luck with birdies, and with Nursing School. What year are you in?

[sundancekid]

lovezebs
I'm in the second year of an RN program. Just a semester and a half left! Hard, but worth it.

[lovezebs]

sundancekid

[Sadie]

I give mine 70% seed mix & 30% pellet along with veges, fruits, grit mix, Vita Sol in water