Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Hi Jane!
    
    As long as Chico eats the pellets, and is getting other foods, I
    guess it's ok.  Personally, I don't like the pelleted diets.  That's
    like us living on salad all day, every day....converting the bird
    is hard, but since he was brought up that way...it cannot hurt.
    
    Sunflower and safflower seeds will indeed cause the bird to gain
    too much weight, but also, depletes fat soluable vitamins and greases
    up the feathers...greasy feathers prevent the bird from breathing
    properly and they stand a good chance of catching pneumonia!
    
    I may sound like a brat...but...(my vet and I go round and round
    all the time about Lefevbre Pellets)..but if Chico is your only
    bird...and he seems like he's getting tired of the pellets, try
    putting him on Topper Seed!
    
    The 'theory' behind the pelleted diet is good, I'll never argue
    that, but after a while, they get board and stop eating!
    
    See, it's just my opinion...I've wanted to start this topic too!
    So thanks!
    
    Jean H

    Hello Jean,
    
    To date, Chico seems content on his current diet.  THEORETICALLY
    the vet would like a 75/25 split of pellets/goodies....reality
    is more 50/50.  Tell me more of TOPPER pleazzzzz.....
    
    
    Jane

    I've got an Orange Wing Amazon that I feed small amounts of pellets
    to.  Flash would not accept only pellets so I mix them in with a
    balanced seed diet.  He eats what he wants when he wants.  That
    balanced with Nekton S in his water gives me the peice of mind that
    he is getting enough of the daily requirement as it were.

    I'm all for Topper!  The only problem that I have with it is it's
    availablility.  I can only get it at the Vet and they put an uplift
    on it that I would prefer not to pay.  (the seed is expensive anyway).
    
    Something that I have had success with is mixing pellets with the
    Topper.  My Grey would not eat just the pellets. Now that I mix them
    in with the seed she seems to like them.  
       
    Mark                                                                
    

    I have tried many pellet diets mixed with Topper.  My birds wouldn't
    eat the stuff.... until (drum roll.....) I got them some LAKES PARROT
    BUFFET.  I do a 50/50 mix of seed and pellet.  THEY EAT THE PELLETS
    FIRST!  I was amazed.  My Grey LOVES the stuff.  I had a few pellets
    left in the bottom of the bag so I put them in the dish on the Quakers
    play pen... THEY GOBBLED THEM UP.  I couldn't beleive how well my
    birds took to this stuff.  My Cockatoo was weaned on Lakes and thats
    how I found out about it.  I do have to say though that the VEGGIES
    are really my birds first choice.  I mix Super Preen in with all
    the veggies and fruit I fix for them every morning.  Sometime, however,
    if I don't get the Super Preen mixed in good or put a little too
    much they won't eat all their veggies because they taste like vitamins
    so with the Pellets I know my birds are surely getting all the
    vitamins, minerals etc.. That they need.  
    
    LAKES always has a two page add in Bird Talk.  Check it out.  It
    is something my birds accepted really well!
        
    karen

    Now, where did I put that address!  Does anyone remember?  I entered
    an address to by Topper Seed direct from topper!  Nuts, where is
    it?
    
    'Frustricated Jean'
    

    Hi.
    
    Today is Friday and not a day to be frustrated Jean.
    
    Check note 10.11, anyone interested in the address for Topper.
    
    Laurie
    

    Gee thanks Laurie!  And that was 'Frustricated' with a "c" which
    is worse than being just plain frustrated!  Laurie, you are a princess
    among mortal women!!!!!
    
    8^}  Or if you were a man, I'd say you were a prince among mortal
    men, (ask Doug P.) or my boxer, Remington...he's a prince....another
    drum roll...right, how'd you know, Remy's a prince among mortal
    dogs!  8^}
    
    Jean - and....she's unfrustricated!!
    

    All this talk about Topper Seeds and Lakes Buffet! May I humbly
    ask what in the dickens each of these products *are*, and where the
    Lakes Buffet is available.
               I've tried my Red Lored on pellets before, she won't
    touch them. 
    
    Dave 

    Hi Dave,
    
    Lakes is sold through mostly distributors.  We only have one store
    here in Colo. Spgs., that sells it, but I get it from the distributors
    any way.  Lakes has a TOLL free number you can call to find who
    sells it in your area.  I don't have the number at work today, but
    I will get it for you this evening and post it in a later reply.
    
    Karen
    
    PS.  I have noticed that alot of VETS sell it also.  You may try
         giving your vet a call also.

    
    LAKES PARROT BUFFET  call 1-800-634-2473.
    
    On page 14 and 15 of the March issue of Bird Talk there is a big
    article on the stuff.  

    Birds of Paradise in Plaistow has Lakes.