I have tried giving my birds with few new seed varieties (Japanese Millet and sunflower), but so far no luck. Method I have used was to mix few of these new seed variety to the regular seed feed.

 

Would like to know what is the best way to introduce new seed varieties to birds.

 

Thanks

That is the best way but you ave to give them time to adjust.

 

Many people do the wrong thing and totally change the seed mix and fine the birds are losing weight because it is too much to adjust to.

Thanks and I totally agree with you Daz.

 

Actually I was thinking there might be some other best method, so only I have started this topic. Now very happy after seeing your post and so I am in the right track.

You could also try having the mixed dish in there but also putting a dish with just the new seeds in it. Makes it easier to keep track of whether they are warming to the idea but the still have access to their usual seed until thy are used to the new stuff. When you start to see husks i the dish with only new seeds you will know for sure that they are starting to eat it and how much.

Thanks MB and that looks good idea to have an extra seed dish, will try that.

 

Also what will be the best time (laying eggs or brooding or parents raising chicks or resting...etc) to start giving these new seed varieties to adult birds.

As long as they have the choice whether to eat it or not I can't see any reason not to introduce it whenever you like. The seeds you liste are present in most standard mixed budgie seeds so they certainly aren't an unusual part of a budgie diet around here.

Thanks MB. :hap:

On another note though don't let them eat too many sunflower seeds as they are high in fat which can cause problems.

That is the best way but you ave to give them time to adjust.

 

Many people do the wrong thing and totally change the seed mix and fine the birds are losing weight because it is too much to adjust to.

 

I made that mistake about a month ago :hap: - Complete, and sudden seed mix change from Trill mix, to stock feed mix :hap:

 

My birds didn't loose weight.... but they have all had a really bad moult becuase of it :hap: - I should have known better!!!! *** Smacks hand***

I have lots of pin cusions now...

 

So yes, Always chage seed slowly!

When changing seeds ( i do this during the winter times ) I add a table spoon tof "New"seed and mix it in with the other seed, each day i add another spoon full this gives them time to adjust to the new seed without going thru a molt as canging to new seed can cause the birds to go thru a molt ...... ( the above is for my avairy birds )

Thanks MB, Liv, and Neat. Also sharing your experiences.

 

By any chance do any one have a picture of Budgie in moult/molt, I am interested to see one and usually how long is this moult/molt will a Budgie undergoes.

Karthik, I am not sure if you are aware we have a search function on this forum as well as our FAQ section. Down the bottom right where all the forums are listed in the drop down box, there is a search function where you can do a search for all kinds of things. As many of the questions you ask are already on record as previous topics, you may find some real value in looking through these via the search function. In the meantime we have just had a topic where some budgies in a moult have been shown in this topic http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=19349

 

Cheers kaz

Thanks Kaz.

 

Very few times I have tried with search function, but most of the time I have faced with some minimum number of characters restriction problem.