What to do?

[skittles]

Hello,
Maybe I am just an overprotective mommy that watches her fids diet too closely. Just wanting some experts opinions.

When we got Skittles from the breeder, he told us to mix seed and pellets for daily food, and feed fruits and vegs. every couple of days. Well, Skittles only wants the seed and fruit. She cries if she sees fruit and she is not offered some, and noses around in her food bowl until she finds the seed. Should I hold out and give no seed or fruit to get her to eat the pellets? I know pellets are important, I had a quaker that died from being overfed seed by previous owner. BUT I don't want to see Skittles go hungry!

Also, the pet store was trying to sell me drops for her water yesterday. Any thoughts on this? Is this something she needs?

My goodness, I am starting to sound like I did when I had my kids, I hammered my pediatrician at every visit!

Thanks for the help! I really appreciate it!


Skittles' mommy

[pinkdevil]

There are a lot of people for and against pellets. I personally give my birds a choice, they have access to seed, pellets, as well as fruit and veg.

I don't think holding back food to force a bird to eat pellets would work too well.

To encourage my birds to try pellets, I made a "pattie" of soaked pellets to make them moist, and mixed in a small quantity of seed, (1/4 pellets to 3/4 seed ratio). When they eat the seed, they get the taste of pellets to. Every few days I increased the amount of pellets and decreased the amount of seed until I gave them just dry pellets.
Once they were eating pellets for a few weeks, I gave them seed again, as well as pellets, for choice.

What were to drops for her water called and for?

*edit* Forgot to mention that I replace the "patties" daily with fresh mix.

[skittles]

it was some kind of vitamins. I would think the vitamins she gets from fruits and vegies would be enough, but maybe not?