upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Have any of you ever gotten a batch of bad seeds where there is no particular foul odor, but the birds don't eat it? What brand of seed mix are you guys using? Past year, I've used L&M Farms brand, but was told by the girls at Superpetz they were not going to have it further. Asked the manager at Petco about it, and he'd not heard anything about discontinuation of this particular label, but have not been back in to ask again. Anyhow, it seems like my kids are not eating nearly as much of the seed mix as they were, and everybody has dropped a couple of grams in the past 2 weeks. Was just thinking maybe I got a bad batch, or some that was old. I tried adding parakeet size pellets (plain) from Kaytee, and now have about 3 that seem to really like them.

Also, is there any brand out there that does not contain the safflower seeds? Nobody eats them, and it's just a waste product, as is with the oat groates and the little star looking things which I think is some form of pellet, or manufactured food.

Sam

I bought a couple of bags last year that were on clearance. I opened the bags and noticed some small black beetle-type bugs in there. I think that is why they had it on clearance, maybe it was past the date. So, I just threw it out.

You know, I have the same problem with Casper eating only certain things. She will not eat sunflower or safflower seeds. I have found a few brands that have less, but none that don't have any. I usually go to Walmart and look at all the ones on the shelf. You can see through some of the bags. Their cockatiel food has big, huge sunflower seeds. I get that in a pinch and pick out all the sunflower seeds for the hamsters!!

Hi Sam. I was feeding Dr. Harvey's Collasal cockatiel food to Sherwin but recently switched for the same reason.....too many sunflower seeds. He doesn't eat them either, he prefers the smaller seeds. I now create my own mixture made up of two different blends of seeds. The name brand is Island Treat which sounds like a treat, but they have several different seed blends. I get the main seed mixture called Natures Garden Blend and the add a bag of the veggie blend. He LOVES this mixture, so much so that I am having to limit the amount he gets each day. I have found that he will not eat his other foods if he has the seed mixture available at all times.

I feed mine Topper Total Diet from Super Pets:

http://www.topperbirdranch.com/tdlit.html#2

It's safflower seed based, not sunflower seed, but they aren't as overwhelming as in other blends I've tried. Good supply of millet too, which is better for them than most seed. It's a very clean mix and my birds eat every bite.

Paca

Noel,

Where do you obtain those particular seed batches? If online, can you provide the URL? I looked in Petco, and they do have a bulk seed box, but it's got essentially the same thing in it as the bagged stuff, and all the safflower seeds to boot. I wish I could find the individual seed types and just mix my own, but guess that would be too much to ask for. I know one thing for sure, I'll be growing my own millet this year! Think it's time to change brands.

Paca, same question? where you purchase those mixes?

Sam

chibi-tori wrote:... Paca, same question? where you purchase those mixes?

Super Pets

Sam - if you click on that Topper Bird Ranch link, you will find a spot that says "Order On Line". I tried to click on the link that says "Distributors", but it brought me to a page that didn't exist.

The only way to buy through distributors seems to be in large quantities, 25lb bags. I've talked to about a dozen people in my efforts to find a way that was cheaper than Super Pets, but to no avail. It's not an expensive seed mix though, so just GO for it!

Paca

There is a large bird store in town that carries the more unique brands of seeds along with Harrisons, Roudybush, etc. You can order it online....just Google Island Treat and you should find the website. I looked at the seed mixture/brand that Paca buys and it looks similar to mine.

As previously mention in other posts, my decased tiel (Buddie) suffered from liver disease so I was always looking at different foods for her. That's when I started to create my own seed mixtures by combining different blends and adding things like ground flax seed. I would also go to stores like Earth Fare or Home Economist and buy organic millet, oats, flax seed, quinoa, etc.

Hope that helps!!