Posted by Marinna/FL on 7/19/07 7:16am
Msg #200722

OT / Bird owners - caution

My bird was hospitalized yesterday with liver disease. Cause: All seed diet. If you are bird owner, check with you Vet, many of you may probably know, but a pellet diet is so important to keep your bird healthy. Birds having only a bird seed diet is like people eating at McDonalds every day, is what I was told. My other birds will now only get seed as a small treat once in a while, and pellets from now on. (It takes a while to wean them from seed to pellets, as they don't taste with their tongues, for them it's all about texture, size, shape, feel, and they can get used to pellets.) Just wanted to share, it might save you some heartache, as my poor little Skippy (cockatiel) is suffering today. The vet bills hurt too $1,900 so far.

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 7/19/07 9:38am
Msg #200745

Thanks for sharing

I buy a mix seed/pellet food for my Senegal Parrot, Maggie.

It's about a 50/50 mix. I've noticed that she will pick all the seeds first and then eat the pellets last. I might need to switch too if that's the case. Guess I need to do a little more research...

I know I've been told to limit the number of sunflower seeds to the bird because they are almost 100% fat to them...



I've had Maggie for about a year. She is now such a major part of my family and I love her more than I thought I ever could.... Everyday she tells me that "I'm a pretty green birdy"...
no lie... she says it...

Reply by GLRMbile on 7/19/07 9:48am
Msg #200748

Re: Thanks for sharing

I feed my Cockatiel's Harvest Bites,they are little ball shaped food bites that they can hold in their claw and nibbleAlso put in a sprig of Millit for them to pick on.I've had one Cockateil for 8 years!!

Reply by Blueink_CA on 7/19/07 11:03am
Msg #200777

Re: Thanks for sharing

When I bought my parrot (2 years ago), I was told to feed him 'people food' along with pellets. If it's good for us, it's good for them. Snicker's favorites are eggs, toast, shredded wheat, noodles and apples. He only gets seed when I need to lure him into his cage. Also, I read that avocados can kill them.

Reply by Marinna/FL on 7/19/07 10:21pm
Msg #200939

Re: Thanks for sharing

You're doing the right thing. People food, as long as it's healthy foods that we eat and not too salty, sugary, or any chocolate foods. Avocados are definitely lethal, I don't know why, but it's a fact. Aerosols, glade plug ins, candles, heating teflon pans (non-stick pans) can give off deadly fumes, and cigarette smoke, all can be deadly to birds as well.

Reply by Marinna/FL on 7/19/07 10:15pm
Msg #200934

Re: Thanks for sharing

Are the little ball shaped food bites a mix of seeds and pellets or all seed? I would just double check with an avian vet and see if he feels the bird is receiving the nutrients it needs to live a long, healthy life. It really doesn't cost anything to call and ask the vet, and they can advise you. I have 4 other birds, and they were mostly on seed diets, not completely like Skippy (he is so picky and won't touch anything but seed--but that is all going to change). My oldest cockatiel is 13 yrs. old and she has never been sick, but remember that birds can be sick for awhile (2-3, even 4 weeks) and not show any signs of illness until they are just days from death. It's their way in nature to protect themselves from predators, to not show weakness, until it's almost too late to save them. Seed is not a complete diet, they will maintain weight, but they will lack all kinds of important nutrients, so if you are not giving them fresh vegetables, fruit, hard boiled eggs and the egg shells are good for them, and other people foods, a pellet diet is very necessary. Millet is one of most birds favorite seed, however, it has the nutrition that candy has. Empty calories. It's great for them as a treat however.

Reply by Marinna/FL on 7/19/07 10:40pm
Msg #200947

Re: Thanks for sharing

I loved your post! Sounds like you are giving her a wonderful home

Reply by aatatusko on 7/19/07 2:25pm
Msg #200825

Thanks for sharing!

So sorry to hear about your Skippy! We got our first cockatiel in April and have been trying to get him or her to eat fresh food with no luck. I put a willow branch in the cage yesterday and he or she took all the leaves off but I don't think ate any. Right now we have 5 kinds of food that we mix, two different kinds of pellets~one is brown and the other one is very fruity, she/he seems to like that one. The lady at the store said sunflower seeds are like cocaine to birds. How did you know Skippy had liver disease? Also, I just got grit, I read that they need that too.

Reply by Marinna/FL on 7/19/07 10:39pm
Msg #200946

Re: Thanks for sharing!

It's tough to get cockatiels to nibble on fresh fruits and vegetables. Broccoli was the first vegetable that my female would touch. I kept putting different types of bean sprouts, peas, carrots, they like sweet potato's, corn, fruits that aren't real juicy, bananas, apples, but remember to remove it as soon as it starts to wilt or spoil. Sounds like you are doing what you should be doing with different food mixes. Keep trying pellet food, and over some time, they will get used to the texture and feel of it and will eat it. When your bird is finally eating pellet food, people foods won't necessarily need to be given to them, of course, it's good to let them have variety so this is still nice to do. But pellets have 100% of the nutrition that birds need to live a long healthly life. To answer your question, I didn't know Skippy had liver disease until yesterday when he saw an Avian Specialist doctor. I had to drive 2 hours to get him there, but had him at a vet close by who treats birds and other animals, and he tried to treat him last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Tuesday. When we didn't know what was wrong with him, (throwing up, losing weight, dehydration, sleeping all the time and puffed up, not able to swallow, his antibiodic was coming out of his nose) I had to seek a specialist or else know that I would loose him. Today, I found out that his liver is damaged, but not to the point that we can't help him recover. The doctor said once I bring him home (he's still in the hospital for a couple more days) and if I continue him on the Roudy Bush Liver Care pellets, he should make it, and to keep him on this pellet for the remainder of his life. It's about $3 more a bag than other pellets, not too bad. This is the first time he's ever been sick. Grit is good for them, helps digestion. I give mine the crushed oyster shells, but just keep small amounts out for them. One of my birds will sit and eat that stuff for hours, so I have to separate her from that dish. Another thing I learned, after a cockatiel reach 4-6 months old, it's impossible for a Vet to know how old the bird is (unless they have one of those bands around their ankle). My Skippy was a "lost and found" bird, and I took him in when no one claimed him. I've had him 1.5 years, but have no idea how old he is, and the Vet has no way f knowing, he said. Unlike other animals, like horses, they can see how worn down their teeth are, etc. Good luck with your new feathered friend! They are so sweet.

Reply by aatatusko on 7/20/07 7:59am
Msg #200968

Marinna Thanks!

Wonderful advise. I will try the broccoli today.