Pellet feeding vs. seeds

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:43 pm

I have to give the other perspective, since the question was posed why some people don't go to pellets. Personally I think that finches are curious, inquisitive little creatures. Pellets, while convenient for us and balanced, aren't very interesting in and of themselves. My birds are on a seed diet, with different veggies or fruit twice a week, dry eggfood or insectivorous food and eggshell at all times, and fresh eggfood maybe once a week unless they are molting or feeding little ones. Sometimes I'll throw in fresh grass seedheads that I found or various seeds. The idea is to provide for their needs, but also give them something to sample and explore - it can get pretty boring in a 30x18x18 cage. It doesn't take much time - I work a 50+ hour week with a second job and about 200 birds myself.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:51 pm

Wow Hiliary that's impressive as to your time commitment to your finches considering that you are working so many hours.

I guess I see it as a nice package and an easy way to feed my finches especially if I'm gone for the weekend or have someone else feed my finches without having to worrk about them starving from their trays being full of seed husks.

I'm gone for three weeks to South America in a few weeks so I know if they are feeding on pellets they should be ok with my family menbers coming in to feed them.

But I agree with you that variety is best and the finches will be happier. I just want to make sure that the pellet diet is imbedded in them before I give them seeds again in fear that they would convert back to seeds.

Chris

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:59 pm

Wow Chris - lucky you - 3 weeks in South America! Off topic, where are you going? (I lived down there as a kid.) I can see your concern - I've never been gone more than a week at a time, and while I have a wonderful neighbor/bird sitter who has (big) birds of her own I always still worry. She knows to make sure there is actual seed and takes good care of them, but anything to make it easier would be nice. I'd love not to have to sweep every day, but just can't make the switch. If I ever did, I'd probably still do all of the extras - just switch seed for pellets.

Marcos · Post by **Marcos** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:32 pm

Just to add to the tourist mix........I was born here (US), but my family and heritage is from Colombia. In fact, I have more extended family in Bogota, Cali and Barranquilla Colombia, than I do in the states. I go back regularly.

Chirs, in all honesty, these are finches, not Parrots.....curious ones they may be, but on the intellect scale, they are no match for the intelligence of a parrot. Not only are parrots far more intelligent, but they also have cognitive ability, rivaled by few animals. Parrots are believed to have the intellect of a child between 3 and 5 years old. That said, I can safely tell you that my Quaker is perfectly content with a diet of 85 % pellets. If pellets are good enough for my Quaker parrot........giving him lots of energy, beautiful color, great health. and a healthy weight, I have to believe they will work fine for a couple of finches.

My finches are in a cockatiel type cage too. 18x18x34. The get plenty of flying in there...............so..for me..........pellets it is, pellets it will always be.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:51 pm

Hey Hilary... Well I'm going to Ecuador and than off to the Galapagos to see Darwins Finches. Will be on the islands for about 2 weeks than back to the mainland and onto an Amazon Cruise. Should be a lot of fun but I will miss my goulds. I have one pair that may be laying eggs soon so I may actually be away when they hatch just hope all goes well with the food and all.

BTW Hiliary no seeds to sweep up with pellets and I've noticed that if I fill the cup only 1/2 way the pellets doen even get onto the floor. Haven't sweeped the room floor for 2 days so I'm happy.

AND Marcos I have a Green Cheek Conure. Love him to bits and he is so friendly with everyone. He has been on pellets (Tropicana) since I got him 11 months ago and seem to love the pellets everytime I place more into his tray. He doesn't talk but is very affectionate.

I wonder if the fruit flavour Zupreem pellets for finches would be liked more than the regular pellets?

Chris

Marcos · Post by **Marcos** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:08 am

There sure are some well traveled people here. Keep in mind that there are more species of birds in Colombia than any other country in the world. But speaking as a person of Colombian origin, I can honestly say that due to the political situation there (civil war) I cannot reccomend anyone that does not have a pressing need to go (family etc) and visit at this time. It is far too dangerous with the kidnappings and related.

Cris....I know Green Cheeks well. I had an orange fronted (aka Half Moon) for 24 years before it died. Green cheeks are both the smallest, and the quietest of all of the conures. They are very affectionate, but are also known to be very tempermental and while one minute they will allow you to preen them and be very affectionate, the next minute, out nowhere, it will just turn without warning and give you a mean bite. Green Cheeks are also not very good talkers. However, conures in general are not very good talkers if you are looking for clear speaking birds in that size. Quakers and Indian Ringnecks will talk better than any bird I know in that size range. Of course, no bird can compete with an Amazon......specifically the yellow naped or double yellow headed. They not only talk (too much) but they can sing as well.......Keep feeding your conure the pellets and he will do well......but so will the finches.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:08 pm

You are right with the green cheek at times he is quite tempermental and will bite at me while at other times he will be the kindest bird ever. You just have to know when to leave him alone and when it's ok to pet him.

I always wonder about his temperment and thought it was normal and that all parrots were the same.

By the way I've heard of some finch breeder that have hand fed a gould and they have become very tame to the point of flying to the owner's hands. Makes me want to hand feed a gould when I hear something like this.

Chris

albert · Post by **albert** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:13 pm

I think it's a good idea to chime in this question:

If we put finches (Gouldian) in pellets, do we need to add anything to their diet when they are rearing chicks?

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:04 am

I would think the answer is no. I'm breeding my goulds and raising them only on pellets and love the convience.

Thke a look at the web sites that are offering the pellets they will also have more info. I'm using Zupreem Avian Maintenance pellets.

RH/WB · Post by **RH/WB** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:16 am

I need to ask a couple questions.
Is premium seed also offered with the pellets ? Why not--right? The never ending mess of seeds husks, pheeeeeew, is that problem using convience? There would be no husks to pick up and they consume it all. What a plus that would be - alone.
I'm also getting ready, should it happen, to have some baby goulds. The number will very as the season grows longer and they form pairs. Some are about ready to sit. I worry about their nutrition always, and sunlight. Horrible at getting them to eat their greens.
While this is brought up and glad it was mentioned, any options on giving hens a small dose of mineral / fish oil every couple weeks? by force of course.
What's the Best Calcium supplement? and is it needed with the cuttlefish and oyster shell readily ingested?
This product may be the ticket. Suppose it's far easier to get this back up for the nestlings than seed is, with more nutrition.
May I inquire how many years you've raised goulds on pellets? Faster grow rate? Other than convience, anything significant happen while raising the young with this brand pellet? opposed to the same grade seed.
Same brand I use all the time in seed. Good stuff~!!
Many Thanks~!

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:27 am

hi all
i have finally found a store that does pellet food .and i was thinking of trying my birdroom stock with it (less sweeping up ) do you give extra water with this stuff as i can only assume that it would be a lot dryer than seed

ken

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:20 am

Hey RH/WB,

I had goulds in the past and had to deal with all the seeds and fresh food and egg food and minerals and vitamins.

As I'm now back to keeping finches again I was looking for a complete supplement for them and figer what is good for my parrot would also be good for the finches.

It took about 2 weeks to switch them over completely to the pellets and now they eat it just the same as the seeds. I don't add any supplements to the water or food as the pellets has it all.

I now have a pair that is on pellets and have just laid eggs and is sitting tight as I type this. Hopefully in 2 weeks all will be ok with the new chicks hatching.

RH/WB wrote:I need to ask a couple questions.
Is premium seed also offered with the pellets ? Why not--right? The never ending mess of seeds husks, pheeeeeew, is that problem using convience? There would be no husks to pick up and they consume it all. What a plus that would be - alone.
I'm also getting ready, should it happen, to have some baby goulds. The number will very as the season grows longer and they form pairs. Some are about ready to sit. I worry about their nutrition always, and sunlight. Horrible at getting them to eat their greens.
While this is brought up and glad it was mentioned, any options on giving hens a small dose of mineral / fish oil every couple weeks? by force of course.
What's the Best Calcium supplement? and is it needed with the cuttlefish and oyster shell readily ingested?
This product may be the ticket. Suppose it's far easier to get this back up for the nestlings than seed is, with more nutrition.
May I inquire how many years you've raised goulds on pellets? Faster grow rate? Other than convience, anything significant happen while raising the young with this brand pellet? opposed to the same grade seed.
Same brand I use all the time in seed. Good stuff~!!
Many Thanks~!

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:22 am

Hey Ken,

Initally they did consume more water and the poop was very watery but after a while the poop went back to normal and they seem to cunsume the same amount of water as with a seed diet.

Chris

kenny wrote:hi all
i have finally found a store that does pellet food .and i was thinking of trying my birdroom stock with it (less sweeping up ) do you give extra water with this stuff as i can only assume that it would be a lot dryer than seed

ken

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:30 am

hi chris
thanks for that i will give it a try,

ken

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:43 am

I have two gouldians and have thought about changing them to a pellet diet as well...so what is everyone fave pellets...or should I say what is the fave pellets of the finches....