This is one of the most common questions I am asked. Just today three people messaged to ask if I fed pellets. One person said her vet recommended a pellet diet over an all seed diet.
I think the question should be: "Do I feed an exclusive pellet diet, or a pellet-supplemented diet, or no pellets at all?"
Many people like a pellet diet for less uneaten seeds and seed hulls. And there are many brands of pelleted feed designed for various types of season and birds. For example, don’t use a breeding pellet for a pet bird. Some are colored and scented; others are plain. Surprisingly, two friends who use pellets for either supplementing a seed diet or as a full diet of pet birds say the plain ones are preferred by the birds.
I realize the veterinarians recommend pellets. I do believe it is hard to find fresh seed and correct seed mixes for the average pet canary owner. Local pet shops never seem to have fresh seed and Big Box stores are also lacking. For the average bird owner, a good fresh seed may be unavailable. Several years ago, the more popular manufacturers have gone to finch/canary mixes which is an unhealthy choice for canaries. In that sense, it may be the best advice to recommend a pellet mix. However I think Amazon has broadened the options and offers more appropriate choices.
Personally I won’t use pellets as a regular part of my basic canary diet. For my own reasons. No judgement on anyone else!
First, the main drive for wild birds is foraging and for our cage birds also. Feeding an assortment of foods/seeds/grains gives my birds something to do that satisfies the instinct in them that says ‘find food to survive'. This foraging also provides a huge part of entertainment. I feel variety is the spice of life for birds as well as people.
Secondly, we strive to feed ourselves an assortment of ‘live food’, with various forms of enzymes, nutrients, fats and oils etc. In the case of us humans, no one has yet found a processed single food or supplement pill that delivers the health-giving nutrition as efficiently as a varied diet of minimally processed fresh foods. Why would it be any different for our birds?
I believe supplements are beneficial at various times in a human diet and I believe also helpful in the diet of our birds. I do feed various supplements to the birds. Several breeders I know feed pellets in this way.
While I do not believe pellets are in any way a necessary food item to feed our birds, I view them in the same way as any other part of a healthy diet. If there is a product that supplies some necessary nutrient, in a most efficient way, which I could buy at a reasonable price, I would at least give it a trial.
In the past year, I used pellets to supplement my soft food during breeding simply because I liked the texture of it. I soak them just 5 minutes and add to my dry mix with hard boiled eggs, in much the same manner as Perle Morbide or couscous. I did try four different brands/types of pellets before I found one that my birds will eat.
I do not offer pellets outside the breeding/molting season.
