B.J.'s PELLETS V FRESH FOOD

[Bird Junky]

B. J's ARGUMENT.. PELLETS V FRESH FOOD

I have often been accused of banging on about Pet Bird Pellets. So I've decided to write this explanation for my views against them & never to mention them again.
During lean times I've spent some of the latter part of my working life in the Grain, Seed & Animal Feed stuff business. So here I'm going to let you into a few secrets. What they don't print on the pkt. If your a bit squeamish, don't read on.

The high quality Protein,Calcium & some odd trace elements come from the Slaughter house. Offal inc Skin, Fur, Sinew's & other bits not considered suitable for human consumption contribute the Protein. The Bones are ground into a powder for the Calcium. The Vitamins, Carbohydrates, come from the wastage from the vegetable packers, inc, Stalks, Roots, Pods & Leaves. Plus anything that gets shelled or damaged in the transportation & sorting process. For instance, Maize, Peanuts, Sunflower hearts, Nuts, Peas, Beans etc. etc. These are dried & crushed. This saves an awful lot of money from the disposal costs to landfill sites & makes a nice profit with a little publicity from Birdkeepers believing the blurb on the bags & wanting to give the best they can to their birds.

Pellets are ideal for poultry, they swallow without tasting. I've know chickens eat a dozen steel ball bearings without batting an eyelid. Some birds on the other hand like humans taste & enjoy the texture of fresh food that's also fit for human consumption. Like us they have their own personal likes & dislikes where food is concerned once they have tasted Pellets, they know they taste like S****. Even when you mix it with things they do like, which rather defeats the object of feeding pellets in the first place. Starving birds has been known to work, but its cruel & not to be recommended. So why would you force your birds to eat anything they don't like.
For the record, I would not deprive any bird who enjoyed eating Pellets. Provided the owner understands the dangers in supplying certain extras.
OK that's it Yours B.J.

[BudgiesBuddy]

A good and varied seed mix, fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs are the best food for budgies. Pellets are no match for this at all.

[Rachael Kellett]

I believe, as do most other bird owners, that the best diet for budgies is a good seed mix plus a large variety of fruits and vegetables. Pellets aren't largely available in the U.K and I personally do not feel that they are what is best for our budgerigars.

[Hezz]

It seems that converting a budgie to pellets is a long and not necessarily successful process. So many stories of people not having any luck, that I have heard. I don't understand, with the high quality of seed available in the western world why anyone would push for pellets. Parrots' beaks are the way they are for a reason - to crack seed. I don't see the need to move even further away from their native foods to a processed conglomeration of God knows what.

[BudgiesBuddy]

I agree Hezz. It's a hype created by bird feed companies in US and for some reason, vets are also supporting them. Almost everyone advises for pellets in US while rest of the world is still doing fine with seeds.