Help, budgie acting strange.

[ruthpaton]

I tried to start my previous budgie on pellets on the advice of an avian vet but he wouldn't eat them. They suggested adding them to his seed to start with, gradually reducing the seed and increasing the pellets, which I did. But he just ate seed and ignored the pellets! They then suggested I give him just pellets, but he didn't eat at all for a day and looked unwell to me - I called them and they said to go back to seed because he was one of the those who might starve to death rather than accept another kind of food. My sister tried her budgies on them and they ate the lot! But they are not cheap and I know there are mixed opinions on them. After all, budgies in the wild don't eat pellets! If you can get Columbo to eat them they may be better for him with his fatty liver problems, but just letting you know what happened to me in case you have problems.

I give my current budgie, Pepito, Haiths 50/50 Budgie mix with a little tonic seed. He also loves any fruit or vegetable we give him, some egg food and a small bit of millet once a week. He's a great flier too and I know being active and having time out of the cage regularly can help control weight problems in budgies - not sure if fatty liver is the same though.

[columbo]

Hi Ruthpaton.

Thanks for the great advice. I think I may have the same problem! I have been adding pellets to the seed and he has been cherry picking the seeds he knows. I am going to have to be cruel to be kind. x

[Hezz]

columbo, FYI, I had to yesterday take my son to the dr's for an ear infection, antibiotics prescribed, and he also put him onto probiotics at the same time. While I didn't think to ask the question at the time, I am feeling that this must be the latest approach, rather than waiting until AB's are finished, and then starting the probiotics. It would explain the little taste of yoghurt for Columbo while he is on AB's.

How is he doing, besides not eating his pellets?

[columbo]

Hi Hezz,

He is doing okay, I think he does need to rest at the moment as he is over active. He is always out and running around so i have been giving him an hours rest in the afternoon. He has been eating a little bit of the pellets.
Each day I have been reducing the seed and crumbling them small so he cant tell. I think he can but more food has been eaten today and there's not so many pellets left.
I am going to call the vet tomorrow to let him whats what.
Thanks for all your posts and advice.x

[Hezz]

Oh, good! Nice to think he may be over the worst, and hopefully his liver will get a chance to recover as well.