Pellets and Parrotlet Muations..

[bugster23]

Hello there,

i have been reading up more and more on Parrotlets and the more i read the more i feel like one would just be the perfect little parrot for me and my family.

im partial to the Pacific mutations especially the American White.. however i have read that with most Parrotlets that have differing color mutation, such as albinos or blues, seem to have probelms when it comes to eating pellets.

that something linked to their genetics becuase of their muations makes their bodies reject the pellets and can lead to serious sicknesses over a prolonged time and even kidney failure.

is this an over speculation or is there really a link between muations P'lets eating pellets and becoming sick?

[michiganlet]

Good question, My vet wants me to put Jesse on pellets and doesn't believe it will hurt mutations. If you go Parrotlet Ranch.com Sande Molenda doesn't think they should be on pellets. I don't know what I am going to do. I would like to hear otherthoughts on this also.

[michiganlet]

Wants him on Harrison's food.

[Lola B.]

My vet said that was crazy. I am hesitant to know who to believe. Delphi is a Lutino mutation. He eats (flings) Zupreem. I think I will try Harrison's next. Of course my vet wants me on it, he also wants my dog on Science (of a crap) Diet. They sell it in my vet's office.

Honestly, I feel like Delphi must get most of his nutritional needs met by the mash I give him and he eats heartily. It has like, 15+ ingredients. Sprouted legumes and grain... So many different vegetables, fruits... I kinda think the pellets might be unnecessary...?

[michiganlet]

Thanks Lola, What is the mash that you are feeding him. Do you mak it or buy it.

[Lola B.]

I make it. It's the mash discussed in all the sticky threads. I think it is just wonderful and he eats it like no tomorrow.

Ya gotta give it a try, my vet was really impressed.

[chapala]

I believe a whole foods natural diet is best, and I have posted some stickies in the diet section about Shauna's Mash diet. Pellets certainly can be 20% of that kind of diet. All my birds eat this diet, and they also get a small amount of Harrison's pellets at mid-day. Mainly I want my birds to recognize pellets as food in case of emergency.

Between a seed diet (very unhealthy) and pellets, pellets win hands-down, but pellets always should be supplemented by at least 20% fresh food, vegetables with a little fruit.

[IceQueen30]

I once met a breeder who was really going crazy when I told him I was feeding my parrotlet with pellets. He told me it's really bad for their kidneys or something like that. In my opinion I couldn't really trust that breeder because he wasn't a parrotlet expert (he told me female parrotlets are agressive and bad pets to own...YEAH RIGHT). My breeder (specialized in parrotlets and cockatiel) is feeding his birds only with roundybush pellets and fresh fruit/veggies. He only uses seeds as treats (mostly during training I think)

Caly is a blue mutation. She eats something like: 50% pellets, 20% budgie seeds (and millet spray), 20% fresh veggies/fruits and 10% eggfood.

My mom's lovebird died a couple of months ago because he was only eating fat seeds and would refuse to eat anything else (and I tried lots of stuff!) so I really think the best is to provide your bird a balanced diet. I don't think you will be able to get a very clear answer to your question. We are breeding parrotlets only since the 90's I think so we still have a lot to learn about them. Our birdies a little guiney pigs :eek:

[chapala]

I'm curious IceQueen why you're feeding eggfood? I'm assuming your Caly is a pet, not a breeder. I don't think with a 50% pellet diet and 20% seeds your bird needs additional protein, and excess protein can cause health problems just as too much dietary fat does.

[StephGee]

My Herbie is a blue mutation and upon orders of his vet he always has a tsp. of Harrison's pellets in his cage. He eats them on occasion. Sometimes he won't eat them for 2 weeks then I'll come home one day and he'll have eaten the whole tsp.

My vet says it's crap and mutations can have pellets.

Herbie mostly eats his mash (based on the Shawna mash sticky) and other fresh veggies that I clip all over his cage. That's his primary nutrition. I mix some seeds into the mash because he eats it better then. He also gets a small piece of fruit daily and millet as a treat at night on his play stand.

[ParrotletPleasures]

The breeder that was my mentor has fed RoudyBush pellets for almost 10 years. She has retired from breeding and I have many of her babies. I have very healthy parrotlets that produce 4 to 7 babies in a clutch. I feed 75% Roudybush to 25% Parakeet or Cockatiel seed or a small hookbill mix with eggfood added. I have not seen a problem in any of the older parrotlets or the babies for that matter. In fact her high production rate and healthy babies made me a fan of pellets and especially Roudybush.

[Trixie]

I was told that too but also my breeder whom is very well know & had had NO problems with pellets & the color mutations told me bs. lol

I believe in pellets, whole foods, & a healthy seed mixture. Mine get tons of things to eat but all healthy. I have an American White, he's on Tropican Pellets.

[qtbirds]

I have two males. One is blue pied and one is green pied. They love Zupreem Natural. They eat it before anything, but they also eat birdie muffins, with mixed veggies, fruits, lentils, and a tiny bit of seed mix sprinkled on top. They switched from seed quickly, but they were only about 3-4 months when I introduced them to pellets. Roudybush didn't work out for us since they never touched it and they never ate the colored pellets in their seed mix. I'm not worried about pellets and mutations or birds in general.

[alexander]

here in Englend very few people feed pellets i feed a seed mix designed for lovebirds with extra hemp seeds in cold weather they also get fruit and veggies every day plus millet in spsay form they have accesss to cuttle fish and a mineral block at all times and fresh water every day we dont feed mutations any diffrently from the original greens

[GRANNYAT50]

There is an older thread on here that different vets discuss this very issue.

[aeriadne]

Here it is! (http://www.talkparrotlets.com/showthread.php?t=1029) - stickied in the diet section of the forum.

[GRANNYAT50]

I couldn't remember the sticky:p

[Battie]

I have a parrotlet but not sure what he is. They told me he was a yellow but he's colors are yellow, blue, green, and mabey some grey... I have looked everywhere online and cant find his mutation anywhere. He has the blue around the eyes and under his wings to show he is a male but he is not all yellow like the american yellow. Can anyone help me? Once I get a pic I can post it but I do not have any yet.

[RockyandhisFriends]

He may be a European Yellow (pastel) They have a touch of green on their feathers. When I see his picture I will be better able to tell.

Phil

[Battie]

Ok got a few pixs of the baby. Sorry that some of the pixs are blurry. Used my phone.
http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/af66/PrittyBoyBattie/?action=view&current=1219091136-00.jpg