bird diet - won't eat anything but seeds

[bopeep]

Hi all,

I need some help with my budgie Mwana. He's 8 months old. I have him on a diet of Hagen budgie seeds. The packet says the seeds have all the nutrients he needs but I'm not sure of it.
For the past 4 months, on the vet's advice I've tried giving him fruits, pellets etc. but he's not having any of it. I don't know what to do. I've also included oyster shells in his diet but he barely eats them. I've tried cutting the fruit into small pieces, mixing in the fruit or pellets with his seeds etc but he won't have it. I've tried mixing in a supplement PRIME with his water but he barely drinks the water.
He seems healthy but I worry about his long term health. Any advice on what I should do? I really need help with this picky eater.

[LadyLynn]

Picky eaters do get hungry, and it's just a battle of whit and wills.
Just keep an eye on your bird, but don't give in. As long as he has water and drinks it he should be fine.

Sometimes, smells can be the enticement as well.

I have a bird that can be picky at times too, and it was tough getting her to eat pellets.

Banannas and apples and walnuts are her favorites.

[Kaye]

Seed eaters are always fun..

Two of my birds came to me on a seed-only diet, and I have converted both to pellets successfully using this '10-day gradual method' from ZuPreem.

Over a 10-day period, fill the food dish 1/4 full several times a day maintaining the following proportions of the old and the new diet.

Day / Old Diet / New Diet
1 / 90% / 10%
2 / 80% / 20%
3 / 70% / 30%
4 / 60% / 40%
5 / 50% / 50%
6 / 40% / 60%
7 / 30% / 70%
8 / 20% / 80%
9 / 10% / 90%
10 / 0% / 100%

I didn't need to change the food 'several times a day' like the note says, but maybe once if I noticed it was too low. Be very careful, watch your bird to assure he is still eating. If you have a scale, keep track of his weight. The last few days of the program you have got to keep an eye out incase he refuses the pellets. I didn't have any trouble with this method, but you never know what might happen.

Seeds are still important for birds, just in moderation, as treats and snacks. Get a seperate little crock or something for seed treats so that they don't get mixed in with his pellets, or he might just start digging around for them instead of eating the good stuff. Keep offering fresh foods, you can just use the same crock for seeds and fresh foods. After awhile birds usually accept fresh foods after seeing humans eat some, or just after seeing them in their cage everyday.

Good luck!

[bopeep]

Thanks for your suggestions guys! I will try them and let you know what happens.

[cookie]

so hes new in this place and your starting all ardy give it some time

[bopeep]

Hi there,

I have an update. I have had some success. After a long time and a lot of patience Mwana finally started eating pellets. However, he will only eat them out of my hand or when he's with me in my room (I have a little swing/bath/food area for him on my work desk). He will not eat them out of his food cup in his cage and if I happen to leave only pellets for him and not seeds, he will not eat at all - all day.

Naturally, this freaks me out because I can't let him starve so let's just say his diet is half-pellets, half-seeds and I really hope this is okay.

Question: Are pellets more filling than seeds? Do they need less pellets than they do seeds?

P.S: I've had him for 6.5 months now, and he is 10 months old. No luck with fruits/veggies yet.

[sheplovr]

Hard boil an egg and give a pinch daily what he does not eat within twenty minutes remove it, keep doing this until he starts to get the taste for it. Birds are basically seed animals so they take a while to learn to eat fruits cut up etc. Be persistant in offering daily then remove before it spoils. Seed will keep a bird in good condition and fresh water and nice seed treats to hang up too.