Mar 15, 2019 12:03:18 GMT
liviolson
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 7
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Post by liviolson on Feb 25, 2020 1:19:45 GMT
Hi, I have a pair of budgies that I want to start feeding pellets. They are currently on seed (with fruits, veggies, etc of course) but I don’t want it to stay that way since our vet suggested pellets. I was thinking about buying ZuPreem Natural (if you look up ZuPreem Natural Budgie pellets it’s the first thing that pops up) but I don’t know a lot about it. Any tips on getting them to eat the pellets would also be appreciated. Thanks!
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Feb 25, 2020 15:57:57 GMT
My vet recommended the ZuPreem Natural pellets. I don't have any tips that I've found works. Tweetie Pie would starve rather than eat anything except his seed. If I take away his seed and put the pellets in, he'll just not eat until I give him the seed. The vet recommended I add about 25% pellets to his seed and gradually increase the amount of pellets. I have added the pellets to his seeds but its hard for me to tell if he's eaten any.
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Post by Hezz on Feb 25, 2020 18:21:24 GMT
Not a fan of feeding budgies pellets. I know they are very popular with vets in US. There have been discussions that pellets are too high in calcium and salt for budgies, but I don't have any info on that. I recommend a good quality seed mix, less than 5% fatty/oil seed, seeding grasses and lots of veg, less of the fruit.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Feb 25, 2020 21:46:15 GMT
I have been giving the pellets vs seed diet a lot of thought. My thought process goes something like this: Nutritionists are telling us that it is better for us to eat whole fresh foods, vegetables and fruits, and eat less (or none if possible) of "manufactured" foods like breads, cakes, cookies, etc. So if that applies to us, why wouldn't it apply to our birds? The pellets are manufactured in an attempt to provide "perfect" nutrition. Anything manufactured will have something "extra" as an additive including something to make it shelf stable and hold together in a pellet form. But maybe nature already makes the perfect nutrition in the optimum seed mixture and fresh veggies and herbs. I admit I do feed my 2 budgies a seed mixture and give them fresh stuff. Right now only Buddy eats the fresh but I'm hoping when he meets Tweetie Pie, he'll show him its good to eat. Pellets vs seed is a decision everyone needs to make for themselves - think it over, read up on it, and then you'll be satisfied with your decision.
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Feb 7, 2020 20:28:59 GMT
maryann
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 59
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Post by maryann on Feb 25, 2020 23:18:51 GMT
I adopted a four year old. He has never had anything but seed. I offer fresh food daily but I have not seen him go near it yet. I also introduced pellets by adding a small amount to his seed mix. I’m really not sure if he is eating them. He is digging through his dish so, who knows?! I am going to continue doing all of this in spite of Harvey’s protests! I think sooner or later he will come around.
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Post by Hezz on Feb 26, 2020 19:25:13 GMT
I adopted a four year old. He has never had anything but seed. I offer fresh food daily but I have not seen him go near it yet. I also introduced pellets by adding a small amount to his seed mix. I’m really not sure if he is eating them. He is digging through his dish so, who knows?! I am going to continue doing all of this in spite of Harvey’s protests! I think sooner or later he will come around. Continue to offer fresh food up daily but it may take him some time if he has never seen fresh food before. I suggest you start with things that most resemble their native food which is seeding grasses. If you can pick some for yourself, all the better, or try growing your own.
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Mar 18, 2018 21:15:47 GMT
moe
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by moe on Mar 1, 2020 23:53:52 GMT
I bought a bag of Zupreem pellets in January, and mixed it in with my three budgerigars' regular parrakeet seed mix, about fifty-fifty. But I don't think any of the 3 budgies ate much of the pellets, they seemed to prefer the seed, which they were used to. So I cut down the amount of pellets to only about 10% of their feed, and I mix it in with 90% of the regular seed mix. Hopefully, they'll get used to it. It might provide them with some additional vitamins or nutrients. I thought that they might enjoy the variety in their diet. But as of now, I can't tell if they're even eating the pellets at all. They still much prefer the regular seedmix.
I give them a sprig of millet once a week, and they love it. I also once a week, in the winter, give them some green cuttings from one of my houseplants (Tradescantia fluminensis), which they also love. Occasionally I offer them some banana or apple or mashed butternut squash, but they won't touch it. In the summer I give them dandelion or plantain greens, and they love those. They seem to like greens, but won't touch fruit.
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Sept 1, 2020 2:47:50 GMT
jillgat
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 2
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Post by jillgat on Sept 1, 2020 2:53:30 GMT
Hi, I have a pair of budgies that I want to start feeding pellets. They are currently on seed (with fruits, veggies, etc of course) but I don’t want it to stay that way since our vet suggested pellets. I was thinking about buying ZuPreem Natural (if you look up ZuPreem Natural Budgie pellets it’s the first thing that pops up) but I don’t know a lot about it. Any tips on getting them to eat the pellets would also be appreciated. Thanks! I feed mine the ZuPreem fruity ones that look like Froot Loops. I'm not sure there's a big difference between those and the natural. In my experience, if they have a choice between pellets and seeds, they will always choose seeds. So you have to wean them off the seeds by mixing a little more pellets in every day until it's all pellets. It wasn't that difficult to do for my pair. I do give them seeds occasionally; I sprinkle them on the floor because they like to forage. But mostly they get the pellets, which I think is nutritionally more complete for them (along with greens and fruit occasionally).
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Sept 1, 2020 3:46:17 GMT
If you want to feed pellets, try the "Zupreem Natural Bird Food Smart Pellets for Small Birds". Its small enough that it might look like seeds to them. The Fruity ones have dyes - they turned Buddy's poop orange and green. I don't feed my guys those pellets. I do mix a little (less than 10%) of the natural in with their seeds but I'm not convinced they are eating any of it.
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Post by yellowfacedviolet on Sept 1, 2020 3:55:34 GMT
Hi, I have a pair of budgies that I want to start feeding pellets. They are currently on seed (with fruits, veggies, etc of course) but I don’t want it to stay that way since our vet suggested pellets. I was thinking about buying ZuPreem Natural (if you look up ZuPreem Natural Budgie pellets it’s the first thing that pops up) but I don’t know a lot about it. Any tips on getting them to eat the pellets would also be appreciated. Thanks! I have had great success with Harrisons, which is 100% organic. There's lots of helpful information on their website, along with useful suggestions about making the transition from seeds to pellets. It's widely recommended by avian vets worldwide. I use super-fine.
I was fortunate in that most of mine made the transition easily, except one hen. For her I used one of the tricks suggested on the Harrisons site--a feed cup with mirror over it so that she saw 'another budgie' hovering over her food. It worked. You can just hang a small mirror above the food cup or buy one of those inexpensive mirror-with-food-cup items offered on line and in stores.
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