How to convert your bird to a pellet diet.

A pellet diet is crucial for avian health, providing balanced nutrition that meets your bird’s essential vitamin, mineral, and nutrient needs. Unlike a varied diet that can lead to selective eating, pellets minimize this risk, ensuring consistent nourishment. However, it's vital to complement pellets with fresh fruits, vegetables, and occasional treats for a well-rounded diet.

Here’s a step-by-step process I’ve successfully used to transition small parrots to pellets:

Step 1:

Monitoring droppings.
Line your bird’s cage with paper towels and change them daily. This allows you to monitor the volume, frequency, and color of droppings, helping you identify any changes in eating habits during the transition.

Step 2:

Associating pellets as a food.
Place a mirror flat on the cage bottom and sprinkle pellets on top. The reflection will encourage your bird to explore the pellets, associating them with food. Once your bird starts to eat the pellets, proceed to the next step.
I'm a huge fan of this particular mirror as a tool for this job.

Step 3:

Add healthy options and reducing unhealthy options.
Remove excess food, such as millet sprays, seed bells and extra food containers, but keep one main seed container accessible. This will encourage your bird to explore other healthier food options.

Now offer a variety of sprouted grains, vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Here’s a list of some healthy options to try:

  • Fruit:

    Apples (remove seeds)

    Pears (remove seeds)

    Blueberries

    Kiwi Fruit

    Grapes (seedless)

    Oranges (small quantities due to acidity)

    Strawberries

    Mango

    Papaya

    Banana

    Cherries (remove pits)

    Watermelon (seedless)

    Rockmelon (cantaloupe)

    Honeydew Melon

    Plums (remove pits)

    Peaches (remove pits)

    Apricots (remove pits)

    Nectarines (remove pits)

    Passionfruit

  • Vegetables:

    Carrot (chopped or grated)

    Spinach (in moderation)

    Kale

    Broccoli

    Silverbeet

    Pumpkin (cooked or raw, seeds removed)

    Edamame beans

    Snow pea shoots

    Zucchini

    Sweet Potato (cooked)

    Bell Peppers (all colors)

    Cucumber

    Celery (remove stringy parts)

    Beetroot (leaves and root in moderation)

    Green Beans

    Peas

  • Herbs:

    Basil

    Parsley (moderation)

    Coriander (Cilantro)

    Mint (any variety)

    Thyme

    Oregano

    Sage

    Dill

    Rosemary

    Lemon Balm

    Chamomile

    Chervil

    Lemon Verbena

    Marjoram

    Bee Balm

    Bay Leaf (fresh)

    Tarragon

    Fennel (leaves)

    Comfrey (in small amounts)

  • Weeds:

    Dandelion (flowers and leaves)

    Chickweed

    Plantain

    Purslane

    Nasturtium (flowers and leaves)

    Clover (moderation)

    Shepherd's Purse

    Mallow

    Lamb's Quarters

    Yellow Dock

    Bittercress

    Peppergrass

    Wild Mustard

    Borage (flowers and leaves)

    Sorrel

Step 4:

The Switch.
This process may take some time, depending on your bird's willingness to adapt and the amount of time you can dedicate to the transition. It's essential to be patient.

Before bedtime, remove the seed bowl and replace it with pellets, keeping the bowl in the same spot. Your bird will notice the change in the morning. Leave the pellets for 30 minutes to an hour, then switch back to the seed bowl.

Gradually increase the time pellets are available by 15 minutes each day. After a few days, this will add up to a couple of hours of pellets in the morning. Always return to seeds for the rest of the day.

Step 5:

Complete Seed Removal...well almost ;)

Once you're confident your bird is eating pellets, remove seeds entirely for a day. Monitor droppings closely and ensure fresh vegetables and fruits are always available. Seeds should be reserved as an occasional treat, comprising only about 5% of the overall diet.

I hope these steps assist you in transitioning your bird to a healthier diet. Keep in mind that every bird is unique, so it's crucial to adapt to their individual pace during this process.

IMPORTANT!

Monitor your bird's droppings closely, as they are a reliable indicator of dietary intake. If you notice a decrease in the size or quantity of droppings, it may signal that your bird isn’t eating the pellets. In that case, revert to the mirror technique until you confirm they are actively crumbling and consuming the pellets.

Give some of our pellets a try!