I just bought a 3 yr old african grey, on a pellet diet, how can i introduce seeds and more nutritious foods?

Question

How much should i start adding to her existing diet

Answer 1

Slowly, try a second dish with raw veggies, fruit etc. If the bird is tame eat in front of her and offer some. Hang food in the bars of the cage. Seed and peanuts (not too many) can be added to the pellet dish. You can take away 25% of the pellets to swop for other food. This has to be done slowly because a bird will rather starve himself if he does not recognise things as food. Gradually subsitute other items for the pellets untill the bird is eating a varied diet.

Pellets may be better than seed, but even the best pellet on the market should account for no more than 15-20 %. Maize mix with legumes are far more healthy.

Answer 2

Pellets are far more nutritious than seeds. The question is, how much more nutritious? Brands are very different and make a huge difference in nutrition.

The best pellets are the ones that are natural, no artificial colourings, and preferably organic. TOPs and Harrison's are both organic and the top pellets. Other pellets that are just as good, but not organic, are Roudybush, Zupreem, and Hagen. S/he can eat some seed, but not too much as seeds are high in fat and energy with little nutritional value. I would say seeds can account for 5 to 10% of the diet. Most birds will got wild for seeds because they are like the equivalent of McDonald's. They're unhealthy and fattening, but tasty. There's no need to slowly introduce seed because she'll probably take to it right away.

As for introducing fresh foods, this is very important. Fresh foods are very good supplements for what the bird may or may not be getting from the diet it already has. Vegetables are a big hit. Leafy greens are very healthy and full of calcium, but feed kale and spinach sparingly because too much can bind calcium, which would be counterproductive. You can eat them in front of the bird and emphasize how delicious they are, hang them from the cage bars, hide other treats in them, make foraging games out of fresh foods. Pasta, grains, fruits, vegetables are all great foods to add to a parrot's diet. You can use separate dishes for fresh foods, but make sure you take them out within 2 hours or they'll go bad. Just let the bird explore them, show it how fun and delicious they are.

Feed dairy very sparingly. Parrots are lactose intolerant. Never feed avocado, onion, tomato leaves, mushroom, fruit pits or seeds, alcohol, chocolate, or anything else caffeinated.

Answer 3

Hi. Studies show that pellet food is superior to an all seed diet. There is no standard yet, but pellet foods have kept birds from malnutrition. I use 10% seeds, 10% fruits and veggies except avocados,chocolate, fruit pits, and some debate over grape seeds.Since your bird is a flock animal, eat or pretend to eat something you want to introduce in front of the bird with enthusiasm. This will perk up his interest and curiosity. Your main stay should be the pellet diet. Have fun and may you have a happy relationship with your bird.

Answer 4

When a bird is feed straight pellet they can developed kidney problems. Pellets can be good to add to the diet but the diet needs to be more balanced.

Feed
25 % seed ( parrots need seed in their diet for the fat)
25 % fruits and veggies ( Carrot, apple, orange and broccoli are good choices.)
25 % pellets (Zu preem makes a great one)
25 % beans and legumes ( you can use a bean mix in the bag from the grocery, or pigeon mix from a feed store)

soak and cook beans over night and then bring to boil next day for a few mins. rinse and cool.

mix beans, seed, pellets and fruit & veg. together.
put in bowl and the grey will pick at first but don't over feed and as the bird gets use to seeing all the new stuff int he bowl he will start picking at it.

On the beans you can cook it one day a week and split it into bags and freeze. Take out day before to defrost.


http://blackstone-aviaries.com/Diets.html

Answer 5

Pellets are actually a much better, healthier diet. They contain all the nutrients & vitiamens required. By itself (meaning if fed only pellets) pellets are designed to keep them quite healthy. It is the most nutritious food for your parrot. Seed is not recomended, especially sunflower seed. Sunflower seed makes them quite aggressive. Fruits, vegi's, nuts are great. Iceburg letuce has no nutritional value. Do not feed your parrot avacado or cherries with pits.
Also don't use teflon pans, the fumes can be toxic for you bird.

Answer 6

Do not add seeds, seeds are not very nutritious. Pellets and fresh veggies are the best way to go.

Answer 7

I feed my grey a seed mix and lots of fruits and veggies every day. He loves apples. He also gets nuts in the shell. Where in the wild would they eat pellets???? HHhmmmmm.

Answer 8

Acctualy, Pellet is much better then seeds. You can add other healthy foods slowly, Give him very little seeds or any at all.

Answer 9

it's going to need time...try mixing food with the seeds and see what happens

Answer 10

DON'T FEED YOUR BIRD SEEDS THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR THEIR LIVER AND OTHER ORGANS IN HIS/HER BODY.