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Post by rose on Oct 28, 2012 10:45:51 GMT
I'm sure there's already been lots posted on this (and if anyone can direct me to relevant threads, that would be great!) but now the avian vet has diagnosed the boyz as being podgy and in danger from fatty liver disease, I really have to try and get them to improve their lifestyle! EXERCISE: They are VERY set in their ways and aren't keen to leave their cage (open most of the day), except first thing in the morning. When I'm around I can carry them over to the window to make them fly back (except that won't work later on in the day: they fly back to the cage when I've scarcely moved them away) or chase them with a leaf of chard (that does work very well - seems it's pretty damned scary!), but unfortunatley i'm out at work usually. So any ideas how to get them moving? They're not particularly interested in toys, unfortunately. FRESH FOOD: I'm less and less inclined to move them over to pellets as the vet suggested (see budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=budgiefeeding&action=display&thread=4526). They'll eat a bit of broccoli, a bit of sweetcorn, a bite or two of spinach ... fresh grass when it's in season (not now till next May  ) ... Any ideas how to encourage two middle-aged (five and a half) conservative birds to get more experimental?! Any and all advice very welcome! |
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Post by stace on Oct 28, 2012 22:22:21 GMT
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Post by stace on Oct 28, 2012 22:33:14 GMT
Just a few questions that might help.
What type of seed are you feeding them, and how much?
Are you feeding them any treats? Are they stealing human food?
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Post by stace on Oct 28, 2012 23:03:56 GMT
One thing that gets my bird flying like a mad thing: water spraying! He hates it. I give him good warning, so he knows it's coming. Guaranteed to make him fly like the wind.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 29, 2012 1:10:38 GMT
One thing that gets my bird flying like a mad thing: water spraying! He hates it. I give him good warning, so he knows it's coming. Guaranteed to make him fly like the wind. I wish that worked for Smudge! She just sits, gets soaked and looks miserable!  Rose I haven't had a lot of luck getting Smudge's weight down, and considering going back to the veggies during the day and seed only morning and night. It didn't do much before, but I don't really have any alternatives. I chase her around and make her fly, her flying improved no end, but she didn't lose weight! Before when i took out the seed and provided them with veggies and grass seeds, I felt they just made up for no seed by going for them in a big way when I did put the seed back. |
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Post by rose on Oct 29, 2012 8:37:43 GMT
Thanks, Stace - that's very useful! |
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Post by rose on Oct 29, 2012 8:40:09 GMT
Just a few questions that might help. What type of seed are you feeding them, and how much? Are you feeding them any treats? Are they stealing human food? They were getting a lot of fresh grass, but of course that's over for the year now ... Plus Trill on demand: i.e. they just help themselves from their seed pots. They were getting Trill Toppers and millet once or twice a week (sometimes more, if they were looking pleadingly at the Trill Topper holder!) but I've decided to ban that. And broccoli, sweetcorn and spinach every day - though I don't know that they always eat much of that. I'm going to start putting some canary seed in their Trill ... |
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Post by rose on Oct 29, 2012 8:43:03 GMT
Before when i took out the seed and provided them with veggies and grass seeds, I felt they just made up for no seed by going for them in a big way when I did put the seed back. That's rather what concerns me - that they'll just stuff themselves silly when they do get the seed back! And given that I'm out mon-fri from 9 to 6, it does seem very draconian to starve them for 9 hours ... They don't look terribly fat ... well ok, ian's a bit podgy i suppose! |
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Post by Hezz on Oct 30, 2012 1:10:14 GMT
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Post by stace on Oct 30, 2012 1:22:38 GMT
Just a few questions that might help. What type of seed are you feeding them, and how much? Are you feeding them any treats? Are they stealing human food? They were getting a lot of fresh grass, but of course that's over for the year now ... Plus Trill on demand: i.e. they just help themselves from their seed pots. They were getting Trill Toppers and millet once or twice a week (sometimes more, if they were looking pleadingly at the Trill Topper holder!) but I've decided to ban that. And broccoli, sweetcorn and spinach every day - though I don't know that they always eat much of that. I'm going to start putting some canary seed in their Trill ... Good idea to stop giving them the Trill toppers. Anything bound with honey or sweet sugary stuff is going to contribute to weight gain. |
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Post by rose on Oct 30, 2012 8:36:07 GMT
 Unlike my pudgy Smudgy. I was making her fly around every time I went near her. It got so that she took off whenever I came near. That wasn't nice. Poor Smudgy!!  |
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Post by rose on Oct 30, 2012 8:38:40 GMT
I'm hoping that with no fresh grass seed (Marshall in particular really used to stuff himself!), no millet and Trill toppers (a couple of packets to sell back to EBay!), and now canary seed mixed in their Trill, they might get a little less podgy.
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Post by stace on Oct 30, 2012 8:42:43 GMT
Poor little tublettes. It's budgie Boot Camp at Rose's house:)
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Post by rose on Oct 30, 2012 8:48:53 GMT
Poor little tublettes. It's budgie Boot Camp at Rose's house:) Oh don't, Stace! I feel bad enough already, poor boyz! ;D |
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Post by stace on Oct 30, 2012 9:03:14 GMT
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) ...
