I'd like to get my two onto pellets or a pellet/seed mixed diet when Bunsen is better, but I'm unfamiliar with pellet diets and what's good and what's not.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations? Where do you get your pellets from (in Melbourne or Australia in general)? Can you order them online? I ask, because most of the pet shops around where I live aren't terribly great, so being able to purchase online would suit me if they're not stocked nearby, but failing that, I'm willing to travel around town to source them if it's near public transport.

Some vets stock vetafarm pellets. If you can find them you want the finch crumbles. I get Harrisons from my vet but i think he's the only place in Australia to stock them...

I posted a link to Harrison in the food and nutrition section I am sure you can click on retailers to find out what vets have them I also know you can buy directly from the company but that may be expensive because I am not sure if they are based anywhere in AU.

I posted a link to Harrison in the food and nutrition section I am sure you can click on retailers to find out what vets have them I also know you can buy directly from the company but that may be expensive because I am not sure if they are based anywhere in AU.

 

Just a FYI (For Your Information), any seeds or bird pellets won't make it into Australia without it actually being imported, and go through a series of test and all that. So we can't actually buy the pellets from the US to get it shipped over unfortunately.

good point so if Bea can get them then there must be a retailer in AU

yeah the only place I've found Harrison Pellets is where Bea's at... Canberra, and well if I get them, I'd get them for my cockatoo as well, and the price that they are... just too much for three cockatoos and 25 budgies.... so I just use the Vetafarm pellets instead.

The thing is....pellets are hard to find here in Australia and if you can find them, they are mostly horrendously expensive...like a gourmet treat for a bird who may or may not eat them. and I think you will find that not many vets here at all promote them like they do where you live Elly. So, on the whole we use seed.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Our avian vet does stock a range of pellets (Harrison's included), and all the vet's I've seen at that clinic have all stated that seed diets are unhealthy. I think I might have to weigh up the costs and see how my girls go - I was hoping to find an Australian-based website that sold them, but there doesn't appear to be any around. I can't see Bunsen eating pellets anytime soon, since she still seems to prefer just one *type* of seed, so I might have to wait until she's a bit older and at full strength before getting too carried away!!

what you do to help with the transition is crush them up with a spoon and make them very fine that is what I am doing with Merlin. Then layer the seed with it so they have to pick through it to get to the seed. They may not eat it but they will get the taste of it.

 

Also if they like veggies sprinkle on there or a brocolli floret you can sprinkle some on there. Just be creative but to get them started you have to at least offer.

 

Now I don't know if Merlin is eating it (Laughing out loud) to be honest I know when I look he is hulling his seed like a stink pot but that is okay. They said it could take up to 1 year and you can change different brands around to see what appeals to them. Just try and stay away from the ones with dyes in them.

 

Never switch over cold turkey which I am sure you know but I am just stating for the general audience reading the post.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Our avian vet does stock a range of pellets (Harrison's included), and all the vet's I've seen at that clinic have all stated that seed diets are unhealthy. I think I might have to weigh up the costs and see how my girls go - I was hoping to find an Australian-based website that sold them, but there doesn't appear to be any around. I can't see Bunsen eating pellets anytime soon, since she still seems to prefer just one *type* of seed, so I might have to wait until she's a bit older and at full strength before getting too carried away!!

An all pellet diet is as bad as all seed, so, having said that. I feed Harrisons to my indoor birds. You've only got two budgies so a $20, 450g bag of Harrisons mash, kept in the fridge would probably last for approx. 3-4 months if you mixed 1-2 tsp in with their seed. It clings to the seed a bit so they usually eat it. :budgiedance: