Converting the Seed Junky to Pellets

Copyright 1997 By Dr. Vanessa Rolfe, DVM
Avian & Exotic Veterinary Services
Salem, Virginia

"Devoted to the care of birds, reptiles, and exotic mammals"

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Sometimes bird owners find it difficult to get their birds to eat anything especially if the bird has eaten only these for a long time. Many people give up after offering other items once or twice and deciding that the bird does not like them. The bird's reluctance can be explained by several reasons.

Since sunflower and safflower seeds are high in fat, they taste good. In addition, the parrot may not recognize pellets as edible. A parrot will also rely on its parents and flock to show it what foods are safe and if these guides are no available, a parrot may not trust other foods as nonpoisonous. It can take a long time (months) and persistence to convince a bird to eat a variety or to get it to eat pellets.

You may have to try the different methods here or others to be successful. However, never remove all seeds at once and expect the bird to eat the new foods; this can result in a bird dying of starvation. Before replacing seeds, verify the bird is eating the new diet.

Demonstration works well if your bird responds to you as a friend. Eat or pretend to eat a piece of food; show how much you enjoy eating it. Then share some that has not touched your mouth (our saliva has bacteria).

Sprinkle pellets over a light-colored sheet on a flat surface for cockatiels and budgies ("parakeets"); this will stimulate them to check out and taste the pellets as though they are seeds on the ground.

Spread chopped foods or pellets over the seeds. Make the bird dig in and become familiar with these items. The goal is to start to trust them as foods.

Make food a toy so the bird may taste it while playing. Weave a carrot strip or some greens, or stick a "tree" of broccoli through the cage bars. Place these near favorite toys. Experiment with different ideas.

Birds tend to eat at dawn and dusk, so if the seeds are removed before daybreak and replaced with "new" foods, the bird will be more apt to eat them at breakfast. If the bird does not eat them, give seeds in mid-morning until the "new" diet is accepted. Or, try "interval feedings": several times per day offer all the seeds the bird wants for 20-30 minutes and then remove all food. Once this routine is established, start to offer only "new" foods at the morning feeding; continue to offer seeds at the other feedings. Once accepted, feed the "new" foods during other feedings. When the bird is eating these, offer them all day.

Also try strained baby vegetables or prepared oatmeal over the seed or salt-free vegetable (V-8^TM) or fruit juice in a dish; when accepted start to add small pieces of vegetables to it, and powdered vitamins.

Gradually decrease the proportion of liquid, and the bird will become used to eating different items. There are commercially available diets out which incorporate seed to help introduce non-seed items as food: Nutri-berries and Avicake from Lafeber are two such items.

A last resort uses slightly sprouted seeds, gradually introducing seeds that have more and more growth; recognizing "green means food" they tend to accept other vegetable items more easily.

Some groups of parrots, especially cockatoos and cockatiels, are "carboholics" and may be hard to switch to other items. You may need to emphasize starchy items including pellets, vegetables (i.e., sweet potatoes), breads, crackers, cereals and dry pastas. They usually do not accept fruit well.

If you bird has been eating only seeds for a long time, your bird may already be dangerously deficient in vitamins and minerals and may need nutritional supplements given by injection.

During any method, you must make sure that there is no weight loss. Call an avian veterinarian if you have any questions. Be patient, and get your bird to kick the all-seed habit.