I switched over to Paswell crumbles 2 days ago, they ate the first lot I gave them but this time Shadow has gone and dug out the entire dish full of food like a dog onto the bottom of the cage and the floor. Why would he do this? He just left himself and Topaz with no food.

 

Probably looking for the real food hehehe

 

What were you feeding before??? and why are you changing to pellets/crumbs?

Probably looking for the real food hehehe

 

What were you feeding before??? and why are you changing to pellets/crumbs?

 

 

Well the finches were puffing up a lot, and that can be caused by a few things, including mites. We have too many sparrows visiting the birds during the day. My partner switched the finches to crumbles and they seemed to be starting to return to normal size. I thought I'd give the budgies a go on it too (as the box says it is for them too). I just wanted to ensure the budgies have good nutrition. I didn't expect them to go on a hunger strike, especially after they ate it once.

Edited May 14, 200817 yr by ShadowGhost

If you want to persevere I would sit their dish on a larger plate on the floor of the cage so that if he digs it out again the plate will catch it, atleast until he stops misbehaving

If your budgies are already healthy and getting a good diet, i wouldn't change what is already working. There are huge debates between processed food and natural food.... I am on the natural food side and i feel that seed fruit and vegies are best

If your budgies are already healthy and getting a good diet, i wouldn't change what is already working. There are huge debates between processed food and natural food.... I am on the natural food side and i feel that seed fruit and vegies are best :hap:

I agree... though I'm no expert, so I didn't think the change would be such a problem.

 

 

To make matters worse, it looks like Ghost is dying !!!! in the last hour he's gone from happily jumping around in his cage, to sitting still and being completely unfazed by me picking him up... he's lying on his side in my hand right now with his eyes closed :hap:

Edited May 14, 200817 yr by ShadowGhost

I agree with Liv, they say you should never suddenly change even food of the same type [seed] to the same type of food from a different source you should always mix it as it can upset them. Sometimes this can't be avoided as I have had lots of problems with places I buy food from, they have been very unreliable since the drought.

 

But to change from seed to pellets suddenly [if that's what you have done] could have really bad consequences including death. There are differences of opinion as Liv said on which food is best; I'm the same as Liv I myself stick to a natural diet of seed with Green foods & other additives. If you give chooks a choice of a mixture of seed & pellets they always choose seed first.

 

Also you say you have sparrows visiting your birds during the day, why are they visiting them, can they get access to their food source, it's very bad to have wild birds having contact with your aviary birds, as they can introduce many diseases to them, if you can I would do all that you can to remove anything that is attracting them to your birds.

Edited May 14, 200817 yr by Norm

I agree with both Liv and Norm. Sudden changes in food can be disastrous to a birds health, as can contact with wild birds. Sounds like the one throwing the pellets out was actually lookinmg for food it recognised and hasnt actually been eating.

I agree with Liv, they say you should never suddenly change even food of the same type [seed] to the same type of food from a different source you should always mix it as it can upset them. Sometimes this can't be avoided as I have had lots of problems with places I buy food from, they have been very unreliable since the drought.But to change from seed to pellets suddenly [if that's what you have done] could have really bad consequences including death. There are differences of opinion as Liv said on which food is best; I'm the same as Liv I myself stick to a natural diet of seed with Green foods & other additives. If you give chooks a choice of a mixture of seed & pellets they always choose seed first.Also you say you have sparrows visiting your birds during the day, why are they visiting them, can they get access to their food source, it's very bad to have wild birds having contact with your aviary birds, as they can introduce many diseases to them, if you can I would do all that you can to remove anything that is attracting them to your birds.

The sparrows get access to the spilled seed on the ground. Budgies are a messy lot at the best of times. There was even a currawong clung to the side of the finch cage today, and right now we're packing to move house tomorrow and my partner has left the garage door open... i turned around to find a cat skulking over to the budgies!! mind you, this is upstairs as well... it would have had to got through the fly wire door first, but it probably gave ghost a fright.

I agree with both Liv and Norm. Sudden changes in food can be disastrous to a birds health, as can contact with wild birds. Sounds like the one throwing the pellets out was actually lookinmg for food it recognised and hasnt actually been eating.

Actually those two have eaten the remainder of the egg and biscuit i had in there for them. Probably a good thing, I will give them their normal seed now. As for ghost.... he's not doing so well... :hap:

Sorry, i had to go out. Poor Ghost I hope he is still okay - get him nice a warm with a 25-40 watt globe. Keep him quiet and sprinkle some seed infront of him so he can try and eat it if he has the strength. I really hope he is going to be okay. He may have already been hiding other health problems, and the change of diet has made them come to the surface. Warmth, rest, and clean fresh food is probably all that can be done for him right now. ((((( Hugs ))))) Keep us posted

Edited May 14, 200817 yr by **Liv**

Sorry, i had to go out. Poor Ghost I hope he is still okay - get him nice a warm with a 25-40 watt globe. Keep him quiet and sprinkle some seed infront of him so he can try and eat it if he has the strength. I really hope he is going to be okay. He may have already been hiding other health problems, and the change of diet has made them come to the surface. Warmth, rest, and clean fresh food is probably all that can be done for him right now. ((((( Hugs ))))) Keep us posted

 

Thanks for the advice Liv, I will not forget it if it happens again.

 

Unfortunately, not long after posting that message I had to pack the computer for our move south. He ate some seed out of my hand and perked up a bit, so I put him in his cage (he started crawling around so I was hopeful), covered it with a towel with a little gap at the front and kept him inside overnight. Unfortunately in the morning he was no longer with us.

 

I am very sad now, as I only wanted to give the best nutrition I could, but I didn't know enough about it, and now he's gone as a result. I miss my Ghost.

Edited May 17, 200816 yr by ShadowGhost

Sorry, i had to go out. Poor Ghost I hope he is still okay - get him nice a warm with a 25-40 watt globe. Keep him quiet and sprinkle some seed infront of him so he can try and eat it if he has the strength. I really hope he is going to be okay. He may have already been hiding other health problems, and the change of diet has made them come to the surface. Warmth, rest, and clean fresh food is probably all that can be done for him right now. ((((( Hugs ))))) Keep us posted

 

Thanks for the advice Liv, I will not forget it if it happens again.

 

Unfortunately, not long after posting that message I had to pack the computer for our move south. He ate some seed out of my hand and perked up a bit, so I put him in his cage (he started crawling around so I was hopeful), covered it with a towel with a little gap at the front and kept him inside overnight. Unfortunately in the morning he was no longer with us. :budgiedance:

 

I am very sad now, as I only wanted to give the best nutrition I could, but I didn't know enough about it, and now he's gone as a result. I miss my Ghost.

 

ShadowGhost, Im very sorry for your loss...Thanks to reading this though, it wont happen to me and Billy Bob..or others...Was it due to food change...I didnt realise this..Ive only had Billy Bob a week today, but didnt realise how bad changing food could be...Thanks for letting us know...RIP Ghost :angel1:

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Birds are such brave little critters and they often mask illness very well and often, when it is finally noticed, they are pretty much on their last legs and dont often pull through anyway, even when vet attention is sought.