offering seed mix

[bonnie]

I would like to start offering Chicken some kind of seed and nut mix. I'm concerned, however, that offering him seeds would make him not want to eat his pellets anymore. When he came to me he was on a seed mix from Walmart. Made the switch to pellets very easily. Rarely eats fruits or veggies. I don't want to go backwards with our progress. Any thoughts?

[Julie]

Bonnie,

Why not an extra dish that only gets a smidge of seeds in it. That way you will not have extra "over board" pellets when he gets to digging for the seed.... You can get some good locking crocks or ss dishes that have cage clamps if you are out of the built in cage dish spaces....

Julie

[bonnie]

that's a great idea!
I'm concerned that he will refuse to eat the pellets and want more and more seed mix. What do you think?

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Just curious Bonnie...why do you want to re-introduce a seed mix? Do you fell he is lacking this in his diet?

[bonnie]

Well, seeds and nuts. From what I understand there are some nuts I should introduce him to. Also, I want him to have a variety in his diet and he continues to refuse fruit and veggies. This makes me feel awful. I just want him to be introduced to a variety of foods, but I want to make sure it is done right.

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

I know how you feel about the fruit and veggies thing. You may remember me bragging about Linus eating broccoli finally. Well, I could serve it to him three times a day and he would eat it until he couldn't eat anymore. He also loves yellow squash and corn, but the broccoli thing is so weird because it just happened one day. I don't know what changed that made him suddenly like it. He's a real testament to that thing about offering it to them whether they eat it or not.
Linus doesn't really like nuts except peanuts and they are topic of debate. Theo is awesome. She likes everything.

[Julie]

Patty, how is Theo doing? Has she adjusted well... And have you concluded what Linus thinks of the situation?

Bonnie, since chicken is not used to getting the seed he will be thrilled to be getting any. Try to make the seed a foraging activity for him. That way he will get a limited amount, and will have to work and think about it in order to get "the prize". I know easier said than done. He will eat his pellets as long as the seed is not just sitting there in a dish competing with his pelltes, and he is not just sitting there where he can begg for more.... What does everyone else think?

[Chrissy and Flock]

You could make the seed a treat, that way he won't expect it all the time.

I found a fruit and nut mix (Higgins Snack Attack Fruit to Nuts) at Petsmart that my birds will eat, they get fresh fruits and veggies too. I found that Cassie does not like nuts, but she will nibble on the ones in the mix (she will eat her weight in peanuts) I don't give her very much though.
I am a little confused about the pellets, so many people say NO PELLETS. :confused: Are they good for the birds or not? I feed my birds a mix of seed and pellets they appear to be doing fine with that. :)Even Cassie has started eating the pellets in the mix, she too was a seed junkie (Walmart).

[too&me]

Don or Bill can tell you more about a proper varied diet than I can. Basically it is not something they could ever find or eat in the wild. Your bird can get hypervitaminosis and be exposed to metal filings in the pellets from time to time due to the manufacturing process. Always check with a magnet prior to serving. The more varied a diet the better. In their native habitat they would eat leaves & buds, flowers, fruit, vegetables, some tree fungi, insects, grains & seeds & eggs. So pellets are just not able to fill those niches by them selves. I feed a good hookbill mix a few pellets, sprouted seed, semicooked bean & seed mix by Don, fresh vegies & fruit. He is learning to eat the veggies, I don't think he had been given any of them before he came to live with us. I also give him spoon feedings from time to time made of cooked rice, or oatmeal(high phosphorus content so not often)pureed veggies(sneaky way to get them veggies in) & bluegreen algae or spirulina. Just in case I ever need to give him meds he is used to being spoon fed. Fresh is best & provides more foraging value & eye appeal.