| Michael Maxwell |
Just wondering if anyone has any tips they might want to offer on
encouraging a parakeet to eat pellets. I've been mixing in LaFeber's
pellets with my birds' regular food (about 10%, as suggested in the
instructions), but they still appear disinterested. They'll pick one
up, and immediately drop it and go for the seed. How long does the
"conditioning process" usually take, and is there a better way?
Thanks.
--
The Earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption abound.
Children no longer mind their parents, every man wants to write a book,
and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching.
--Assyrian stone tablet, c. 2800 B.C.
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| Dave Bugg |
Michael Maxwell wrote:
>.... They'll pick one
> up, and immediately drop it and go for the seed. How long does the
> "conditioning process" usually take, and is there a better way?
It depends on the human.... some humans take longer than others before they
quite messing up the seeds. Budgies are very patient when conditioning their
human.
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| High Flight |
Michael Maxwell <mmaxwell@see.sig> says...
> Just wondering if anyone has any tips they might want to offer on
> encouraging a parakeet to eat pellets. I've been mixing in LaFeber's
> pellets with my birds' regular food (about 10%, as suggested in the
> instructions), but they still appear disinterested. They'll pick one
> up, and immediately drop it and go for the seed. How long does the
> "conditioning process" usually take,
Sometimes a bird NEVER chooses to eat pellets.
> and is there a better way?
You might try offering a single pellet by hand.
Jack
--
aka Keet Visit my web page at http://junior.apk.net/~jac/
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| Alex Clayton |
"Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet> wrote in message
news:vn13i27egqqj69@corp.supernews.com...
> Michael Maxwell wrote:
>
> >.... They'll pick one
> > up, and immediately drop it and go for the seed. How long does the
> > "conditioning process" usually take, and is there a better way?
>
> It depends on the human.... some humans take longer than others before
they
> quite messing up the seeds. Budgies are very patient when conditioning
their
> human.
>
>
ROTFLOL, That's a great one Dave.
--
"Things get better with age. I'm approaching magnificent!"
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| Dave Bugg |
Alex Clayton wrote:
> ROTFLOL, That's a great one Dave.
:-)
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| Crossfire |
"Michael Maxwell" <mmaxwell@see.sig> wrote in message
news:vr7n0cvs7cn.fsf@typhoon.xnet.com...
> Just wondering if anyone has any tips they might want to offer on
> encouraging a parakeet to eat pellets. I've been mixing in LaFeber's
> pellets with my birds' regular food (about 10%, as suggested in the
> instructions), but they still appear disinterested. They'll pick one
> up, and immediately drop it and go for the seed. How long does the
> "conditioning process" usually take, and is there a better way?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> The Earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption abound.
> Children no longer mind their parents, every man wants to write a book,
> and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching.
> --Assyrian stone tablet, c. 2800 B.C.
I would imagine you could try the same thing that I did for my cockatiel:
soak them in apple juice before offering, just don't leave them in there too
long because wet food can breed bacteria and mold.. I didn't soak them for
very long, maybe 30 seconds and then hand offered them to my tiel. She's
been eating the pellets as part of her diet ever since and I only did the
apple juice trick once. I also put a non-seed treat or two in the pellet
bowls for a couple of days to get her interested.
Laurie E.
--
Reply to: xfire@greatlakes.net
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| Michael Maxwell |
"Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet> writes:
> It depends on the human.... some humans take longer than others before they
> quite messing up the seeds. Budgies are very patient when conditioning their
> human.
I'll say they've certainly conditioned me to not oversleep - they
function as a great 8am alarm clock that never needs winding or
batteries.
--
Michael Maxwell - drwho @ xnet . com
~
~
:wq
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| Dave Bugg |
Michael Maxwell wrote:
> "Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet> writes:
>> It depends on the human.... some humans take longer than others
>> before they quite messing up the seeds. Budgies are very patient
>> when conditioning their human.
>
> I'll say they've certainly conditioned me to not oversleep - they
> function as a great 8am alarm clock that never needs winding or
> batteries.
:-)
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| Louis Boyd |
> Michael Maxwell wrote:
>
>>"Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet> writes:
>>
>>>It depends on the human.... some humans take longer than others
>>>before they quite messing up the seeds. Budgies are very patient
>>>when conditioning their human.
>>
>>I'll say they've certainly conditioned me to not oversleep - they
>>function as a great 8am alarm clock that never needs winding or
>>batteries.
How do you get them to wait till 8am? My birds start nipping my toes at
sunrise!
--
Lou Boyd
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| Laurie |
"Michael Maxwell" <mmaxwell@see.sig> wrote in message
news:vr7pthrrycj.fsf@typhoon.xnet.com...
> "Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet> writes:
> > It depends on the human.... some humans take longer than others before
they
> > quite messing up the seeds. Budgies are very patient when conditioning
their
> > human.
>
> I'll say they've certainly conditioned me to not oversleep - they
> function as a great 8am alarm clock that never needs winding or
> batteries.
You get to sleep in til 8 am with your birds? Lucky you!
Laurie - it *must* be the wild birds saying peekaboo and wolf whistling at
6am every morning!
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| G. Wolnik |
>Just wondering if anyone has any tips they might want to offer on
>encouraging a parakeet to eat pellets.
I asked that same question to this newsgroup a couple of
years ago. I also got a lot of useless wise-crack replies!
However, I got one good reply from someone who had successfully
converted many budgies to pellets. She
recommended using Roudybush crumbles
and going "cold turkey".
I did that and my bird did not eat for
2 days. Then he finally gave in and started
devouring the pellets. I changed the cage
paper frequently to check for droppings
so I could assure myself that he really
was eating them, not just turning them into
powder (which he also did.) I believe that
if you put the pellets in the dish where the
bird is used to getting his seed, then it
will start eating them. Don't put any seed
in the cage and don't give in at all. Just
be prepared for the fact that even a little
budgie can go days without eating, so
it may be a battle of nerves for you!
--
Ginger Wolnik
PacificASC@aol.com
Sunnyvale, CA USA
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| Michael Maxwell |
Louis Boyd <boyd@apt0.sao.arizona.edu> writes:
> How do you get them to wait till 8am? My birds start nipping my toes at
> sunrise!
I'm not sure what it is about 8am, but every morning, like clockwork,
there they are... Something must be happening outside at that time
that gets them excited...
--
Michael Maxwell - drwho at xnet . com
"To err is human...to really fsck up requires the root password."
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| Starlight |
On 24 Sep 2003 00:40:55 GMT, pacificasc@aol.comspambust (G. Wolnik)
wrote:
> Don't put any seed
>in the cage and don't give in at all. Just
>be prepared for the fact that even a little
>budgie can go days without eating, so
>it may be a battle of nerves for you!
I disagree with you and feel this is very poor advice. What do you
mean by "can go for days....."? How many days? 5? 10? 2?
I would never, ever starve my budgies like that. They are happy,
extremely active little creatures and need nutrition to maintain their
good health.
I don't understand the need to convert budgies to a completely pellet
diet, but that's another topic.
Becky
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| Wheeler |
Laurie all you need are heavy curtains. Gee whiz................... :0)
Bob W
--
Check out our web site,
A few new features and new pictures.
http://www.onemorebird.com/
"Laurie" <Imnottelling@noway.com> wrote in message
news:_G5cb.1166$RW4.1001@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> "Michael Maxwell" <mmaxwell@see.sig> wrote in message
> news:vr7pthrrycj.fsf@typhoon.xnet.com...
> > "Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet> writes:
> > > It depends on the human.... some humans take longer than others before
> they
> > > quite messing up the seeds. Budgies are very patient when conditioning
> their
> > > human.
> >
> > I'll say they've certainly conditioned me to not oversleep - they
> > function as a great 8am alarm clock that never needs winding or
> > batteries.
>
> You get to sleep in til 8 am with your birds? Lucky you!
>
> Laurie - it *must* be the wild birds saying peekaboo and wolf whistling at
> 6am every morning!
>
>
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| Michael Maxwell |
Starlight <homehealth_rnDELETE@yahoo.com> writes:
> I disagree with you and feel this is very poor advice. What do you
> mean by "can go for days....."? How many days? 5? 10? 2?
> I would never, ever starve my budgies like that. They are happy,
> extremely active little creatures and need nutrition to maintain their
> good health.
> I don't understand the need to convert budgies to a completely pellet
> diet, but that's another topic.
I agree - I have certain "reservations" about this approach. I most
likely will try someone else's (name escapes me, sorry) trick of
soaking the pellets in Apple juice.
As for a completely pellet diet, no, it's not necessary - at least
from what I've read. A mixture is good, though.
--
Michael Maxwell - drwho at xnet . com
"To err is human...to really fsck up requires the root password."
|
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| Alex Clayton |
"Michael Maxwell" <mmaxwell@see.sig> wrote in message
news:vr7d6dqi3ul.fsf@typhoon.xnet.com...
> Starlight <homehealth_rnDELETE@yahoo.com> writes:
> > I disagree with you and feel this is very poor advice. What do you
> > mean by "can go for days....."? How many days? 5? 10? 2?
> > I would never, ever starve my budgies like that. They are happy,
> > extremely active little creatures and need nutrition to maintain their
> > good health.
> > I don't understand the need to convert budgies to a completely pellet
> > diet, but that's another topic.
>
> I agree - I have certain "reservations" about this approach. I most
> likely will try someone else's (name escapes me, sorry) trick of
> soaking the pellets in Apple juice.
>
> As for a completely pellet diet, no, it's not necessary - at least
> from what I've read. A mixture is good, though.
Even this depends on who you read. The birds in question were seed eaters.
People started keeping them as pets long ago, and of course fed them seed. A
few years ago some people who were looking for a way to make a buck decided
they would "invent" a diet for them. Then with a lot of advertising they
started to convince people these birds "needed" a man made diet to survive.
Amazing the bird population did not die out before these "smart" people
could invent a diet for them?
Feeding some pellets probably will not hurt, but if your bird does not
want them your only fooling yourself to think you "just have" to force them
to eat them. The only one who stands to gain anything is the company's that
make and sell the pellets, not the bird.
--
"Things get better with age. I'm approaching magnificent!"
|
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| Toucanldy |
>From: "Alex Clayton" alexxcl1400@yahoo.com
> The birds in question were seed eaters.
>People started keeping them as pets long ago, and of course fed them seed. A
>few years ago some people who were looking for a way to make a buck decided
>they would "invent" a diet for them. Then with a lot of advertising they
>started to convince people these birds "needed" a man made diet to survive.
>Amazing the bird population did not die out before these "smart" people
>could invent a diet for them?
> Feeding some pellets probably will not hurt, but if your bird does not
>want them your only fooling yourself to think you "just have" to force them
>to eat them. The only one who stands to gain anything is the company's that
>make and sell the pellets, not the bird.
>--
Good points, Alex!
Regards
|
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| Dave Bugg |
Alex Clayton wrote:
.....snip of excellent post
>The only one who stands to gain anything is
> the company's that make and sell the pellets, not the bird.
Good points, Alex. It would be better all around to just add a bit of fresh
greens and fruits each day -- in addition to seed -- and let the budgie get
used to a variety of stuff. It usually doesn't take long for a budgie to
develop an affection for broccoli, kale and spinach.
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| Mamabird |
"Starlight" <homehealth_rnDELETE@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:rt22nvom9tg292l0hitfstijkvmkmvkecc@4ax.com...
> On 24 Sep 2003 00:40:55 GMT, pacificasc@aol.comspambust (G. Wolnik)
> wrote:
>
> > Don't put any seed
> >in the cage and don't give in at all. Just
> >be prepared for the fact that even a little
> >budgie can go days without eating, so
> >it may be a battle of nerves for you!
>
> I disagree with you and feel this is very poor advice. What do you
> mean by "can go for days....."? How many days? 5? 10? 2?
> I would never, ever starve my budgies like that. They are happy,
> extremely active little creatures and need nutrition to maintain their
> good health.
> I don't understand the need to convert budgies to a completely pellet
> diet, but that's another topic.
> Becky
I'm with you, Becky. Even the instructions on some pellet bags say NOT to
starve birds into eating them. The advice given was poor and possibly
dangerous, not to mention cruel.
--
Mama
~^~^~^~ Visit Mamabird's Nest: <http://iluvbirds.tripod.com/> And My
Photo Albums at: <http://photos.yahoo.com/iluvbirdz>
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"Alex Clayton" <> wrote
> People started keeping them as pets long ago, and of course fed them
seed. A
> few years ago some people who were looking for a way to make a buck
decided
> they would "invent" a diet for them. Then with a lot of advertising
they
> started to convince people these birds "needed" a man made diet to
survive.
> Amazing the bird population did not die out before these "smart"
people
> could invent a diet for them?
> Feeding some pellets probably will not hurt, but if your bird does
not
> want them your only fooling yourself to think you "just have" to
force them
> to eat them. The only one who stands to gain anything is the
company's that
> make and sell the pellets, not the bird.
OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to tell
and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
punishment....
But this pellet thing really does bother me. We recently took
my mother's 25 year old Yellow Nape to the vet for a growth on it's
wing and the very first thing the young vet did was go into this
obviously scripted diatribe of seed diets and suggest we purchase
THEIR pellet mixture for $12.99lb. In addition to my mother's bird, I
have three other parrots, two of which are 26 years old. I started
mixing my own seed years ago and include 30% canary and millet, but
nevertheless, these birds, plus a 16 year old Yellow Nape, have
thrived on a 99% seed diet. I recently, since reading it here, tried
the apple-juice soaked, slightly micro-warmed plain pellets, two of
the three I have here will eat
whatever I offer within minutes, my mom's bird and my Cockatoo, always
the odd man out :), will have nothing to do with them. And I
**worry**, because everyone here seems so gung-ho on pellets. I
worry--yet my birds are 26 years old--I must have done something right
all these years.
I don't know--I also wonder about the introduciton and growing
popularity of pelleted diets as domestically bred and hand raised
birds have grown from, in the late seventies, a novelty, to now the
norm? I wonder if the nutritional needs of these captive-raised birds
have been somehow altered, so that maybe captive raiseds DO "need"
pellets?
ALL my birds were wild caught (and all purchased at that "magic age"
of eleven months old:)
Abruptly changing the subject--any Mynah fanciers here?
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
|
|
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| Alex Clayton |
"XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ETlcb.333062$2x.98517@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
>
>
> OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to tell
> and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> punishment....
>
> But this pellet thing really does bother me. We recently took
> my mother's 25 year old Yellow Nape to the vet for a growth on it's
> wing and the very first thing the young vet did was go into this
> obviously scripted diatribe of seed diets and suggest we purchase
> THEIR pellet mixture for $12.99lb. In addition to my mother's bird, I
> have three other parrots, two of which are 26 years old. I started
> mixing my own seed years ago and include 30% canary and millet, but
> nevertheless, these birds, plus a 16 year old Yellow Nape, have
> thrived on a 99% seed diet. I recently, since reading it here, tried
> the apple-juice soaked, slightly micro-warmed plain pellets, two of
> the three I have here will eat
> whatever I offer within minutes, my mom's bird and my Cockatoo, always
> the odd man out :), will have nothing to do with them. And I
> **worry**, because everyone here seems so gung-ho on pellets. I
> worry--yet my birds are 26 years old--I must have done something right
> all these years.
>
> I don't know--I also wonder about the introduciton and growing
> popularity of pelleted diets as domestically bred and hand raised
> birds have grown from, in the late seventies, a novelty, to now the
> norm? I wonder if the nutritional needs of these captive-raised birds
> have been somehow altered, so that maybe captive raiseds DO "need"
> pellets?
> ALL my birds were wild caught (and all purchased at that "magic age"
> of eleven months old:)
>
> Abruptly changing the subject--any Mynah fanciers here?
>
>
> XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
>
Our Avian Vet is a pellet advocate also. It is one of the few areas I
disagree with her on. She does not sell the brand our Macaw was weaned on,
but had no problem with us using that brand, so it obviously was not because
she wanted to sell us something. Now I'm sure with many vets the bottom line
IS to sell you something. I would say that with most the problem is they
have been bombarded by "literature" from people with an agenda (sell the
public pellets), and believe it. The problem is if you have lots of money
behind you, like a big corporation, you can have a "study" done, and you can
slant it to make it say what you want it to say. Then you bombard every
veterinary college with the results of your study, of course never
mentioning that you funded it. Now who is going to put up this kind of money
to "study" a seed diet? No one stands to gain from it.
Our Macaw eats pellets, along with all kinds of other foods. Our BCC and
Tiel are not interested, they will occasionally try some, and I don't care.
Humans, depending on which "expert" you read do not eat an optimum diet
either. I tip the scales at around 215. I would be happy if I could get back
to 200, but many "smart" Doctors say I "should" weigh about 170. Now will I
loose a few years from the back end of my life because I don't live on Tofu?
Maybe, I really don't care.
--
"Things get better with age. I'm approaching magnificent!"
|
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| Owly |
There are plenty of older birds on seed-based diets. Like my 23YO
cockatiel - and for most of his life he wouldn't eat any other foods either,
except potato chips and the occasional treat stick. The pellet craze is the
result of brilliant marketing.
I'd love a mynah :). Have known a couple, had a starling...but not equipped
for one, alas. So I'll just enjoy reading about others' mynahs :).
--
owly
http://www.ittybittybirdiebites.com
***September Special is UP!*** (click on Special)
....over 2 dozen sprouting links (click on Sprouting Links)
....avian nutrition ideas and links (click on Nutrition)
Seedjunkies Anon @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/seedjunkies
+++ Featured on the Parrotese Page @ www.cybernana.com +++
"XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ETlcb.333062$2x.98517@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to tell
> and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> punishment....
>
> But this pellet thing really does bother me. We recently took
> my mother's 25 year old Yellow Nape to the vet for a growth on it's
> wing and the very first thing the young vet did was go into this
> obviously scripted diatribe of seed diets and suggest we purchase
> THEIR pellet mixture for $12.99lb. In addition to my mother's bird, I
> have three other parrots, two of which are 26 years old. I started
> mixing my own seed years ago and include 30% canary and millet, but
> nevertheless, these birds, plus a 16 year old Yellow Nape, have
> thrived on a 99% seed diet. I recently, since reading it here, tried
> the apple-juice soaked, slightly micro-warmed plain pellets, two of
> the three I have here will eat
> whatever I offer within minutes, my mom's bird and my Cockatoo, always
> the odd man out :), will have nothing to do with them. And I
> **worry**, because everyone here seems so gung-ho on pellets. I
> worry--yet my birds are 26 years old--I must have done something right
> all these years.
>
> I don't know--I also wonder about the introduciton and growing
> popularity of pelleted diets as domestically bred and hand raised
> birds have grown from, in the late seventies, a novelty, to now the
> norm? I wonder if the nutritional needs of these captive-raised birds
> have been somehow altered, so that maybe captive raiseds DO "need"
> pellets?
> ALL my birds were wild caught (and all purchased at that "magic age"
> of eleven months old:)
>
> Abruptly changing the subject--any Mynah fanciers here?
|
|
|
| oldmolly |
"G. Wolnik" <pacificasc@aol.comspambust> wrote in message
news:20030923204055.15762.00000098@mb-m16.aol.com...
> >Just wondering if anyone has any tips they might want to offer on
> >encouraging a parakeet to eat pellets.
>
> I asked that same question to this newsgroup a couple of
> years ago. I also got a lot of useless wise-crack replies!
> However, I got one good reply from someone who had successfully
> converted many budgies to pellets. She
> recommended using Roudybush crumbles
> and going "cold turkey".
> I did that and my bird did not eat for
> 2 days. Then he finally gave in and started
> devouring the pellets. I changed the cage
> paper frequently to check for droppings
> so I could assure myself that he really
> was eating them, not just turning them into
> powder (which he also did.) I believe that
> if you put the pellets in the dish where the
> bird is used to getting his seed, then it
> will start eating them. Don't put any seed
> in the cage and don't give in at all. Just
> be prepared for the fact that even a little
> budgie can go days without eating, so
> it may be a battle of nerves for you!
This is bad and dangerous advice. A birds metabolism has not evolved to "go
for days" without food.
This sort of starvation forcing a bird too eat pellets is downright bloody
cruel, and totally unecessary.
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.520 / Virus Database: 318 - Release Date: 18/09/03
|
|
|
| oldmolly |
"Alex Clayton" <alexxcl1400@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1064422949.310141@yasure...
> "Michael Maxwell" <mmaxwell@see.sig> wrote in message
> news:vr7d6dqi3ul.fsf@typhoon.xnet.com...
> > Starlight <homehealth_rnDELETE@yahoo.com> writes:
> > > I disagree with you and feel this is very poor advice. What do you
> > > mean by "can go for days....."? How many days? 5? 10? 2?
> > > I would never, ever starve my budgies like that. They are happy,
> > > extremely active little creatures and need nutrition to maintain their
> > > good health.
> > > I don't understand the need to convert budgies to a completely pellet
> > > diet, but that's another topic.
> >
> > I agree - I have certain "reservations" about this approach. I most
> > likely will try someone else's (name escapes me, sorry) trick of
> > soaking the pellets in Apple juice.
> >
> > As for a completely pellet diet, no, it's not necessary - at least
> > from what I've read. A mixture is good, though.
>
> Even this depends on who you read. The birds in question were seed eaters.
> People started keeping them as pets long ago, and of course fed them seed.
A
> few years ago some people who were looking for a way to make a buck
decided
> they would "invent" a diet for them. Then with a lot of advertising they
> started to convince people these birds "needed" a man made diet to
survive.
> Amazing the bird population did not die out before these "smart" people
> could invent a diet for them?
> Feeding some pellets probably will not hurt, but if your bird does not
> want them your only fooling yourself to think you "just have" to force
them
> to eat them. The only one who stands to gain anything is the company's
that
> make and sell the pellets, not the bird.
> --
Well put.
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.520 / Virus Database: 318 - Release Date: 18/09/03
|
|
|
| Mamabird |
"XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ETlcb.333062$2x.98517@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to tell
> and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> punishment....
Nah. We're not THAT mean. :>)
Glad you decided to come out of lurkdom and join the discussions.
> But this pellet thing really does bother me. We recently took
> my mother's 25 year old Yellow Nape to the vet for a growth on it's
> wing and the very first thing the young vet did was go into this
> obviously scripted diatribe of seed diets and suggest we purchase
> THEIR pellet mixture for $12.99lb. In addition to my mother's bird, I
> have three other parrots, two of which are 26 years old. I started
> mixing my own seed years ago and include 30% canary and millet, but
> nevertheless, these birds, plus a 16 year old Yellow Nape, have
> thrived on a 99% seed diet. I recently, since reading it here, tried
> the apple-juice soaked, slightly micro-warmed plain pellets, two of
> the three I have here will eat
> whatever I offer within minutes, my mom's bird and my Cockatoo, always
> the odd man out :), will have nothing to do with them. And I
> **worry**, because everyone here seems so gung-ho on pellets. I
> worry--yet my birds are 26 years old--I must have done something right
> all these years.
I'd say you've done everything right!
I stopped buying pellets a few months ago after TRYING to get my birds to
eat them for about 8 years. I've tried every brand out there, including
those $12.99lb Harrison's your vet tried to sell you.
I had some success in getting the birds to eat them, but they eventually
would stop and I'd have to go find another brand more to their liking. We
repeated this cycle numerous times.
I kept buying them out of guilt... "You don't feed your birds pellets?!
<gasp!>"
Finally I got fed up with throwing out pellets everyday and the birds, I
think, got fed up with seeing something they didn't like in their bowls
everyday.
So, around here we're back to the basics: A quality seed mix and lots of
nutritious fresh foods. A couple of times a week I sprinkle a little Prime
Avian vitamins on their fruits/veggies/sprouts. Probably isn't necessary
but it makes *me* feel better. <G>
The seed mixes I buy (a quality "vita seed" mix by a trusted manufacturer
that I mix with a "deluxe" brand that has extra nuts and goodies) have
pellets in them so it's not like I'm withholding them entirely. They're
there if the birds want them.
Looking back, my birds were actually healthier before the switch to
pellets. But for those who have birds that like pellets... great! Mine
don't, and I will no longer let myself be "bullied" by the diehard
pro-pellet people, including vets.
--
Mama
~^~^~^~ Visit Mamabird's Nest: <http://iluvbirds.tripod.com/> And My
Photo Albums at: <http://photos.yahoo.com/iluvbirdz>
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
|
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| High Flight |
XXXXgizzieXXXX <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> says...
> OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to tell
> and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> punishment....
Uh oh. What did YOU do? :P
> I don't know--I also wonder about the introduciton and growing
> popularity of pelleted diets as domestically bred and hand raised
> birds have grown from, in the late seventies, a novelty, to now the
> norm? I wonder if the nutritional needs of these captive-raised birds
> have been somehow altered, so that maybe captive raiseds DO "need"
> pellets?
> ALL my birds were wild caught (and all purchased at that "magic age"
> of eleven months old:)
All pet birds are still wild birds. IMO, the pellet fad is popular
because of marketing, and convenience. But the best diet is probably
varied and balanced.
Jack
--
aka Keet Visit my web page at http://junior.apk.net/~jac/
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| Laurie |
"Wheeler" <rivercst@pacifier.com> wrote in message
news:vn26307dli0179@corp.supernews.com...
> Laurie all you need are heavy curtains. Gee whiz................... :0)
>
> Bob W
> --
Well, if the black sheets and two dark towels over each cage isn't enough to
block the light, I don't know...
I guess I'll just have to pray for dark and cloudy mornings every day from
now on!
Laurie
|
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| Jennifer Mullen |
In <bkqibg$2q1$1@oasis.ccit.arizona.edu>
Louis Boyd <boyd@apt0.sao.arizona.edu> wrote:
> How do you get them to wait till 8am? My birds start nipping my toes at
> sunrise!
I put up heavy, dark curtains. Now I get to sleep in until 9 am.
--
Jennifer Mullen
redjen@psu.edu
|
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| oldmolly |
"Mamabird" <iluvbirds@directcom.net> wrote in message
news:7Rpcb.2370$RW4.1289@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:ETlcb.333062$2x.98517@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> > OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to tell
> > and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> > punishment....
>
> Nah. We're not THAT mean. :>)
> Glad you decided to come out of lurkdom and join the discussions.
>
> > But this pellet thing really does bother me. We recently took
> > my mother's 25 year old Yellow Nape to the vet for a growth on it's
> > wing and the very first thing the young vet did was go into this
> > obviously scripted diatribe of seed diets and suggest we purchase
> > THEIR pellet mixture for $12.99lb. In addition to my mother's bird, I
> > have three other parrots, two of which are 26 years old. I started
> > mixing my own seed years ago and include 30% canary and millet, but
> > nevertheless, these birds, plus a 16 year old Yellow Nape, have
> > thrived on a 99% seed diet. I recently, since reading it here, tried
> > the apple-juice soaked, slightly micro-warmed plain pellets, two of
> > the three I have here will eat
> > whatever I offer within minutes, my mom's bird and my Cockatoo, always
> > the odd man out :), will have nothing to do with them. And I
> > **worry**, because everyone here seems so gung-ho on pellets. I
> > worry--yet my birds are 26 years old--I must have done something right
> > all these years.
>
> I'd say you've done everything right!
>
> I stopped buying pellets a few months ago after TRYING to get my birds to
> eat them for about 8 years. I've tried every brand out there, including
> those $12.99lb Harrison's your vet tried to sell you.
>
> I had some success in getting the birds to eat them, but they eventually
> would stop and I'd have to go find another brand more to their liking. We
> repeated this cycle numerous times.
> I kept buying them out of guilt... "You don't feed your birds pellets?!
> <gasp!>"
> Finally I got fed up with throwing out pellets everyday and the birds, I
> think, got fed up with seeing something they didn't like in their bowls
> everyday.
>
> So, around here we're back to the basics: A quality seed mix and lots of
> nutritious fresh foods. A couple of times a week I sprinkle a little Prime
> Avian vitamins on their fruits/veggies/sprouts. Probably isn't necessary
> but it makes *me* feel better. <G>
>
> The seed mixes I buy (a quality "vita seed" mix by a trusted manufacturer
> that I mix with a "deluxe" brand that has extra nuts and goodies) have
> pellets in them so it's not like I'm withholding them entirely. They're
> there if the birds want them.
>
> Looking back, my birds were actually healthier before the switch to
> pellets. But for those who have birds that like pellets... great! Mine
> don't, and I will no longer let myself be "bullied" by the diehard
> pro-pellet people, including vets.
Yay (pats mama on the back) good for you .I hereby award you the order of
B.U.B.S. (buy ure birdy's seeds)
and P.O.O.P.S. (pellets and other products stink)
;0)
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| Mamabird |
"oldmolly" <oldmolly1@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:OIzcb.3920$%G1.538@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
>
> "Mamabird" <iluvbirds@directcom.net> wrote in message
> > I stopped buying pellets a few months ago after TRYING to get my birds
to
> > eat them for about 8 years. I've tried every brand out there, including
> > those $12.99lb Harrison's your vet tried to sell you.
>
> Yay (pats mama on the back) good for you .I hereby award you the order
of
> B.U.B.S. (buy ure birdy's seeds)
> and P.O.O.P.S. (pellets and other products stink)
> ;0)
Thank you! I shall bear my B.U.B.S. and P.O.O.P.S. proudly!
--
Mama
~^~^~^~ Visit Mamabird's Nest: <http://iluvbirds.tripod.com/> And My
Photo Albums at: <http://photos.yahoo.com/iluvbirdz>
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
|
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| Shannon |
"XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ETlcb.333062$2x.98517@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
>
> "Alex Clayton" <> wrote
>
> > People started keeping them as pets long ago, and of course fed them
> seed. A
> > few years ago some people who were looking for a way to make a buck
> decided
> > they would "invent" a diet for them. Then with a lot of advertising
> they
> > started to convince people these birds "needed" a man made diet to
> survive.
> > Amazing the bird population did not die out before these "smart"
> people
> > could invent a diet for them?
> > Feeding some pellets probably will not hurt, but if your bird does
> not
> > want them your only fooling yourself to think you "just have" to
> force them
> > to eat them. The only one who stands to gain anything is the
> company's that
> > make and sell the pellets, not the bird.
>
>
> OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to tell
> and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> punishment....
>
> But this pellet thing really does bother me. We recently took
> my mother's 25 year old Yellow Nape to the vet for a growth on it's
> wing and the very first thing the young vet did was go into this
> obviously scripted diatribe of seed diets and suggest we purchase
> THEIR pellet mixture for $12.99lb. In addition to my mother's bird, I
> have three other parrots, two of which are 26 years old. I started
> mixing my own seed years ago and include 30% canary and millet, but
> nevertheless, these birds, plus a 16 year old Yellow Nape, have
> thrived on a 99% seed diet. I recently, since reading it here, tried
> the apple-juice soaked, slightly micro-warmed plain pellets, two of
> the three I have here will eat
> whatever I offer within minutes, my mom's bird and my Cockatoo, always
> the odd man out :), will have nothing to do with them. And I
> **worry**, because everyone here seems so gung-ho on pellets. I
> worry--yet my birds are 26 years old--I must have done something right
> all these years.
>
> I don't know--I also wonder about the introduciton and growing
> popularity of pelleted diets as domestically bred and hand raised
> birds have grown from, in the late seventies, a novelty, to now the
> norm? I wonder if the nutritional needs of these captive-raised birds
> have been somehow altered, so that maybe captive raiseds DO "need"
> pellets?
> ALL my birds were wild caught (and all purchased at that "magic age"
> of eleven months old:)
>
> Abruptly changing the subject--any Mynah fanciers here?
>
>
> XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
>
I was just talking about wanting a Mynah bird on a different NG.... But when
told about projectile poop because of the type of food they eat... I thought
maybe I would just not think about wanting one. LOL
And.... my birds have been on pellets since they were weaned. The breeder
told me never to feed them HARTZ brand seed... somethinga about not knowing
how long the stuff has been on a shelf... so I've just stuck to the pellets
that were available from the breeder.. (she owned a bird products
company)...
My birds are 11, 10, 7, and 4 years old... they're all okay, and on pellets
and fruits, veggies and some people food...
Shannon
|
|
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| Alex Clayton |
"Shannon" <shannon@nomorespam.com> wrote in message
news:8aJcb.25862$pU4.24221@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>
>>
> I was just talking about wanting a Mynah bird on a different NG.... But
when
> told about projectile poop because of the type of food they eat... I
thought
> maybe I would just not think about wanting one. LOL
>
> And.... my birds have been on pellets since they were weaned. The breeder
> told me never to feed them HARTZ brand seed... somethinga about not
knowing
> how long the stuff has been on a shelf... so I've just stuck to the
pellets
> that were available from the breeder.. (she owned a bird products
> company)...
>
> My birds are 11, 10, 7, and 4 years old... they're all okay, and on
pellets
> and fruits, veggies and some people food...
>
> Shannon
>
>
That's the most important thing, other foods. We still give our B&G pellets
because he was weaned onto them and likes them, but they are only a small
part of his diet. I do not think they hurt anything, but I am very much
against trying to force a bird to eat them, or making them the entire diet
for a bird. This is what the endless advertising has done, is convince many
people that anything but pellets is some how cruel to the bird. I don't buy
it.
|
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| Loren Coe |
In article <ZMmcb.572348$uu5.94017@sccrnsc04>, Owly wrote:
> There are plenty of older birds on seed-based diets. Like my 23YO
> cockatiel - and for most of his life he wouldn't eat any other foods either,
> except potato chips and the occasional treat stick. The pellet craze is the
> result of brilliant marketing.
i don't know what it is, surely even the seed suppliers would love to provide a
cheaper (to produce) product that is _more_ nutricious. they have to really keep
an eye on operations so that the inventory does not age too much, and the extruded
food is easier to keep and process.
add to that, the breeders who welcome extruded for hand rearing, and would gladly
feed it exclusively if they thought the bird would thrive. no one gives a single
thought to the bird, and his 1+million years of geneology. if you think birds have
behaviourial problems being left alone, why take away one of their major enjoyable
daily tasks, cracking seeds?
it seems like a good deal at first blush, extruded can be fortified easily, and
s/b part of the diet whenever possible. but exclusively? that is cruel, imho.
--Loren
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| E-Man |
>> > I did that and my bird did not eat for
> > 2 days. Then he finally gave in and started
> > devouring the pellets. I changed the cage
> > paper frequently to check for droppings
> > so I could assure myself that he really
> > was eating them, not just turning them into
> > powder (which he also did.) I believe that
> > if you put the pellets in the dish where the
> > bird is used to getting his seed, then it
> > will start eating them. Don't put any seed
> > in the cage and don't give in at all. Just
> > be prepared for the fact that even a little
> > budgie can go days without eating, so
> > it may be a battle of nerves for you!
>
> This is bad and dangerous advice. A birds metabolism has not evolved to "go
> for days" without food.
> This sort of starvation forcing a bird too eat pellets is downright bloody
> cruel, and totally unecessary.
Me thinks a few of you have gone slightly overboard on the "days" thing.
He said his bird went 2 days earlier in his post. Then stated they could go
for days, which I, having read the entire post, took to mean 2 days. How you
guys got 10,5, or more I don't understand. Sounds to me like the person was
just being in charge of the bird, instead of the other way around. (Like MOST
of us!%^)
And a birds metabolism HAS evolved to go several days without food. You think
that in the wild, they just have a daily, never ending source of food?
Sometimes their food is seasonal. Sometimes they eat what they shouldn't
because nothing else is available, sometimes weather or heavy rain can prevent
them from getting to their food source. The need and wastefulness of having
food 24/7 is a HUMAN trait that we pass on to our birds because WE think it's
necessary.............like pellets. Heck, YOU go 2 days without food, and
your body will probably thank you for it! Utilize some of that stored fat.......
put an actual "clean space" in your colon............
The cruel and dangerous advice is feeding your birds those dam pellets!
Yes, they fortify them with vitamins and stuff.......yes, your birds can
survive on them......some may even grow to love them.........or know nothing
else.......but they are not what your birds bodies were designed to eat,
nor are their "metabolisms" happy about processing them. Poop stability is
either very soft, or downright runny. And STINKS much more than the seed and
veggy diet birds.
This is just my opinion, from my own experiences with my own birds. YMMV
This is not directed at anyone.......just my own whining about those dam
pellets.............
E-Man %^)
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| Alex Clayton |
"Jennifer Mullen" <nomoreswenplease@example.com> wrote in message
news:slrnbn4ko3.tut.nomoreswenplease@hacksaw.cac.psu.edu...
> In <bkqibg$2q1$1@oasis.ccit.arizona.edu>
> Louis Boyd <boyd@apt0.sao.arizona.edu> wrote:
>
> > How do you get them to wait till 8am? My birds start nipping my toes at
> > sunrise!
>
> I put up heavy, dark curtains. Now I get to sleep in until 9 am.
>
>
> --
> Jennifer Mullen
> redjen@psu.edu
I tried this a few weeks ago with my birds and it has so far worked quite
well. I work two jobs, and on the main job 3 of my days are 12 hours and at
night. I get home about 7:00 am, used to feed the birds open the curtains,
then try to get some rest. The Macaw and Conure would get each other going
real good a few times a week to the point I could not get any rest. I
started leaving the curtains in the living room closed, and now the birds
get up and eat, but they do not start making all kinds of noise, and I can
sleep till 12:00 then get up open the curtains and everything is fine. Since
it's only 3 days a week they seem to have accepted it real well.
|
|
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| Loren Coe |
In article <1064613819.187738@yasure>, Alex Clayton wrote:
> "Jennifer Mullen" <nomoreswenplease@example.com> wrote in message
>>
>> > How do you get them to wait till 8am? My birds start nipping my toes at
>> > sunrise! >>
>> I put up heavy, dark curtains. Now I get to sleep in until 9 am.
>> >> >> -- >> Jennifer Mullen >> redjen@psu.edu
>
> I tried this a few weeks ago with my birds and it has so far worked quite
> well. I work two jobs, and on the main job 3 of my days are 12 hours and at
> night. I get home about 7:00 am, used to feed the birds open the curtains,
> then try to get some rest. The Macaw and Conure would get each other going
> real good a few times a week to the point I could not get any rest. I
> started leaving the curtains in the living room closed, and now the birds
> get up and eat, but they do not start making all kinds of noise, and I can
> sleep till 12:00 then get up open the curtains and everything is fine. Since
> it's only 3 days a week they seem to have accepted it real well. > >
you are a patient man, Alex. i went thru this with my Quaker. the
tiels are not nearly as loud and a closed door will let me sleep.
but it is amazing how the general activity in the home can influence
bird behaviour. when the 'tiels have an 'exciting' day, like getting
out of the cage for several hours, they are very content to be inside
and quiet on the next day. Regards, --Loren
|
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"Mamabird" <> wrote
> "XXXXgizzieXXXX" <> wrote
> > OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to
tell
> > and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> > punishment....
> Nah. We're not THAT mean. :>)
OK, maybe you're just **sensitive** ;)
> Glad you decided to come out of lurkdom and join the discussions.
You'll be SORreee--you'll never shut me up, now ;-D
> I'd say you've done everything right!
>
> I stopped buying pellets a few months ago after TRYING to get my
birds to
> eat them for about 8 years. I've tried every brand out there,
including
> those $12.99lb Harrison's your vet tried to sell you.
Yikes. Strangely, I think they may be kind of acepting the
Roudybush crumbles--by "kind of accepting" I mean they are only
wasting, like, 80% %-) I kind of made
warm oatmeal with a few drops of orange juice and they are kind of
thinking about eating, at least two out of three are. Not Willie
Cockatoo, he's like Mikey, he hates everything.
> I kept buying them out of guilt... "You don't feed your birds
pellets?!
> <gasp!>"
That young vet really pissed me off--my mom was upset anyway that
her ONLY
housemate, her buddy, had this bloody lump on his wing for god only
knows how long
(the bird is not tame and is, in fact, "cagebound"), and this punk is
lecturing her on
"nutritional neglect." Her words. Grrrrrrr.....
> So, around here we're back to the basics: A quality seed mix and
lots of
> nutritious fresh foods.
I made a batch of your "Birdie Bread" tonight after work, I can't
wait to see if they accept it.
> The seed mixes I buy (a quality "vita seed" mix by a trusted
manufacturer
> that I mix with a "deluxe" brand that has extra nuts and goodies)
have
> pellets in them
But do you think the birds eat them? I think they are pretty--and
make the water look pretty when they DUNK them--but I have never seen
my birds eat them and I find a LOT on the cage floors.
>But for those who have birds that like pellets... great! Mine
> don't, and I will no longer let myself be "bullied" by the diehard
> pro-pellet people, including vets.
OK, so maybe I'll hang up my guilt cloak.....
--
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
|
|
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"High Flight" <jac@apk.net> wrote
XXXXgizzieXXXX <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> says...
> > OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to
tell
> > and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
> > punishment....
> Uh oh. What did YOU do? :P
OK, since you asked......
My birds are in old Prevue Hendrix cages, I think they are
120, the rectangle, drop-front door--
A few weeks ago on a Saturday morning, when I did not
have to be at work 'till
noon, I got up around 8, fed everybody, gave them their habitual
scratch on the head as they hung on the front of their cages and went
on my merry way. I passed my Yellow Nape's cage twice in the next
several minutes, not really looking at him....
About twenty minutes later, as I passed him on the way to the
basement, I stopped and looked back--he was stil clinging to the front
of the cage as he'd been when I fed him. Odd. I went back "What's
up, Barn, you ok?" I looked and looked....and almost **** when I saw
his TOE was caught in the door of the cage, almost like someone had
shut his toe IN it (no one had, he hadn't been out in several days) I
gasped "ohhhh, Barn" and slooowly raised my hand to the front of the
door (this bird is handleable, but not "tame") I eased the door open
and he pulled his foot back and climbed--I was relieved to see the toe
WORKED--on to his top perch. I said "Poor Barney, your poor poor
toe!" and HE said "You OK???" :) I watched him for several minutes,
he flexed the foot a few times, but the toe did not swell and did not
appear to be really injured--it DID have a visible dent in it when he
was first free but it quickly "filled in" and seemed to be fine. He
did not appear to be in actual pain, but the first thing he did was go
over and take BIG drink of water. I did not let him drink his fill, I
was afraid he'd bloat. We'd been out LATE the night before and had
come home in the drk--I have NO idea how long he hung there, but what
got me was he hung SO *****still*****, so quiet. There was NO dropped
feathers, NO lost down, no blood anywhere, no visible sign of
**struggle** at all--it was like he got stuck and thought, "Well, I'l
just stay here 'til She comes and gets me loose". I have no idea how
long he ws stcuck, and I shudder to thik if it had been a weekday
morning when I fed everyone and went to work for eleven hours.
Now, the wierdness.....almost this same thing happened to my
African Grey...TWENTY THREE years ago. It was the same type of cage,
but it was
her entire foot , up to the first joint. My mom and I (I was still
living at home) had been to a movie on a Sunday afternoon, when we got
home, as I passed her cage, I just got this odd feeling--she looked
odd, it was her eyes,they were HUGEly dilated. Then I saw her leg. I
eased the door open and took her out--the leg was fine, I think she
was in slight shock, re: the eyes, but she recovered quickly and was
fine. But she'd just been holding on, there, not struggling--and
there was no sign of struggle.
Interesting, no? I thought it was odd when it happened
back then, but now that I've seen it twice, it makes me wonder if the
freezing posture is an instictive defense mechanism, "I better not
yell or something will eat me, I CAN'T MOVE". The reason I originally
came to this forum was to inquire if anyone has has had a similar
experience with a bird being trapped and not struggling. I really
don't think either of them struggled and then gave up, because there
was NO sign that they had thrashed around at all.
As for the cages--I have NO idea how they managed to get their
legs/toes stuck in
the doors. The door latches are pressure, but not spring loaded (I
once watched the male of a pair of Nandays open a spring-loaded door
and HOLD it open so his mate could escape,then he slitherd out the
bottom) I am real careful with toys and do not use open-link chains or
those moppy-looking string toys, I always went by the notion that if
there is away they can get stcuck or hang themselves, they will--but
these doors baffle me, at least the one that Barney got stuck in
presently, it makes solid contact with the frame alllll the way
around.
So-that's my story. HAS anyone had a bird get stuck in this or
similar fashion and not struggle? Certainly not like my dogs, who
scream like they're being tortured if they get left behind in the
laundry room....
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
|
|
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"Shannon" <> wrote
> I was just talking about wanting a Mynah bird on a different NG....
But when
> told about projectile poop because of the type of food they eat... I
thought
> maybe I would just not think about wanting one. LOL
They are almost impossible to get anyway. I just found out tonight
that the baby I was supposed to get is no more:( And yes, you really
have to LOVE Mynah's to keep them, they are messy, stinky, hateful and
not all that pretty. I DO love them, and this is the longest
time--six months--I have been without one in twenty seven years.
> And.... my birds have been on pellets since they were weaned. The
breeder
> told me never to feed them HARTZ brand seed... somethinga about not
knowing
> how long the stuff has been on a shelf...
That's funny, I joined my first bird club in 1978 and "boxed seed"
had a bad rap even then, although I reember the problem with Hartz was
they used a very high percentage of millet in their canary mix and
very few actual canary seed. I did not even know Hartz was still
around, I work in a grocery store and I think our shlf-brand is
Geisler's. I laugh looking at the 18 ounce bag of "Deluxe Parrot
Food" that costs $6 and wonde if anyone is stupid enough to pay that.
I realy should mark the bag and see how long it stays on the shelf--I
know the pet shop where I buy my bulk se has had the same bag of
softbill food on the shelf since they opend two months ago, I know
'cause I checked by the nutritional information and the bag is ripped
on the corner--same rip for two months. I guess NO ONE in South Hills
has a soft bill.
>so I've just stuck to the pellets
> that were available from the breeder.. (she owned a bird products
> company)...
I think the trick is the feeding them from the very first--I got my
nice a Cockatiel two years ago and it was pellet raised, those
multi-colored pellets that look like toys/food, nd he will hardly
touch seeds except millet spray, and I think he just likes to climb on
that.
> My birds are 11, 10, 7, and 4 years old... they're all okay, and on
pellets
> and fruits, veggies and some people food...
My obedience instructor's Panama just died last week, he was
38--or rather, she had him 38 years--and ALL that bird ever ate was
table scraps. I really shouldn't call them "scraps", because she fixd
him a plate, whatever hey were having for dinner, he got his own.
Cool bird, it was quite a loss.
--
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
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| thehouse@pooh.corner |
On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 02:45:36 GMT, "XXXXgizzieXXXX"
<xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote:
><(((*> So-that's my story. HAS anyone had a bird get stuck in this or
><(((*> similar fashion and not struggle?
Not in a cage door, but otherwise, yes.
When we'd had our cockatoo for about half a year, he got his toe
pinched in a keyring. We don't know how long he had been sitting
there unable to slide his toe out. But he was sitting very
quietly indeed, which is so totally not normal for a cockatoo.
When we removed the keyring from his foot, he didn't struggle,
but he bit me rather severely. I think he just wanted to share
the pain.
Needless to say, we now are vigilant about the toys he gets to
play with.
Tara J. Ballance
Montreal, Canada
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| Loren Coe |
In article <kXrdb.449977$cF.144965@rwcrnsc53>, XXXXgizzieXXXX wrote:
>
> "High Flight" <jac@apk.net> wrote
> XXXXgizzieXXXX <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> says...
>> > OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to
> tell
>> > and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
>> > punishment....
> > >> Uh oh. What did YOU do? :P
> > > OK, since you asked......
> > My birds are in old Prevue Hendrix cages, I think they are
> 120, the rectangle, drop-front door--
> > A few weeks ago on a Saturday morning, when I did not
> have to be at work 'till
> noon, I got up around 8, fed everybody, gave them their habitual
> scratch on the head as they hung on the front of their cages and went
> on my merry way. I passed my Yellow Nape's cage twice in the next
> several minutes, not really looking at him....
>
> About twenty minutes later, as I passed him on the way to the
> basement, I stopped and looked back--he was stil clinging to the front
> of the cage as he'd been when I fed him. Odd. I went back "What's
> up, Barn, you ok?" I looked and looked....and almost **** when I saw
> his TOE was caught in the door of the cage, almost like someone had
.....>
> Now, the wierdness.....almost this same thing happened to my
> African Grey...TWENTY THREE years ago. It was the same type of cage,
......>
> fine. But she'd just been holding on, there, not struggling--and
> there was no sign of struggle.
>
> Interesting, no? I thought it was odd when it happened
> back then, but now that I've seen it twice, it makes me wonder if the
> freezing posture is an instictive defense mechanism, "I better not
[...]
> came to this forum was to inquire if anyone has has had a similar
> experience with a bird being trapped and not struggling. I really
> don't think either of them struggled and then gave up, because there
> was NO sign that they had thrashed around at all.
i have a newly adopted pair of tiels, not tame, and have been gradually
getting closer to them. they are willing to come out of the cage on
occaision, but not predicably.
last week the male was out and exploring, got his foot caught up
in the "thumb hole" of a plastic bag that was behind the cage/stand.
by the time his squawking got my attention, he was hanging upside
down with one leg firmly trapped by the twisted plastic.
christ, what a commotion, me trying to snake my self under/thru
the stand to see just what in the hell was going on, with the bird
screaming and flapping. i was able to put my hand under him and he
immediately calmed down and only gave "token" bites. then i raised
him up and placed him inside the bag.
at this point, it was like you suggested, he just sat there, while
i tried to decide exactly what was next and get a pair of scissors.
it was just a few minutes, but he was quiet while i moved the stand
and picked up the bag.
again he didn't bite as i put my hand under him, but went ballistic
when he saw the scissors. so i put him down for a few minutes, hid
the scissors behind my back, picked him up and grabed the entraped
foot/leg letting him hang down, cut the plastic and placed him in
the cage. he promtply bit the **** out of me, once in the cage,
the little twerp. anyhoo, that's my contribution, --Loren
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| Mamabird |
"XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:kXrdb.357009$2x.111143@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
>
> "Mamabird" <> wrote
> > I stopped buying pellets a few months ago after TRYING to get my
> birds to
> > eat them for about 8 years. I've tried every brand out there,
> including
> > those $12.99lb Harrison's your vet tried to sell you.
>
> Yikes. Strangely, I think they may be kind of acepting the
> Roudybush crumbles--by "kind of accepting" I mean they are only
> wasting, like, 80% %-) I kind of made
> warm oatmeal with a few drops of orange juice and they are kind of
> thinking about eating, at least two out of three are. Not Willie
> Cockatoo, he's like Mikey, he hates everything.
Well, don't give up on the Roudybush yet. Whatever amount they're eating is
good for them. Mine just got to the point where they weren't eating any at
all.
> That young vet really pissed me off--my mom was upset anyway that
> her ONLY
> housemate, her buddy, had this bloody lump on his wing for god only
> knows how long
> (the bird is not tame and is, in fact, "cagebound"), and this punk is
> lecturing her on
> "nutritional neglect." Her words. Grrrrrrr.....
Yeah, some vets are like that. But if he's a good vet maybe you can
overlook his lecturing. BTW... what WAS the lump on your mom's bird? Is it
something treatable? I hope so!
> > So, around here we're back to the basics: A quality seed mix and
> lots of
> > nutritious fresh foods.
>
> I made a batch of your "Birdie Bread" tonight after work, I can't
> wait to see if they accept it.
"MY" birdie bread? I don't understand cause I've never posted how I make my
birdie bread. Fact is, I never make it the same way twice. <G>
> > The seed mixes I buy (a quality "vita seed" mix by a trusted
> manufacturer
> > that I mix with a "deluxe" brand that has extra nuts and goodies)
> have
> > pellets in them
>
> But do you think the birds eat them? I think they are pretty--and
> make the water look pretty when they DUNK them--but I have never seen
> my birds eat them and I find a LOT on the cage floors.
I doubt it. I've never seen any evidence that they're eating them. But at
least I'm not wasting money on a big bag of them.
--
Mama
~^~^~^~ Visit Mamabird's Nest: <http://iluvbirds.tripod.com/> And My
Photo Albums at: <http://photos.yahoo.com/iluvbirdz>
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
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| JZ |
Xref: 127.0.0.1 rec.pets.birds:197423
"XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:kXrdb.449977$cF.144965@rwcrnsc53...
<snip>
> So-that's my story. HAS anyone had a bird get stuck in this or
> similar fashion and not struggle? Certainly not like my dogs, who
> scream like they're being tortured if they get left behind in the
> laundry room....
>
>
>
> XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
Not me, I had a 'teil get his leg band caught on a loose cage wire... No
calm in that cage, he went nuts!
Jan
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"Mamabird" <> wrote
> BTW... what WAS the lump on your mom's bird?
It was blahblahblahblah cancer:( They removed the lump and
**think** they got it all, but the pathology report was not good--they
may yet have to remove the wing (which is what I wanted them to do in
the first place, my Cockatoo had cancer 21 years ago and has lived
with 1/2 of one wing just fine) We go back October 24 for an xray and
needle biopsy check.
> > I made a batch of your "Birdie Bread" tonight after work, I
can't
> > wait to see if they accept it.
>
> "MY" birdie bread? I don't understand cause I've never posted how I
make my
> birdie bread.
OK, wait--where did I read that recipe, then?? Maybe it was a link
from the mytoos page? Anyway, all three, plus my mom's bird, liked it
(Katie Grey dunked it, but I knew she would)
--
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
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| Mamabird |
"XXXXgizzieXXXX" <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:yE4eb.466420$cF.148491@rwcrnsc53...
>
> "Mamabird" <> wrote
> > BTW... what WAS the lump on your mom's bird?
>
> It was blahblahblahblah cancer:( They removed the lump and
> **think** they got it all, but the pathology report was not good--they
> may yet have to remove the wing (which is what I wanted them to do in
> the first place, my Cockatoo had cancer 21 years ago and has lived
> with 1/2 of one wing just fine) We go back October 24 for an xray and
> needle biopsy check.
>
I'm very sorry to hear that. I hope they do get it all and your mom's bird
has many, many more happy, healthy years.
Best of luck!
--
Mama
~^~^~^~ Visit Mamabird's Nest: <http://iluvbirds.tripod.com/> And My
Photo Albums at: <http://photos.yahoo.com/iluvbirdz>
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
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| Loren Coe |
In article <yE4eb.466420$cF.148491@rwcrnsc53>, XXXXgizzieXXXX wrote:
>
> "Mamabird" <> wrote
>> BTW... what WAS the lump on your mom's bird?
>
> It was blahblahblahblah cancer:( They removed the lump and
> **think** they got it all, but the pathology report was not good--they
> may yet have to remove the wing (which is what I wanted them to do in
> the first place, my Cockatoo had cancer 21 years ago and has lived
> with 1/2 of one wing just fine) We go back October 24 for an xray and
hmmm, a very good outcome. makes me rethink my comments about spending
too much $ on 'pets', especially a long lived parrot. regards, --Loren
> needle biopsy check.
>
>> > I made a batch of your "Birdie Bread" tonight after work, I
> can't
>> > wait to see if they accept it.
>>
>> "MY" birdie bread? I don't understand cause I've never posted how I
> make my
>> birdie bread.
>
> OK, wait--where did I read that recipe, then?? Maybe it was a link
> from the mytoos page? Anyway, all three, plus my mom's bird, liked it
> (Katie Grey dunked it, but I knew she would)
>
>
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| High Flight |
XXXXgizzieXXXX <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> says...
>> > OK--I've been lurking here a few weeks, I have a story to
> tell
>> > and hesitate, as I may be told to shut my foot in a door as
>> > punishment....
>
>> Uh oh. What did YOU do? :P
>
>
> OK, since you asked......
[an unforeseen accident]
Have you considered clamping the doors shut? So there's no way a bird
could force it open?
> Interesting, no? I thought it was odd when it happened
> back then, but now that I've seen it twice, it makes me wonder if the
> freezing posture is an instictive defense mechanism, "I better not
> yell or something will eat me, I CAN'T MOVE".
That sounds very likely.
> So-that's my story. HAS anyone had a bird get stuck in this or
> similar fashion and not struggle?
I haven't, no.
Jack
--
aka Keet Visit my web page at http://junior.apk.net/~jac/
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"Loren Coe" <> wrote
> hmmm, a very good outcome. makes me rethink my comments about
spending
> too much $ on 'pets', especially a long lived parrot. regards
I will not hesitate to have further surgery, or the amputation,
done on the bird, but that is because I have experience with surgery
of this type, on this species. The decision **is** hard--the initial
surgery on Airon was $48, it would have been over 6 if they had had to
amputate immediatly (the tumor is in an odd location). $500 and a
dead bird would certainly have sucked, but he came through it fine
(we, on the other hand, were a mess) and he had a quite fetching hot
pink cast on his wing for ten days.
As for the $$$ spent on pets, I think you often have to make a
non-emotional decision, and that IS hard. A few years back, I had
$280 worth of tests done on a thirteen year old Terv and had a dead
dog two week later. I have an eight and a half year old Irish
Wolfhound who has a small mass on her back--the vet said don't worry
about it unless it changes shape or consistency, then we will discuss
removal. I will not have it removed--I will not put her through that,
especailly when IWs only live 9-10 years (and some less)
Trouble is, there is always guilt when you opt not to have an
expensive procedure done, the shoulda woulda couldas plague you. It
sucks.
--
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"High Flight" <jac@apk.net> wrote in message
news:blbu9a$k9b$1@plonk.apk.net...
XXXXgizzieXXXX <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> says...
> [an unforeseen accident]
> Have you considered clamping the doors shut? So there's no way a
bird
> could force it open?
The door is padlocked shut-that is why I am so baffled how it
happened, the door meets evenly--and tightly--with the frame all the
way around. I don;t know how he even got his toe in there, I need two
hands to get it open. It's wierdness.
--
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
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| High Flight |
XXXXgizzieXXXX <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> says...
>> Have you considered clamping the doors shut? So there's no way a
> bird
>> could force it open?
>
> The door is padlocked shut-that is why I am so baffled how it
> happened, the door meets evenly--and tightly--with the frame all the
> way around.
So you're certain that the padlock prevents any play? They're not
designed to do that.
Jack
--
aka Keet Visit my web page at http://junior.apk.net/~jac/
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| XXXXgizzieXXXX |
"High Flight" <> wrote
> XXXXgizzieXXXX <xxgizziexx@comcast.net> says...
> > The door is padlocked shut-that is why I am so baffled how it
> > happened, the door meets evenly--and tightly--with the frame all
the
> > way around.
> So you're certain that the padlock prevents any play? They're not
> designed to do that.
It's a small, combination luggage padlock, I have it **angled** in
the upper right corner of the door frame, so it encompasses the frame
and one cross-bar on the door,a s well as the adge of the door itself.
The TIGHT position of the padlock prevents the door from opening even
a quarter inch, which is why I still, and will never know, how he got
his toe IN the door. Like I said, it looked like the door ws closed
on his toe, but I know that did not happen.
--
XXXXXXgizzieXXXXXX
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| G. Wolnik |
<< This is bad and dangerous advice. A birds metabolism has not evolved to "go
for days" without food. >>
I stand by my advice. Let me give some more
background on my experience with this.
A friend bought a very young budgie at a bird mart,
not something I would have recommended, but
she fell in love with it. She got a sample of the
seed mix from the seller (who was probably not
the breeder) and it was mostly millet. This
young bird was so traumatized by leaving the
flock of budgies and being by himself for the
first time that he did not eat for 2 days, even
though his usual seed mix was available! That
establishes that even a budgie can starve itself
for 2 days without harm. There were no seed
shells and no new droppings in the cage, so we
know the bird was not eating. Then it finally started
eating the seed, but only the millet. We were
concerned that without other budgies around to
teach it to eat a more varied diet, this bird
would only eat millet. So, I proposed converting
to pellets. We waited a couple of weeks to make
sure the bird was eating and in otherwise good
health. Based on advice from a budgie breeder
who had successfully converted many birds to
pellets, we learned that leaving any seeds in the
cage would prevent a bird like this from trying
the pellets. Once again, the bird went 2 days
without eating. Then it started eating the pellets
so I would say that after 2 days, a budgie will eat
what you give it. This bird is still alive and very
healthy today, about 4 years on nothing but
Roudybush crumbles! He won't eat greens or
any other treats, but he is doing fine on pellets
and plain water (no extra vitamins).
This is a true story, not speculation. If you are
not interested in feeding pellets, then you can
ignore it. But the original poster wanted to know
how to convert and I replied with a known method
that would work. I think it is more cruel to allow
a bird to just eat one type of seed than to make
it learn to eat a complete balanced diet. I don't
know how you would make a bird eat different types
of seed and greens each day if it didn't have other
birds to teach it when it was young enough to
learn.
--
Ginger Wolnik
PacificASC@aol.com
Sunnyvale, CA USA
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| oldmolly |
"G. Wolnik" <pacificasc@aol.comspambust> wrote in message
news:20031004182119.28357.00000239@mb-m12.aol.com...
> << This is bad and dangerous advice. A birds metabolism has not evolved to
"go
> for days" without food. >>
>
> I stand by my advice. Let me give some more
> background on my experience with this.
> A friend bought a very young budgie at a bird mart,
> not something I would have recommended, but
> she fell in love with it. She got a sample of the
> seed mix from the seller (who was probably not
> the breeder) and it was mostly millet. This
> young bird was so traumatized by leaving the
> flock of budgies and being by himself for the
> first time that he did not eat for 2 days, even
> though his usual seed mix was available! That
> establishes that even a budgie can starve itself
> for 2 days without harm. There were no seed
> shells and no new droppings in the cage, so we
> know the bird was not eating. Then it finally started
> eating the seed, but only the millet. We were
> concerned that without other budgies around to
> teach it to eat a more varied diet, this bird
> would only eat millet. So, I proposed converting
> to pellets. We waited a couple of weeks to make
> sure the bird was eating and in otherwise good
> health. Based on advice from a budgie breeder
> who had successfully converted many birds to
> pellets, we learned that leaving any seeds in the
> cage would prevent a bird like this from trying
> the pellets. Once again, the bird went 2 days
> without eating. Then it started eating the pellets
> so I would say that after 2 days, a budgie will eat
> what you give it. This bird is still alive and very
> healthy today, about 4 years on nothing but
> Roudybush crumbles! He won't eat greens or
> any other treats, but he is doing fine on pellets
> and plain water (no extra vitamins).
So, you are advocating the lazy way to feed a bird is best?
No matter that the species evolved to live well on a seed based diet?
No matter that in order to force a bird to eat a manufactured unnatural
diet, you have to starve it into submission? You think that this is really
the best way to care for a bird??
> This is a true story, not speculation. If you are
> not interested in feeding pellets, then you can
> ignore it. But the original poster wanted to know
> how to convert and I replied with a known method
> that would work. I think it is more cruel to allow
> a bird to just eat one type of seed than to make
> it learn to eat a complete balanced diet.
Nobody advocated feeding only one kind of seed. Time and patience will get a
bird to eat a varied and balanced diet without pellets. It simply requires
some time, a little thought and effort. A lazy owner prefers to throw in a
handful of pellets day in , day out regardless of the birds need to hull
seed.
> I don't
> know how you would make a bird eat different types
> of seed and greens each day if it didn't have other
> birds to teach it when it was young enough to
> learn.
Exactly. You have no experience of anything other than pellets. Perhaps if
you did a little research and learned how to feed naturally, you might be
able to offer a balanced opinion.
I am not toally anti pelet, but I am anti totally pellet diets. My own
premium seedmix has some colour free pellets which several of my birds love.
However they are part of a wide range of foods offered. With some 90 odd
birds, there will always be one or two which refuse to eat something, but I
offer something they *do* like. Most like pomegranates, and sweetcorn, but
for those who don't, I will offer apple, or celery instead.I sprout seed and
grain, I cook pasta and veg for them. Pumpkins are cooked for them since
they are in season at the moment.They also get brussell sprouts, watercress,
cottage cheese etc. However, my budgies get just seed. I might occasionally
offer something green, but it usually gets refused. Some of the budgies in
the aviary are over 6 years old, they have an unheated aviary and live on
seed. They are as fit and handsome as any of my birds. So please explain
that to me.Your theory states that seed fed budgies will not be healthy.
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| Toucanldy |
Avian Diet
diet interviews
Interview with Mike Owen
Interview with David Poole
http:/ | | | |
