Dear Imran,
I am remiss in thanking you for your thoughtful email of April 9, regarding my ringneck, Govinda. I have tried the Harrisons Adult Lifetime Small for about two weeks and I can’t say the transition to pellets is going very well. But i will persevere, and also, I will try in due course some of the other Pellet Makers you named, or the Very Fine. Thank you for this very precise advice. The other thing I should mention is that he stops eating if he thinks I am looking, so he may be nibbling. He is very modest and private in his eating habits.
Regarding keeping track of his weight, I have a postal scale but he is suspicious and I have a hard time getting him to stay on it long enough to weigh him. So, I am assessing his well being by his behavior which seems normal, (after a harrowing molt where I thought he was dying).
Returning to his diet, he has other things to eat in his cage, of course The vet said he should not have nuts except the very occasional walnut. (This not based on blood work but her rule of thumb) But Govinda is addicted to soaked almonds (part of my breakfast) and of course he loves pistachios, peanuts, just about any nut. What is your feeling about nuts? Can he have a few every day? I am asking you because the vet was so definite in her insistence that he switch to pellets but stop the things he loves. Which brings me to my next question, about seeds.
I had for years been giving a seed mixture with sunflower seeds. The vet told me that was like eating McDonald’s hamburgers. So I got a mixture without those, but he is very tepid on it. This is what makes me concerned about his weight. Could I ask you also for a recommendation about a good seed mixture.
Just to explain, he was having a terrible molt and I thought he was dying and that’s why I took him to a vet, but otherwise, we had never been to a vet and all this time, I have just been giving him what I understood was fine at the time.
To conclude and summarize, would you be able to recommend:
- What is your feeling about a few nuts for ringneck?
- Can you recommend a good seed mixture for ringneck?
Any thoughts apart from these that come to mind, I would be grateful for. I apologize if I have asked too much. I am more grateful than I can say for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Anne H.
Dear Anne,
Thank you for your kind email and for updating me on Govinda’s progress. I appreciate your diligence in trying the Harrisons Adult Lifetime Small pellets, even though the transition has been challenging. It’s great to hear that you’re considering other options as well. Patience and persistence are key during this transition period, and it’s important to monitor Govinda’s behavior and health closely.
It’s interesting that Govinda stops eating when he thinks you’re watching. Birds can have peculiar habits. If you suspect he is nibbling when unobserved, it’s possible he is getting more nutrition than it appears.
Regarding his weight, using a postal scale can indeed be tricky. One method you might try is to gently place him on the scale inside a container (as long he has been trained to do so) or on a perch that he’s familiar with, or use a T-stand on the scale. Make sure the container or perch is weighed beforehand so you can subtract its weight from the total. Monitoring his weight is crucial, especially during diet changes.
As for his diet, nuts can be a part of a healthy diet for ringnecks, but they should be given in moderation due to their high-fat content. A few nuts as a treat or part of training sessions are generally fine. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts are good options, but peanuts should be avoided or given very sparingly as they can sometimes harbor molds harmful to birds.
In terms of seeds, it’s true that a diet heavy in sunflower seeds is akin to eating fast food. However, seeds can still be a part of his diet if balanced with pellets, fruits, vegetables, and occasional nuts. A seed mixture that excludes sunflower seeds is a step in the right direction. Look for a high-quality parakeet or small parrot seed mix that includes a variety of seeds and grains without an overabundance of fatty seeds. Mixing this with pellets can encourage him to eat more of the pellets over time.
I can’t recommend a specific brand of pellets, but keep trying different ones to see which works best for Govinda. Many pellets are fortified with essential nutrients. Once you find a pellet that he seems to accept, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet and run some blood work to see how the diet is affecting him. Every bird is different and will respond accordingly.
It’s important to note that every bird is different, and it may take some time to find the right balance for Govinda. Your attentiveness to his needs and willingness to adjust his diet as needed will surely benefit him in the long run.
If you have any other questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help and support you and Govinda.
Best regards,
IMRAN-C