Switching a bird's diet to Harrison's is
typically relatively simple. Just offer the food and the bird eats. Some
birds can be very picky about any new item. Birds specifically that are
addicted to seeds or table foods may more difficult to switch. The most
important detail is to ascertain with certainty that the bird is
Quick Tips for Conversion to Harrison’s Bird Foods
If your bird exhibits resistance to conversion try the following tips:
1. Harrison’s Bird Bread Mix
can be used as an extremely effective conversion tool. Food that the
bird currently eats can be added to the mix and baked in the bread.
Gradually reduce the amount of that food and replace with the
appropriate Harrison’s formula (as shown here).
2. Change the bird’s
environment. Try moving your bird to a new enclosure, such as a box,
aquarium or even a new cage. Remove all the toys, perches and bowls and
offer High Potency™ on a solid surface of the floor.
3.
Use a mirror or white paper. Sprinkling food over a mirror or sheet of
white paper placed on the bottom of the enclosure works especially well
for budgies. A bird old enough to be socialized may eat to compete with
the “rival” bird in the mirror. A white paper background may draw
attention to the food particles.
4. Slowly “wean” your
bird from seeds. In the evening, offer seeds from the food bowl for only
1 hour. Then, remove the seeds and replace with High Potency (High Potency Coarse - High Potency Fine - High Potency Super Fine)The next
day, give your bird seeds for only 30 minutes in the morning and
evening. The third day, reduce the time to only 15 minutes twice a day.
And finally, offer only High Potency on the fourth day. Observe the
bird’s droppings for normal frequency.
5. Feed your bird at mealtime. Place
the food on a plate, move it around with your finger or a spoon and
pretend to eat it in front of your bird.
6. Offer Power Treats, Pepper Lifetime Coarse or Adult Lifetime Mash . Birds love the
taste of Power Treats and Pepper Lifetime Coarse. These foods can be
crushed for smaller birds. Adult Lifetime Mash also has an appealing
taste to help your bird try new food.
7. Use a
converted bird as a role model. House your bird near another that’s
already eating Harrison’s Bird Foods, or use a “trainer bird” in the
same cage as a role model for eating.
8 Heat (warm) or
moisten the food. Heat the High Potency™ slightly or moisten it with a
small amount of fruit juice or certified organic red palm fruit oil.
9.
Schedule a supervised diet change with your veterinarian. Some birds do
not recognize new items as food, and placing the bird in a clinic where
monitoring can be done will help keep your bird healthy through the
conversion.
When it comes to improving the diet, the
biggest disservice you can do to your bird is to just give up after the
bird shows resistance to conversion."
If the conversion
steps don’t work the first time, you can feed the familiar food for a
short time and then try again. The effort is worthwhile for the long
term health of your bird.
The bird’s weight (in grams),
body condition, attitude and droppings should be monitored carefully on
a daily basis in small and medium birds and at least twice a week in
large birds.
Watch Your Bird Closely
Just
because food has been ground to a powder, thrown around, or he's in the
feeding cup all the time, is not a sign that your bird is eating or
eating enough.
If any of the following should occur *(change in
behavior, droppings or weight), or you are unsure about your bird’s
health call your avian veterinarian and reschedule the diet conversion:
BEHAVIOR: appears cold, listless, fluffed-up or reluctant to play or talk.
DROPPINGS:
very loose or significantly reduced feces, while the amount of
urine/urates has increased, or the feces changes color to yellow or dark
green (a color change to brown or light green is normal due to the
formulation of the diet).
WEIGHT:
monitor progress by weighing your bird daily with a gram scale. If he
loses more than 10% (3g = budgie or 10g = cockatiel), resume feeding the
previous diet and call your veterinarian.
Showing posts with label Diet Conversion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diet Conversion. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
11. DIET CONVERSION Small Bird
SMALL BIRD DIET CONVERSION
Conversion Made Easy with Harrison’s Bird Bread
Items required for conversion:
Harrison's Bird Bread
High Potency Fine (or Super Fine)
Organic Red Palm Fruit Oil (optional - baking oil alternative)
Please review the following description of how we have commonly converted small bird species.
The process is effective and most birds switch gradually. Conversion should be observed closely. If you are not confident in converting your birds please contact your avian veterinarian for support.
A very stubborn pair of budgies who were on a sole diet of spray millet were brought to us for a conversion trial. (Budgies are shown in this trial – but other small species including cockatiel, canary, lovebird etc. all typically convert similarly)
The pair was ravenous for spray millet but ignored any other foods offered.
At that point we baked a batch of Harrison’s Bird Bread in small muffin shapes with spray millet mixed into the bread. The bread was broken up into pieces and placed on top of a clean paper towel at the bottom of the cage.
As expected, for the first few days the pair sorted through the muffins for the millet. On day three however we observed that they were also now eating bits of the Bird Bread. The amount of millet mixed into the bread was reduced and eventually replaced with High Potency Fine. After a few more days the millet was completely removed and High Potency Fine was scattered amongst the pieces of Bird Bread on top of the white paper towel.
Within a few days not only were they off spray millet completely - they were now eating only Bird Bread and High Potency Fine
Though continuing Bird Bread as a treat is optional, after one more baked batch of Bird Bread was finished the diet was switched to High Potency Fine exclusively.
Document progress daily.
Never starve a bird.
IMPORTANT:
Diet Conversion is a Challenge not to be taken Lightly! It is imperative to immediately return a bird to its original diet if it refuses to eat the new diet.Small birds have a rapid metabolism and can starve to death in as little as 36-48 hours if they do not get enough food to eat. Owners should consult with an avian veterinarian and set up a conversion program that works but does not harm the bird in the process.
Modifying a bird’s diet is one of the biggest behavioral challenges an owner will undertake. Most issues can be overcome with patience and perseverance. Educating the owner about the benefits of feeding a formulated diet versus a seed-based diet is the first challenge.
Any dietary changes should be undertaken gradually. An important concern is the bird’s refusal to eat a “new” food, leading to significant weight loss. Weighing the bird (in grams) on a daily basis using a gram scale is the best method for monitoring adequate food consumption. Weight fluctuations greater than 10% are considered problematic. Even if provided with supplemental food, birds can starve to death while merely appearing to chew their food but not consuming it. Grinding the food into a fine powder is not the same as eating the food.
Monitoring droppings is an excellent indication of the amount of food the bird is eating. Prior to the diet change, the number and character of the droppings (color, amount, liquid, form, shape, lack of odor, staining) should be noted. Any change in the volume or number of droppings (usually a dramatic decrease in amount) indicates insufficient food consumption.
Owners should not be confused by the appearance of wet droppings, which they may assume to be normal. Wet droppings usually have little fecal matter produced from food consumption. Wet droppings are often a sign of weight loss as fat and muscle are converted to energy and water. The character of the droppings will change as the bird consumes more formulated diet – they usually become more firm with a definite shape.
Conversion Made Easy with Harrison’s Bird Bread
Items required for conversion:
Harrison's Bird Bread
High Potency Fine (or Super Fine)
Organic Red Palm Fruit Oil (optional - baking oil alternative)
Please review the following description of how we have commonly converted small bird species.
The process is effective and most birds switch gradually. Conversion should be observed closely. If you are not confident in converting your birds please contact your avian veterinarian for support.
The pair was ravenous for spray millet but ignored any other foods offered.
At that point we baked a batch of Harrison’s Bird Bread in small muffin shapes with spray millet mixed into the bread. The bread was broken up into pieces and placed on top of a clean paper towel at the bottom of the cage.
As expected, for the first few days the pair sorted through the muffins for the millet. On day three however we observed that they were also now eating bits of the Bird Bread. The amount of millet mixed into the bread was reduced and eventually replaced with High Potency Fine. After a few more days the millet was completely removed and High Potency Fine was scattered amongst the pieces of Bird Bread on top of the white paper towel.
Within a few days not only were they off spray millet completely - they were now eating only Bird Bread and High Potency Fine
Though continuing Bird Bread as a treat is optional, after one more baked batch of Bird Bread was finished the diet was switched to High Potency Fine exclusively.
Document progress daily.
Never starve a bird.
IMPORTANT:
Diet Conversion is a Challenge not to be taken Lightly! It is imperative to immediately return a bird to its original diet if it refuses to eat the new diet.Small birds have a rapid metabolism and can starve to death in as little as 36-48 hours if they do not get enough food to eat. Owners should consult with an avian veterinarian and set up a conversion program that works but does not harm the bird in the process.
Modifying a bird’s diet is one of the biggest behavioral challenges an owner will undertake. Most issues can be overcome with patience and perseverance. Educating the owner about the benefits of feeding a formulated diet versus a seed-based diet is the first challenge.
Any dietary changes should be undertaken gradually. An important concern is the bird’s refusal to eat a “new” food, leading to significant weight loss. Weighing the bird (in grams) on a daily basis using a gram scale is the best method for monitoring adequate food consumption. Weight fluctuations greater than 10% are considered problematic. Even if provided with supplemental food, birds can starve to death while merely appearing to chew their food but not consuming it. Grinding the food into a fine powder is not the same as eating the food.
Monitoring droppings is an excellent indication of the amount of food the bird is eating. Prior to the diet change, the number and character of the droppings (color, amount, liquid, form, shape, lack of odor, staining) should be noted. Any change in the volume or number of droppings (usually a dramatic decrease in amount) indicates insufficient food consumption.
Owners should not be confused by the appearance of wet droppings, which they may assume to be normal. Wet droppings usually have little fecal matter produced from food consumption. Wet droppings are often a sign of weight loss as fat and muscle are converted to energy and water. The character of the droppings will change as the bird consumes more formulated diet – they usually become more firm with a definite shape.
12. DIET CONVERSION Large Bird
Safely Taper The Diet
Note: All birds switching to Harrison’s should start out and remain on High Potency Coarse for a period of no less than 8 months. (Many species are recommended to stay on High Potency Coarse).
Any dietary changes should be undertaken gradually. An important concern is the bird’s refusal to eat a “new” food, leading to significant weight loss. Weighing the bird (in grams) on a daily basis using a gram scale is the best method for monitoring adequate food consumption. Weight fluctuations greater than 10% are considered problematic. Even if provided with supplemental food, birds can starve while merely appearing to chew their food but not consuming it. Grinding the food into a fine powder is not the same as eating the food.
Monitoring droppings is an excellent indication of the amount of food the bird is eating. Prior to the diet change, the number and character of the droppings (color, amount, liquid, form, shape, lack of odor, staining) should be noted. Any change in the volume or number of droppings (usually a dramatic decrease in amount) indicates insufficient food consumption. Owners should not be confused by the appearance of wet droppings, which they may assume to be normal. Wet droppings usually have little fecal matter produced from food consumption. Wet droppings are often a sign of weight loss as fat and muscle are converted to energy and water. The character of the droppings will change as the bird consumes more formulated diet – they usually become more firm with a definite shape.
Some birds switch to a new diet with little to no work on the owner’s part. Other birds are very selective about what they eat. Birds should not be left alone to select their own diets. Like human children, birds will often choose the wrong foods and “parental intervention” is required. The single most important thing you can do for your bird is to feed it right.
The”Controlled Meals” Diet Conversion Method (medium and large birds only)
Items required:
High Potency Coarse
This method is best used in birds who’s eating habits can be individually observed. Split birds up into different enclosures or rooms during this period if necessary.
Never starve a bird.
Note: All birds switching to Harrison’s should start out and remain on High Potency Coarse for a period of no less than 8 months. (Many species are recommended to stay on High Potency Coarse).
Any dietary changes should be undertaken gradually. An important concern is the bird’s refusal to eat a “new” food, leading to significant weight loss. Weighing the bird (in grams) on a daily basis using a gram scale is the best method for monitoring adequate food consumption. Weight fluctuations greater than 10% are considered problematic. Even if provided with supplemental food, birds can starve while merely appearing to chew their food but not consuming it. Grinding the food into a fine powder is not the same as eating the food.
Monitoring droppings is an excellent indication of the amount of food the bird is eating. Prior to the diet change, the number and character of the droppings (color, amount, liquid, form, shape, lack of odor, staining) should be noted. Any change in the volume or number of droppings (usually a dramatic decrease in amount) indicates insufficient food consumption. Owners should not be confused by the appearance of wet droppings, which they may assume to be normal. Wet droppings usually have little fecal matter produced from food consumption. Wet droppings are often a sign of weight loss as fat and muscle are converted to energy and water. The character of the droppings will change as the bird consumes more formulated diet – they usually become more firm with a definite shape.
Some birds switch to a new diet with little to no work on the owner’s part. Other birds are very selective about what they eat. Birds should not be left alone to select their own diets. Like human children, birds will often choose the wrong foods and “parental intervention” is required. The single most important thing you can do for your bird is to feed it right.
The”Controlled Meals” Diet Conversion Method (medium and large birds only)
Items required:
High Potency Coarse
- Make fresh Harrison’s nuggets available at all times throughout the day.
- Select ONE item that you know the bird is known to eat (in many birds this will be seed). Discontinue every other item from the bird’s old diet.
- Make that ONE item available three times a day, for a full 15 minutes (no shorter, no longer), then remove that food completely. Do not limit the amount of this food available during the 15 minute window (controlled meal). Space these feedings out by periods of 6 hours. Maintain a strict schedule.
- Offer no other food at any time.
- Taper. Once the bird is eating the nuggets remove one feeding window of the older food. The more the bird eats of Harrison’s remove a second window.
- Once the bird is switched completely to nuggets discontinue all feeding windows.
This method is best used in birds who’s eating habits can be individually observed. Split birds up into different enclosures or rooms during this period if necessary.
Never starve a bird.
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