what food to buy for rosy bourkes?

[meam35]

hi there

i was in our local pet shop looking to buy some treats for my rosy bourkes and there is nothing that say's "for grass parrots". there are plenty of things for budgies and macaw type parrots. there is also the occasional treat with a picture of a cockateil or love bird on it. there is one with a macaw picture on it which seems to be some sort of bird bread but again im not sure if it would be okay.

which bird species shall i use?

do i feed them as budgies, teils,etc?

i am feeding them a basic cockateil seed mix as this is what the shop recommended but there are some lovely looking "nibbles" for sale and i just dont know what to do for the best. i love my wee birds and im scared of causing them harm but at the same time, we all would get bored of eating the same thing.

i have tried offering some fruit and veg and so far all they seem to take to is carrot and red peppers.

any advice would be most welcome.

thanks

am x

[PenelopeGem]

You can feed Bourke's Parakeets a budgie/cockatiel type seed mix. They would, also, eat a crumbles type pellet, or one designed for budgies, or similarly sized parakeets. Fruits and vegies (chopped up small). Shreded carrots, and zuchini, and a little corn, and apples might be a good start. Mine, also, liked 12 grain bread. There is a great grain mix made by a company called China Prairie. They do have a website. The have one grain mix called "Micro Grain" that is perfect for a Bourke's sized bird. It can be either sprouted, or cooked. All the grains are of human quality, and I've had very good luck feeding this to a number of different sized birds. I'm a little lazy, so usually end up cooking it. I hope this helps. I am no expert, but have kept Bourke's Parakeets in the past.

[meam35]

hi there

thanks for the advice. i have read on other postings about cooking grains or preparing mashes but i am ashamed to say my ignorance screams loudly and i didnt know what people were referring to. i also thought when i first read it that sprouts were the brussels variety. is this just a case of soaking seeds from their basic diet until they start to germinate or is it put them in soil and harvest the shoots at a certain height? or am i way off target and its something else?

i will try to find the website of the company you recommended.

thanks!

am x

[The Boy With The Birds]

Rosa bourkes should be fed on a good budgie mix. If you want the worlds fattest birds well then keep on feeding cockatiel mix. Cockatiel mix has a bit to many larger, and more fattening seeds, to much for little birds like bourkes parrots. I then feed mine endive and other greenery daily. You can offer fruits but most neaphema's (neapsephotus's) will ignore it. Make shore they have access to grit and cuttle all the time, and have plenty of fresh water
hope this helps :)

Zac,

[PenelopeGem]

I don't think birds that crack seed need grit, and that it can be more harmful, than good. Others might have a different opinion on this. I don't know if there is a separate thread about feeding grit to parrots - any feedback? I personally never feed grit. I would feed grit, though, to finches, canaries, doves, or pigeons as they do not hull the seeds.

I haven't sprouted grains for a long time, but I think the China Prairie site tells you how to sprout their product. Basically, you sprout the seeds, but you do not plant them in soil. When sprouting, you have to be careful of growning bacteria, and mold. There are products that inhibit mold, and bacteria growth. There are probably webpages that would describe how to properly sprout the seeds for feeding to pet birds.

[The Boy With The Birds]

grit is an important supplement of many birds.
and parrots is one of them. and why not feed it to parrots if they hull the seed? as they will certantly not hull grit, and will eat it whole, i give every one of my birds grit everyday, as it is full of calcium, it helps healthy egg development, healthy beak and nails and helps brake down food in the stomach. and finches and canaries still hull seed, they certaintly dont eat it whole, so what is the difference? every aviculturist i know feeds grit to their birds
in my oppinion, grit is important supplement of many birds, and parrots diet.

Zac,

[prettypenguin]

There is a huge divide pertaining to the use of grit for birds who hull seeds. In the US, many vets and breeders prefer not to feed grit,but do use cuttlebone, and in the UK and Australia people are more pro grit. I think of it as birds who need grit are birds who swallow stones for use in the gizzard in the wild. That being said , I don't know if Bourkes do so.

[Krazy Karen]

Yes, they do - they are forage eaters and will pick up and eat dirt tiny stones etc.
While most birds do need grit it is not only for grinding of seed in the gut but has the calcium element that can't be ignored. Also remember, if the birds don't want it - they won't eat it.

[geier-004]

Hello,

my Grasparrots obtainted a neophema-mix.

Otherwise can man to feed a mix of budgie and cockatiel. No or only few sunflower cores or Kardi should be contained, both are too fetthaltig.

Additionally they should receive to fruit and vegetable, e.g. tomatoes, akaryote grapes, cucumbers, salad akaryote.

Also to need her always grit.

[the vulture]

Originally Posted by geier-004

Hello,

my Grasparrots obtainted a neophema-mix.

Otherwise can man to feed a mix of budgie and cockatiel. No or only few sunflower cores or Kardi should be contained, both are too fetthaltig.

Additionally they should receive to fruit and vegetable, e.g. tomatoes, akaryote grapes, cucumbers, salad akaryote.

Also to need her always grit.

Hi,
fetthaltig means fatty - akaryote means seedless.
Best regards
the vulture