Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!pacbell.com!att!att!cbnewsd!jlevy
From: jlevy@cbnewsd.att.com (janet.levy)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: INDOOR:  More questions on feeding
Message-ID: <1990Nov7.193411.22165@cbnewsd.att.com>
Date: 7 Nov 90 19:34:11 GMT
References: <962@babcock.cerc.wvu.wvnet.edu> <9003@cognos.UUCP> <273716A3.4683@intercon.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 49

In article <273716A3.4683@intercon.com>, kdb@macaw.intercon.com (Kurt Baumann) writes:
> In article <9003@cognos.UUCP>, stewartw@cognos.UUCP (Stewart Winter) writes:
> >    I disagree strongly with that pet shop owner.  Pelleted diets (the good
> > ones) provide a completely balanced diet for your bird.  Many birds
> > (including cockatiels) don't crave variety, so pellets are great.  It
> 
> The only problem with this is the following.  There have been NO long term
> studies about the effects of feeding only pellets.  We recently had two very
> nice cockatiel breeders die due to calcified organs.  The vet thinks, no
> real clue here, that it was because they were on a pellet ONLY diet for all
> of their life.  We feed a variety of foods, seed, pellets, and fresh fruit
> and veggies.  Do the same for you bird, there just has not been enough study
> done yet to know for sure that there are no long term problems with pellets.
> --

I have been following this discussion about feeding with great
interest.  I have about 25 English budgies which I have bred.
I keep complete records on my birds, and find that after about
four years of age I tend to lose them.  They sometimes get a
digestive disorder which is not bacterial (vet cannot culture
it).  Many of the females seem overly fat and though the vet
says English budgies tend to this, I am coming to believe that
this is contributing to their early deaths.  Some appear to
have tumors (called fatty tumors by the vet), but they may also
get internal tumors for all I know.  These birds are bred very
seldom (2-3 pairs a year for only two clutches each).

Anyway, about a year and a half ago I started changing my feeding
habits.  Before I was feeding seed mixed with Petamine, supplemented
with greens and carrots.  Now I feed 1/2 seed mixed with a portion
I thaw daily which consists of corn, shredded lima beans, brown
rice and Roudybush crumbles (I used to use dogfood in place of the
pellets).  I supplement with Nekton, fresh vegetables, and a calcium
source.  The birds do well on this diet, but some are still obese
and the deaths continue.  

My new theory is that they lack exercise.  Most of my cages are
tall and narrow which I have recently learned is not the best
design.  I am thinking of building large flight cages to encourage
the birds to fly around more (it is too difficult and dangerous
to let them out in the house, although I have a few special pets
who get out daily and these birds seem to be in good shape).  I am 
also going to try cutting back even more on the seed portion of their 
diet.  Does anyone have any opinions on these ideas?  I would welcome 
any helpful advice.

Thanks,
Janet Levy
jsl@ihlpm.ATT.COM