2 Questions ...

[Ruffles]

Hello
I'm back with more questions
My first is Lando is still biting sometimes it seems as if hes doing it on purpose
when i get him out of his cage he step's up and comes out nicely,but when im handling him he (not always) bites my knuckles and any other skin on my fingers that he can squeeze ive tried offering him some treats to bite on to distract him and it works sometimes but not always.Is this a baby phase? (he was hatched June any other ideas i can do to show/tell him that its not ok to bite?

My second question is about diet,Lando is on a Walmart Parakeet seed (not sure of the name) just got a zip lock bag of it when i purchased him,and Suko is on a 50/50 mix of Tropican Cockatiel Lifetime Granules and Tropimix Lovebird/Cockatiel (also what she was on when i purchased her) can i slowly wean Lando onto the same food as Suko? (is Suko's diet good?) they get human food as well but this is their base diet.Let me know what you's think

[LuxandLolita]

i have not had a lot to do with bite training, but i can tell you to get Lando on a better seed mix asap. Can you get them both onto a seed mix that does not have a lot of sunflower seeds in it and colored oats? both of those are things to look out for, not really good for parrots of any kind.
I use a mix of seed(i don't know the brand) and some nice pellet food. Mix the pellets, if they don't eat the pellets then you might have to crush it into little pieces and leave it on a flat plate, trust me, they will become curious enough to peck at it start giving them larger pieces afterwords until you are giving them full sized pellets, and then start introducing seeds back into the diet slowely

[cindy]

I use Higgins Safflower Gold and their Mayan Mix plus Roudybush Nibbles and Zupreem Parakeet fruit pellets. Plus I use Nutriberries Parakeet (in the tub) and tropical fruit.

I found the parakeet seed mix does not get eaten, the oats maybe but the proso is skipped.

As far as biting goes, it is a baby phase...they mouth everything eventually it does go away but you need to work with him as you are. You are doing great.

Rummy took a while to learn "no", and he generally stops the nipping. They get territorial over their cage and if I see he is acting out, lunging I allow him to come out on his own. Sometimes they go to bite or look for a treat in your fingers...try the tropical fruit nutriberries. I got him to learn that good things come from me and my fingers.

The nberries are a little bigger and not like a little treat in between your fingers. I got Rummy to take his favorite seed, safflowers as a treat from me, I gained his attention if I had either the nberries or safflowers.

Parrotlets are high enery, I personally would add a good pellet to the diet.

[Ruffles]

Thanks Guy's
I can get the Zupreem pellets here and the Nutriberries Parakeet (is that a treat or every day diet?)
what else should i get to give them? I do my pet shopping at Petsmart (if that helps produce wise)
How fast should i wean them? (would like to keep both on the same food to save)

Glad Lando's nipping is most likely a phase and nothing to stress about .. now to get them on a better diet,i knew i shoulda asked sooner

[LuxandLolita]

Veggies are always good
If you can find a sunflower/colored oat free zeed mix, then mix that with the current seed mix. then start weaning them to the pellets after they have taken to the new mix of seeds
the pellets are full of protein so eggfood(which i give my finchies because i don't have pellets for them) is not needed most of the time my tiels like it as a snack occasionally

[cindy]

The Higgins Safflower Gold is available at PetCo and PetSupermarket...not sure they carry it at PetSmart.

The tub of Parakeet NurtiBerries is the same as the pellets but just in whole form...they love to forage so a variety of seed and dried fruits are good. I leave a dish of mixed pellets, a bowl of the seeds and dried fruiles and a cup of a few Nutr-iberries. Cuttlebone to.

[Ruffles]

great!
So ill get the Zupreem cocktiel size pellets?,some nutriberries and what do you think about the Tropimix Small Parrot Mix to blend in as well?
Lando and Suko both have mineral blocks but ill probably grab cuttle bones as well.
Glad i asked cause its birdie food shopping day tomorrow and i want to make sure they are eating 'happy'
Big brands here are Zupreem,Roudybush,Laferbe,tropimix,tropican and ecotrition
Thank you for ALL your help!

[cindy]

Zupreem parakeet size pellets are a perfect size..the cockateil shapes will result in waste.

[Ruffles]

Thanks Cindy!
So the Zupreem,Tropimix Small Parrot Mix and Nutri berries will be a good start for now? (other then the foods we eat)
and when i wean do i do it 50/50 or less at a time of the old food?

[cindy]

I mix the new food with the old, 50/50 is fine, usually if you offer something yummy they go right for it. It isn't like with a dog you have to watch for tummy upset. These little ones love to eat.

Try scrubbing a sweet potato and microwaving it like a baked potato, give them a small serving...Rummy loves it!

[Ruffles]

Awesome!
Thats a great idea with the Yam
Will post back once i see how they're adjusting to their new diet
Should all the food i buy for them be Parakeet size (including seed)?
Ty again

[cindy]

I found you have to look at the bags,it is between cockatiel and parakeet. For more of a variety and what the may like try the Cockatiel...the Higgins Safflower Gold has a lot of safflower, oats, other treats and seed. it is managable. Stay away from food with alot of proso millet in it they waste it and do not eat it. I sifted it out and gave it to the finches.

If you have trouble finding certain food you can order from http://www.foryourbird.com/ They carry a good selection of foods and pellets at a reasonable price and shipping. You can get a bag of Zupreem 10lbs for aboutt $21.99. It will last a while. They also carry Roudybush and Nutri-Berries. Delivery is fast.