Hello
I have an Indian ringneck; he must be at least fifteen. I have always fed him a seed mixture and fruits and vegetables, and an occasional spray millet. He likes whole wheat bread, too.
I would like to introduce pellets into his diet, as I keep reading about them. I bought some Zu Preem pellets for medium birds but they are quite big and he hates them. I was wondering if I should try the same for smaller birds, so the pellets themselves are smaller and perhaps more tempting; OR, do you have a recommendation of a kind of pellet? I would like him to have more variety. I think I read on your website that you use them successfully; I was wondering what brand. The world of pellets is new to me.
Many thanks for any guidance you can give regarding pellets, and how to get an oldish* bird to eat them.
All the best,
Anne
Dear Anne,
Thank you for reaching out with your question about introducing pellets to your fifteen-year-old Indian ringneck’s diet. I want to congratulate you as my Archimedes and his brother are now 20 years old. It sounds like you’ve provided a good mix of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and occasional pellet spray so far.
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The problem you’re facing with the ZuPreem pellets for medium birds seems to be their size. I believe you could give the ZuPreem pellets for small birds a try since the smaller size might be more tempting to your ringneck. But let me also suggest some other pellet brands and types that you might find helpful.
One option is Harrison’s Bird Foods, which offers high-quality, organic bird pellets in various sizes and formulations. Their “Fine” or “Super Fine” options may be just right for your ringneck. Roudybush Daily Maintenance is another brand to consider, as they provide different pellet sizes, and the “Small” or “Crumble” sizes should be appropriate for your bird. Lafeber’s Premium Daily Diet is a third alternative, which comes in nutritionally balanced, high-quality pellets available in different sizes. Trying their “Small” size might be a good idea for your Indian ringneck.
Introducing pellets to an older bird may take time and patience. To make the transition smoother, you can gradually mix small amounts of pellets with your bird’s current food, increasing the pellet proportion over time. You might also consider moistening the pellets, offering them as a treat, or using a food processor to grind the pellets into a powder that can be mixed with your bird’s favorite wet foods. Also, pretending to eat them may do the trick as well in front of your bird. It’s crucial to monitor your bird’s weight and droppings during the transition to ensure they’re adjusting well to the new diet.
I hope this information helps you on your journey to add variety to your ringneck’s diet!
Best wishes,
IMRAN-C
Looking for help, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at indianringnecks@gmail.com or post on our forum.