converting from seed to pellets

[sayyadina]

Just took my flock to the vet today. Everyone is healthy, though my 12 year old girl 'tiel is deficient in Vitamin A, and my 6 year old boy 'tiel is beginning to show signs of Vitamin A deficiency. So after reading about it, and having it recommended by the vet, I've decided to switch them over to the Harrison's high potency fine.

My issue is in the calculation of seed to pellet ratio. They were each getting 1/2 cup seed mix each day. The amount for the Harrison's is 1.5-3tsp. I gave them less seed tonight and 1/2 tbs pellets, to be in proportion to the seed.

First three days is supposed to be 3 parts seed to one part pellets. Then 1/2 pellets & 1/2 seed. And then 1 part seed to 3 parts pellets. And then end up with all pellets.

Another question is, after they've been switched over to the pellets as their main food for a while, is it then okay to give them a spray of millet every now and then as a treat?

[JaspersMomma]

If you're asking about the proportions (3 part seed, one part pellet), and not understand what that means, then I can answer that for you. But only if that's what you meant, because I don't want to explain and sound stupid lol.

Millet is always excellent as a treat. You can give it to them now as a treat, but you probably should wait until they are used to pellets, and have the deficiencies worked out but giving it as a treat is absolutely fine. Along with other treats.

[sayyadina]

Thanks.

I know what 3 parts seed to 1 part pellet is, but I don't know how to actually do it with the measurements I have. If I was splitting up 1 cup, I'd give 3/4 cup seed & 1/4 cup pellets, but that's not what I'm doing.

They usually get 1/2 cup seed. And the daily amount of pellets is 1.5 to 3 tsp. Well, splitting 1/2 cup into 4 parts would mean 3/8 cup seed & 1/8 cup pellets, right? But then there would be more pellets in the mixture than they would be getting more pellets than the normal pellet amount.

This is why I hate math.

[JaspersMomma]

Well I dont think it would matter exactly. I believe the reason they gave those measurements are for easier transition, not for any medical reason. I am not terrible at math but I hate fractions and measurements lol. But 3/8 plus 1/8 equals 1/2, so mathematically it's correct. It may look like more pellets because pellets are larger, but otherwise that should be right.

As you can see this: http://park1.aeonnet.ne.jp/~ranchan/Gtoy/toy2.html

compared to this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32326319@N02/3229485089/

Can be a big thing. :) Birds drop most of their food anyway. Sigh.

[xxxSpikexxx]

For some more vitamin A you can also feed carrots, dark leafy greens and bell peppers. Spike has seeds and pellets in his cage at all times. Hopefully you can get your tiels to eat some pellets so they can get what they need :)

[sweetrsue]

If you have the seed and the pellets in separate dishes you can remove the seeds for part of the day and they might move over to the pellets more readily.

[tielfan]

First three days is supposed to be 3 parts seed to one part pellets. Then 1/2 pellets & 1/2 seed. And then 1 part seed to 3 parts pellets. And then end up with all pellets.

Regimens that tell you to phase out all the old food in a few days make me nervous. Some birds will make the transition OK but others simply can't do it that fast. Some birds need weeks or months just to realize that a new food is actually food.

In the long term birds need a good nutritious diet. But in the short term they need enough calories to keep them alive and healthy, or there isn't going to be a long term. It's great that you want your birds to have a better diet, but it's important to know that diet conversions frequently aren't quick or easy, and you need to make sure that your bird gets enough to eat every single day. A scale that weighs in grams is very useful for monitoring your bird's weight.

[Bea]

Tiels only need approx. 2 tbsp of seed mix per bird per day, so that would make the recommended serve of pellets pretty much exactly the same. :) If you cut the seed right back down it'll be easier to get them eating the pellets as they won't be able to gorge themselves on seed.

[sayyadina]

Rufus is now on the Harrison's only, and doing well. He's getting 1Tbs a day, and seems to be doing quite well on it.

However, Darwin will NOT eat the pellets. She's been getting 1Tbs of Harrison's & seed mix, with the pellets on top. She just goes for the seed. Today, I gave her pellets only for a few hours, to see what she'd do. Well, she didn't eat any.

I'm really not sure what to do. She had the worst vitamin A deficiency of the 2. Her poops are also watery, and have been for a while. Before the switch.

Anyone know of any good seed mixes with good amounts of vitamin A?

[saj]

sayyadina.Is she mouthing them or completely ignoring them? is remove all seed from the cage during the mornings and see if that will encourage her to eat the pellets, since you've removed her choice and when hungry enough she'll try them.
If she hasn't eaten the pellets in the morning then put some seed in the afternoon for her. Chances are during the day she'll get hungry and have to eat the pellets. Once she's eating them it's nearly plain sailing.

I just did a quick google search for you on foods that contain Vitamin A and this is what I've come up with (removed the inappropriate suggestions)
# carrots
# mangoes
# spinach
# cantaloupe
# dried apricots
# egg yolks

Perhaps try some frozen carrots and spinach for her? I've not tried feeding my tiels egg yolk but I have a workmate that feeds her Electus raw egg yolk every now and then.

[sayyadina]

Thanks, saj. I tried one day just putting pellets in her food dish, and she didn't eat anything. Was very, very hungry when I put the seeds in the dish too. Felt so bad for her that I haven't tried it again.

I know she likes eggs, and I believe she'll eat spinach & carrots. She is quite picky.