PVC Feeders (for Pellet)

While online, I ran across these PVC feeders for chickens and am using it for my parrots' pellet now.  The bigger is for bigger birds and smaller for smaller birds. 

"y" connector

                   PVC pipe                    

end cap (caps)
hose clamp

I used PVC glue on the flat PVC cap inside the bottom.  The flat cap doesn't show in the pictures.  I was worried the cap might fall out if I didn't glue it.  No glue is anywhere the bird can reach it. 

I placed a clay saucer under the opening of the feeder to catch any pellet dropped.  

The size pipe/tube you use is up to you but the large one pictured here is 3" PVC.  The small one is 1 1/2" PVC.  

Crushed Egg Shells (extra calcium)

I wash the egg shells, especially if they are going to sit around for a while.






I microwave while they are wet for about 1-2 minutes.  I use my Hamilton coffee grinder and sprinkle the crushed egg shells over their food.

My AFA level II certificate

American Federation of Aviculture,Inc.

P.O. Box 91717

Austin, TX  78709

(512) 585-9800

www.AFAbirds.org

Baby Monitor in the Bird Room

When Sarah, my grand baby was born my daughter bought a baby monitor.  I’m way out of the baby loop so these monitors are new to me.  I decided I need one too so when Sarah stays with us we can watch her sleep from another room.  I bought a used Infant Optic DXR-5.  I really like it.  I bet I’ve dropped it or it’s been knocked off the table 8-9 times so far and no harm was done.

I got to thinking, maybe I should use the monitor and spy on my birds.  Then I got to thinking it would be nice to have one that pans and zooms like the one Annie’s (Sarah’s mom) got.  I studied a bit and bought the Levana Keera.  It has a SD card and I thought, well maybe someday I might want to record the birds.

WOW!  What I have learned watching the monitor.  When I go into the bird room ALL the birds stop and sit still.  Sometimes if I am in the bird room for a while cleaning or whatever, my pairs will eat but for the most part they just sit and watch me or hide in their boxes.  This baby monitor has taught me more than I can even write.

I have one female that I thought was “scared” of her mate and was thinking of repairing them.  She is ALWAYS in the box when I am around.  She’ll peak at me but never comes out.  I’ve learned when I am not around the heifer plays.  She swings on her orb like a kid on a playground.  I watch her sitting with her mate, preening.  She’s just all over the place.  She even dance-walks and prances.  I had no idea she was so happy.

I have also been watching one of my males sit in the box from time to time while the female leans all the way in with just her tail feathers showing.  Not sure what the deal is with this.  I would love to give her a little shove but somehow I don’t think that would work even if I could.  Something in the box doesn’t suit her yet is my guess.  The male chewed the entry hole to the box so large that I’ve had to replace the whole front.

I have been watching them try to mate too.  They practice a lot.  I keep cheering them on.  This is a pair that I wasn’t sure liked each other much.  She’s one of my handfeds who is just now old enough to breed. She always jumps to the front of the cage when I feed them wanting a head scratch.  Trying to break the bond with her, I won’t do that anymore.  I just assumed she had rejected him for me and they may never bond.  After watching the monitor, I am amazed at how devoted they are when I’m not around.

I am still watching and studying and learning.  I truly wish I had known about baby monitors sooner.  My birds are simply amazing.

Handfeeding Using Plastic Squeeze Bottles

Seems there is a video on youtube with someone using a plastic ketchup or mustard bottle to hand feed chicks.  This type handfeeding method is new to me.  Got me to thinking though, why not try it?

I LOVE MY LITTLE PLASTIC BOTTLES

I went to ebay and started shopping for plastic bottles that would be easier to handle. I found small squeeze bottles that people use for cake and candy decorating.  They were food safe and cheap. 

I bought some see through, squeezable bottles, snipped the tips to the right size hole and fell in love.  I have videoed me using bottles to share with you.   I have never had chicks this clean using the old method.  I have not had to rinse off their crops one time!  No more daily scrubbing parrot feathers for me!

I mix my formula as usual, pull the formula up into the bottle, soak the bottles in the right temperature water and feed.  I have learned that the tops need to be on tight to get good suction.  I have also learned that if you put too much water into the bowl, the bottles will float . . .duh.   You only need enough water to cover the amount of formula you have in the bottles.  I never go anywhere but from the kitchen to the dining room table when feeding, but I imagine that traveling with a capped bottle of formula would be convenient.

I used colored tape wrapped around the bottle to distinguish one from another. This keeps me from getting confused later on and using the same bottle for more than one bird. They each have their own.  I really don’t like the idea of spreading bacteria between chicks if, heaven forbid, there is a problem with any one of them (or clutch).

I use a thermometer to get the water the right temperature. I feed at 103-105 degrees. Too cold, they don’t want to eat it. Too hot and you can “crop burn” your chick and need veterinarian help. Just right and all is well. To me the extra step of using a thermometer has been worth it. I have never had crop burn.

You can disinfect the bottles using a bleach solution of 5-10 percent per volume. Just don’t soak them too long. A quick soak is all you need to do. You also can run them through the dishwasher. Or from what I’ve read, the microwave is great. You have to make sure the bottles are wet. The inter-reaction of water to microwave is what sterilizes. 2 minutes are recommended if you choose the microwave method.

Pellet Diet

There are so many opinions to the question of what is the right diet for my Parrot?  Here’s mine:

PELLET

I’m done.

Seriously though, everyone loves to share tips on feeding.  There are a lot experts in the arena of parrot feeding.  Diets come and go pretty regularly.  If someone were to take all the articles off the net about the right parrot food and print them I bet there would be a book the size of an elephant.

I’ve met and talked with a lot of pet bird people.  I have come to truly believe people should adjust their birds to pellet and have a bowl available in the cage all the time.  I feel that pellet should be the main part of the diet.  I wean all my babies to pellet.  Don’t misunderstand me here, fresh foods are a must and mine get them regular.  I could list a page of stuff my birds like to eat and pretty much get to.  I garden just for my birds.  No body, including me, likes the idea of feeding a parrot the same food every day.  I’m not suggesting you do that.  Part of the fun of even having a parrot is watching them eat.  BUT, let’s face it, some days you can’t do all the things you did the day before.  When they have pellets in their bowl you can relax and know they have been well fed.

If you haven’t already, read the label on a bag before you toss the idea of a pellet diet aside.  The manufacturers have studied, hired real experts, and worked to produce pellet for us.  Disregarding all their research to me is foolish.  Parrots probably could live long and prosper just on a pellet diet.  I really don’t know for sure but, I think so.  I know my dogs and turtles do well on food from a bag.

AND

(Gasp) . . . drum roll please, here it comes . . . 

pellet is not only super clean, it is “convenient.”  There I said it.

SO

If you decide to introduce your bird(s) to pellets and they aren’t real thrilled at first, you might try chopping it into fine pieces and mixing them with what they are used to eating.  Hand pieces to them if they are tame enough to eat from your hand.  Put pellets on top their foods so they have to taste and feel the texture even if they toss it to the floor.  Just don’t give up. 

Every time I read of someone being frustrated switching their birds to pellet it reminds me of the battles I used to have getting my kids to eat new foods, like peas and carrots.  It’s worth the struggle.

Coffee Grinder for Pellet

 If you have a bird that won’t even try pellet, you might want to use a Coffee Grinder (that will teach him).  

Take the ground PELLET and sprinkle this over their regular food.  When s/he gets use to the taste you might have success.  The grinder I use was super cheap at about $14.00 or so.  It gets the job done.  The pellets turn into a fine powder that resembles handfeeding formula.

 


I use a hard type pellet that my birds like to “crack”.