I heard from a breeder awhile back and also from some sources online that some species of pheasant eat pine needles in the wild, they help with nutrients and such in the winter. I know my ringneck and amherst don't like them but the silvers love them and when I had reeves in the past they nibbled on them as well. I toss a couple pine branches in the silvers pen every couple days and they eat them up. That combined with mealworms in the winter seems to help them stay more alert. My neighbor just feeds the basic pelleted diet all year round and her birds always look so bored and look like they are just getting by. Mine are always excited to see me and are active even when its 0 with deep snow
