Do You Feed Pellets?

[Acelin_Wolf]

I've been wanting to ask everyone this for a while now! I feel like I'm the ONLY one who does it! Lol. I have fed Kaytee pellets and Pretty Bird...but I now feed ZuPreem and Lafebers. XD

1. Do you feed pellets?
2. What brand?
3. If you don't, why?

I've actually gotten all my finches to switch from all seed diets to all pellets. The societies helped with some of the conversion (the societies will eat ANYTHING and are in the biggest cage with a few other birds who are more picky). But I also got my cutthroats to eat pellets after a long conversion, despite that the female came from petsmart where she was offered little else but seeds for over 2 years.

My new gouldians are still hesitant, but I've only had them a few days. In the meantime, I leave a dish of seeds in the cage--filling it at night only so that they get hungry enough in the morning to be more adventurous with the fresh veggies and pellets.

[debbie276]

I don't feed pellets. I have owls, gouldians, diamond dove and forbes. I don't have a problem with seed being messy and like that they can get a variety of different seeds. They are seed eaters so I just personally feel they should be eating what they were meant to. I don't think that there is any one perfect food so I offer a variety of things for stimulation. I've heard many that feed pellets say there is powder in the bottom of their dishes, that's the bird trying to hull the pellets.
That being said, I understand why those that feed pellets do, it's just not something I want to change over to.

Good topic, looking forward to other responses

[Acelin_Wolf]

I make certain that my birds get seed at least 3 times a weak each. Pellet is their main diet. So basically the breakdown of my feedings would be:

50% pellets - always available
30% veggies/fruit (with boiled eggs when needed) - every other day
20% seeds - every few days

[chirpy]

... I have it all available 24/7 is this bad?

it looks like a smorgasbord of finch food for my finches

anyway.. as for pellets.. I have heard they are good for finches but like I said everything is out for them to eat when they want. Rocksteady is the one that eats it really, Roseanne doesnt. He eats a mix of zupreem (the colord one) and lafebers

[cindy]

Roudybush High Energy Breeder, seed, veggies, sprouted quinoa.

[chirpy]

cindy my guys won't eat quinoa! I sprout it overnight...
How long do you sprout it for?

[Perfex]

I consider most pelleted bird food basically sub standard. A bunch of corn and this and that with vitamins added, as well as color. A bit like Cheerios. It's a convenience food. Sorry, JMO.

[cindy]

I start it at dinner time the night before and serve it at about 8 am the next morning you can leave it longer. You need to rinse it really well, a few times, toss in the strainer a few times to drain as much water off.


As far as pellets being sub standard, I disagree. I have used it for years and not had an issue, vet recommended since it is often difficult to fulfill all your birds nutritional needs, seed alone is sub- standard and not a healthy diet....it needs to supplemented in other ways either with pellets or a combination of other foods. minerals and vitamins. It is a personal choice.

[chirpy]

cindy sounds like I am doing the right thing they just must not appreciate my hard work!

[cindy]

most of my birds love it, all the hookbills especially. Add their favorite veggies to it. I am going to be trying a new seed and lentil soak soon I will post it within the week.

[chirpy]

cindy I did lentils a few weeks ago. They liked it! They like normal birdseed sprouted the most it seems... I will try quinoa again since I have a chick maybe they will like it now

[cindy]

The mix has dry corn, safflowers a variety of seeds, lentils...it all is to sprout. A friend of mine gave me some to try, his birds love it.

In a way using pellets is almost the same as using dry kibble for dogs and cats. Most good high quality dry foods like pellets are balanced for the animals needs.

[30 Seconds to Bob]

I agree with everything that Debbie said. I don't feed pellets. These birds have evolved to be seed eaters, so why shouldn't a good quality mixture of seeds, fruits, veggies and grasses not be more than sufficient to provide them with a healthy and enriched life?
When I used to have conures, I had one young one that was raised on pellets. I would watch him take mouthfulls of these pellets and toss them all over the cage floor as if in spite and disgust. I tried different brands with the same result. A friend of mine (who had an african grey) asked me if I would enjoy eating the exact same thing every day. I swithced him over to seed and he became one happy bird again. I'm definitely not sold on pellets being superior. JMO. Bob

[cindy]

Bob mine get a mix....all my birds eat pellets and seed. I did ask our avian vet about finches and an all seed vs all pellet diet. She told me with finches it was fine to offer both due to their high metabolism.

I owned a Grey a while ago he was on pellets, Zupreem and Roudybush plus Lafebers Nutriberries. I also cooked for him. He had a varied diet fruit and veggies included just no seed but the Nutriberries.


In the past we have had lone hookbill hens that had eggbinding and constant egg laying...no males near or in with them. All seed was removed from the seed/pellet diet. Some seeds are fatty and cause a hormone surge signaling the body to produce eggs. Placing the hens on all pellets along with veggies, fruit helped stop the cycle of the chronic egg laying. This was done with the guidance/ advice of our vet.

[Bhatta]

I don't feed pellets. I don't think it is good. I offer different types of seed mixes, homemade egg food, sprouts, ant eggs, dried fruits, veg, boiled rice, spray millet. My finches are healthy and strong.