Does this diet seem ok?

RATTIE · Post by **RATTIE** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 11:54 pm

Since I divided my Cockatiel's Prevue F040 in half I am thinking about getting some finches to go in the bottom half. When I had Zebra Finches before I fed them a all pellet diet with fresh veggies but now that I know better I am trying to make sure that I do it right this time. My cockatiel pair get 3 tablespoons of seed mix, a bunch of different kinds of fresh veggies, a few Nutri-Berries and unlimited pellets every day. Can I do the same thing with the finches but with smaller portions?

ranchnanny · Post by **ranchnanny** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:03 am

Rattie I have a seed hopper full of a good quality finch seed plenty of fresh water daily and I rotate fresh greens, ground broccoli/grated carrots, home made egg food, millet, fruit etc.....

Mae · Post by **Mae** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:16 am

I prefer feeding mostly pellets ( I use Harrison's Super Fine High Potency) and give seeds and fruits and veggies as treats

RATTIE · Post by **RATTIE** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:32 am

Thanks, I know with Cockatiels it is recommended to only have pellets as 30% or less of the diet because Cockatiels are seed eaters and would not normally have such a rich diet. I am thinking that I will be getting Zebra Finches again. Since Zebra Finches are mainly seed eaters would the richness of eating mostly pellets put stress on their systems? I hope I don't sound offensive or anything but I tend to obsess over finding the right foods for all of my critters

Mae · Post by **Mae** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:50 am

My avian vet told me to feed mostly pellets, and I use Harrison's because it is organic

debbie276 · Post by **debbie276** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:31 am

RATTIE wrote: Thanks, I know with Cockatiels it is recommended to only have pellets as 30% or less of the diet because Cockatiels are seed eaters and would not normally have such a rich diet. I am thinking that I will be getting Zebra Finches again. Since Zebra Finches are mainly seed eaters would the richness of eating mostly pellets put stress on their systems? I hope I don't sound offensive or anything but I tend to obsess over finding the right foods for all of my critters

Your absolutely right, finches are seed eaters

If the diet is too high in proteins etc, the birds could be over stimulated to breed and lay eggs non stop. I've never fed pellets myself but I do know others here do add them to their birds diet.
What you are feeding your cockatiel should be fine for the finches except the seeds should be small finch seed.

good luck

mayble · Post by **mayble** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:50 am

Since Zebra Finches are mainly seed eaters would the richness of eating mostly pellets put stress on their systems?

The pellets are formulated to meet the needs of finches - they wouldn't be too rich for them. They are made to have all the nutrients they need, in a convenient, easy to feed form.

debbie276 · Post by **debbie276** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:43 am

The nutritional requirements for an adult non-breeding finch is
12% protein and 4% fat
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/nutrition ... ements.php
When the birds are molting and breeding the protein should go up. That's when most breeders add hard boiled eggs and other extras.

The average seed nutrition when I could find it was about 12% protein, 3% fat and 10% fiber

The Harrison's fine grind pellet is 14% protein, 6% fat 4.5% fiber

The Harrison's High Potency Super Fine pellet is 20% protein, 12% fat and 5% fiber.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=22387

All pellets are not the same, here is a link to compare pellets:
http://www.artemisaviary.com/pellet.html

mayble · Post by **mayble** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:50 am

Mae, do you feed the High Potency year-round? I thought that was only for conversion and for breeding, and the Maintenance diet was recommended for regular use. Have you had any issues with it?

I use the High Potency Mash in my eggfood. I'd like to offer the Maintenance regularly but my birds don't seem to like it as well as Lafeber's, and at the price I certainly don't want it to go to waste.

Mae · Post by **Mae** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:00 pm

I started out just feeding it for breeding, but my birds just look better on it and I haven't had any problems, and it says right on the package you can feed it year round if you prefer so I started doing that and I haven't had any problems

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:11 pm

With the hookbill, try to eliminate or only use small amounts every once in a while of sunflower, it is very high in fat.

My avian vet said hookbills can do very well on all pellets and finches you can feed both pellets and seed since they have a very high metabolism compared to hookbills. I feed a mix of seed and pellets, soaks, sprouted quinoa and veggies to all my birds. The pellets though is the first thing they go to when I feed.

RATTIE · Post by **RATTIE** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:30 pm

Thanks everyone.

@debbie276 That chart is very helpful. The only pellet brand I have used is Zupreem since that was the one that was the one used by most of the people on the Budgie forum I was a member of.

@cindy Right now I am using a mix of a seed with a low amount of sunflower seed and a mix with no sunflower seeds so they don't get to many of them but next time I buy seed I am just getting the mix without sunflower seed and will add in a small amount of sunflower seeds.

I use to have over 20 Budgies, some Lovebirds and some Zebra Finches that were on a all pellet diet and they did fine but the Cockatiels that I have right now that get seeds and pellets seem to be doing better.

Anneka · Post by **Anneka** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:16 pm

Mae wrote: My avian vet told me to feed mostly pellets, and I use Harrison's because it is organic

I do not question your vet's recommendation. However, many vets make easy $ on selling Harrison's food and it is often the reason why they recommend it to us.

Pellets are boring.
They haven't been on the market for too long and there is not enough research done yet if they are really that good.
They cause our birds to drink a lot and that might especially be a problem in case of tiny finches.

Maybe as a treat that'd be OK but not as a main food.

RATTIE · Post by **RATTIE** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:47 am

Anneka wrote: I do not question your vet's recommendation. However, many vets make easy $ on selling Harrison's food and it is often the reason why they recommend it to us.

That is the reason I never trust my vets when they tell me what to feed my pets.

Mae · Post by **Mae** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 2:05 pm

Yep, I blindly follow what my vet says...

Birds
http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/products/
Along with treats

Goats (not recommended by any vet)
http://www.ranch-way.com/products/organ ... -milk-goat
Along with hay and different treats (they love blueberries)

Dogs (vet advised me to not feed raw)
They get fed raw meat with bones and guts (mostly poultry a friend raises)
They are also given raw goat milk from another friends farm (my goat isn't old enough yet)
A tiny, tiny bit of fruits and veggies
And these supplements http://www.cherrybrook.com/index.cfm/a/ ... Supplement
http://www.cherrybrook.com/index.cfm/a/ ... Oil_Liquid

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