Issue 4
Converting
a Seed Junkie
A healthy diet is the first step to a long and healthy life for
your feathered companion. Unfortunately, the convenience of seed
diets has led to improper use, and has caused many birds to become
overfed.
No seed diet is balanced on its own, each one lacking crucial vitamins
and minerals. These deficits can lead to health problems and a shortened
lifespan.
Converting a seed junkie to a healthier diet of commercial pellets,
fresh fruits and vegetables can be a very frustrating experience.
But as far as your bird's health is concerned, it is well worth
it in the end to pursue this conversion.
The key is to be persistent, and to have patience. Birds tend to
select their food based on habit (what they are accustomed to eating).
It can be very stressful for a bird to have foreign objects put
in its food bowl. A bird might even perceive some foods as threatening
the first time it sees them!
Suggestions of various conversion methods are listed below. More
ideas can be found in bird care books, magazines, on the packaging
of pelleted diets, and by calling the service numbers of pelleted
diet manufacturers.
A few words of wisdom and caution before you begin:
- Do NOT give up too soon. It can take a bird many months to
change its diet.
- Do NOT try to go cold turkey. Most birds would rather starve
than eat something they are not familiar with.
- Do NOT force a sick bird, or one undergoing multiple stresses,
to consume a different diet. The stress of the change can precipitate
a medical crisis.
- Purchase a kitchen gram scale to monitor the bird's weight
during the conversion. If the bird loses 10 percent of its body
weight or more, call your veterinarian!
- Change the uneaten pellets daily. Let the bird see you pour
the fresh pellets into the dish. The waste does not add up to
much, and the fresh food tastes better than old, stale pellets.
The following are ideas from multiple sources. Feel free to share
any other methods that have worked for you! Note: Fresh water should
always be available regardless of the method chosen.
1) Mix the pellets with the seed diet, gradually increasing the
pellet portion while decreasing the seed portion over four to six
weeks. Do not remove the seed entirely until you are sure the bird
is eating the pellets. Another version of this method entails offering
the mix for only 20-30 minutes, three times a day, rather than leaving
it in all day long.
2) Mix fresh vegetables and fruits with a little of the seed in
a saucer (use only a pinch of seed). This way, the bird has to rummage
around the fresh foods to get to the seed.
3) Remove all seed before bedtime. In the morning, offer pellets
and fresh foods only. After a couple of hours, the seed dish can
be put back into the cage.
4) Eat (or at least act like you are eating) pellets and fresh
foods while the bird is watching. Make all sorts of happy sounds
like "Mmmm yummy," etc.
5) Sprinkle pellets and finely chopped vegetables on the surface
of a table or play stand. The bird may nibble on the new foods while
exploring and playing, thinking it discovered something new on its
own.
6) If your bird will eat from your hand, offer some pellets by
hand or by the fingertips. Do not feed the bird from your mouth,
as birds can get sick from the bacteria in people's mouths.
7) Crush some pellets into a powder and sprinkle it on a favorite
food (lettuce, veggies, rice). Remove after an hour or so, because
of potential bacterial growth.
8) Mix some pellets with all-natural vegetable baby food, and offer
in a dish or by spoon feeding. Again, remove after an hour or so.
This should be regarded as a temporary method, helping the bird
get used to the taste of the pellets, and to recognize them as food.
9) Place the bird's cage near the family during meals and offer
only pellets during mealtime. If the bird wants to participate in
the flock activity of eating, it has to eat the pellets.
10) Offer a shallow cardboard box in the cage or play area, filled
with scraps of paper and wood chew blocks. Sprinkle the pellets
in the box. Let the bird explore, have fun, and discover pellets!
11) Another fun way to get birds to eat new things is by presenting
them as toys. Bird-safe kabobs, carousel feeders, and puzzle feeders
are available from most pet supply stores and catalogs. To prevent
injury, always double-check to ensure that any new toys are designed
for birds.
All of the strategies above can and should be tried as ways to
encourage your feathered friend away from seeds. Moving to a more
balanced diet will help your bird stay healthier and happier.
Again, it must be stressed that this conversion process takes patience,
persistence, and a complete commitment on your part! It may take
many months, but your dedication will be rewarded through the improved
health and extended life of your avian companion!
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