Kitty and Dog Thread, Show Me What You Got, other critters welcome too

[ShrekDawg]

That’s really great! Sounds like a fun job!

We have a seed guard.... doesn’t help much ... that’s why I’m building the outdoor cage... so they can make all the mess they want... plus, I figured since the chickens live in a mansion then the parakeets should get too also

Thanks! It definitely is!

and that is a very good point.

I wanna build mine a mansion now too if I ever get them haha

 

[WhoDatChick]

@oldhenlikesdogs do you have any tips or ideas for keeping the birds from wasting so much feed? As in certain ways of feeding them.. as in, placement of dishes... or different dish types and whatnot...?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@oldhenlikesdogs do you have any tips or ideas for keeping the birds from wasting so much feed? As in certain ways of feeding them.. as in, placement of dishes... or different dish types and whatnot...?

Nope. I like the covered dishes that come with the cages, they seem to have the most problems throwing them from there, but they can't always finish all the seeds. Not filling them more than half full helps too. They are similar to chickens with billing out seeds.

I dump my dishes daily and collect the seeds and hulls, and than feed them to the chickens as a treat, so it's not a total waste. Good thing parakeet seed is cheep.

I've tried refillable from the top, that they toss seeds everywhere trying to dig until they are empty. I bought a weird feeder off of Amazon that attaches to the side of the cage and birds are supposed to got into it to eat to limit the mess, but they wouldn't go near it.

I used to use a clay dish from the bottom of a planter to feed them on the floor of the cage, but I got too old to bend over, and use that home made cage, so I got a cage that was higher off the ground that has a grate, so feeding on the bottom didn't work so well anymore. They seem to like standing in the dish with a thin layer of seeds the best, but they get pooped on.

It seems the females make the most mess. I was down to 2 males and the mess was minimum, but perhaps it was because it was just 2.

I'm not even gonna mention the mess during their molts. They save it for when they come back inside.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Nope. I like the covered dishes that come with the cages, they seem to have the most problems throwing them from there, but they can't always finish all the seeds. Not filling them more than half full helps too. They are similar to chickens with billing out seeds.

I dump my dishes daily and collect the seeds and hulls, and than feed them to the chickens as a treat, so it's not a total waste. Good thing parakeet seed is cheep.

I've tried refillable from the top, that they toss seeds everywhere trying to dig until they are empty. I bought a weird feeder off of Amazon that attaches to the side of the cage and birds are supposed to got into it to eat to limit the mess, but they wouldn't go near it.

I used to use a clay dish from the bottom of a planter to feed them on the floor of the cage, but I got too old to bend over, and use that home made cage, so I got a cage that was higher off the ground that has a grate, so feeding on the bottom didn't work so well anymore. They seem to like standing in the dish with a thin layer of seeds the best, but they get pooped on.

It seems the females make the most mess. I was down to 2 males and the mess was minimum, but perhaps it was because it was just 2.

I'm not even gonna mention the mess during their molts. They save it for when they come back inside.

This is really helpful. Thanks. What do you think about pellets? I’ve read some people feed pellets or feed a mix of pellets and seeds? Seems like pellets may make less of a mess? But of course they are more expensive haha

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

This is really helpful. Thanks. What do you think about pellets? I’ve read some people feed pellets or feed a mix of pellets and seeds? Seems like pellets may make less of a mess? But of course they are more expensive haha

My parrot gets pellets, and other various things, but my parakeets get seeds, because it's their natural diet in Australia. Mine refuse to eat the pellets. I have in the past fed sprouted seeds for getting them into breeding condition. I also offer spray millet when I remember to buy it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

My parrot gets pellets, and other various things, but my parakeets get seeds, because it's their natural diet in Australia. Mine refuse to eat the pellets. I have in the past fed sprouted seeds for getting them into breeding condition. I also offer spray millet when I remember to buy it.

That makes a lot of sense. I never really understood the pellet thing for parakeets anyway because you’re right, their natural diet is seeds. Makes sense for larger birds though. And yeah, I imagine it’d be hard to get them to switch over if they’ve been eating seeds their whole life hahah sprouted seeds are a good idea. Do you give them any fruits or vegetables or anything? And mine used to love millet haha

 

[ShrekDawg]

I wonder if something like this might work a bit better? A netting type thing that goes up pretty high? Instead of just the plastic guard? But idk. They have a few different sizes and colors and for some reason some of the colors are like half the price of this one haha

https://www.chewy.com/sheer-guard-b...MImZ2V7ceZ5AIVjrbICh2EuAaqEAQYAyABEgJo5PD_BwE

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I think the netting may work well but I haven't ever used one so I can't say for sure. My parrot gets fruits and vegetables, but the parakeets mostly ignore them. I suppose I don't stick it out long enough. Only so many days I can replace them before I give up.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think the netting may work well but I haven't ever used one so I can't say for sure. My parrot gets fruits and vegetables, but the parakeets mostly ignore them. I suppose I don't stick it out long enough. Only so many days I can replace them before I give up.

Thanks that makes sense. Wonder if they’d get their nails caught in it?

And that makes sense haha weird cause I know some love them but then I do know others are picky lol guess it depends on the bird!

 

[WhoDatChick]

I wonder if something like this might work a bit better? A netting type thing that goes up pretty high? Instead of just the plastic guard? But idk. They have a few different sizes and colors and for some reason some of the colors are like half the price of this one haha

https://www.chewy.com/sheer-guard-bird-cage-skirt-white-x/dp/157204?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Sheer Guard&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImZ2V7ceZ5AIVjrbICh2EuAaqEAQYAyABEgJo5PD_BwE

That’s what we have but maybe it doesn’t go high enough .. it helps a little... still mess all around but I guess not as much as without it...
@oldhenlikesdogs thanks! I’ll just try few different things and see if anything works.. if not.. oh well, no biggie..