10 replies to this topic

[MarzipanTheHam]

I just need to vent here. Say what you want, I just need to talk about this. I just got a job for babysitting. The family has a cockatiel. Now, it's a common misconception that birds can live off just seeds, but in facts, 80% of their diet or more should be vegetables and fruit. Cockatiels only need 1-2 tablespoons of seeds a day. So, very politely, I asked what they fed the bird. They were feeding a really bad brand of seeds and only that. I very politely explained that she needs a different brand and mostly fruit, and even how to get her to like fruit. When I got home, my dad told me I'm gonna lose my job. First of all, I'm not gonna loose my job because I offered help with someone's bird, and second, it doesn't matter what happens to me. What matters is that I at least tried to help. I would feel way worse about keeping my job and not saying anything then losing my job and having said something, even if it didn't change .  That mindset is the EXACT reason why so many animals suffer. People not wanting to say anything because it is there close friends and family taking improper care of their animals. It doesn't matter who it is. If you see someone who isn't taking good care of their animal, say something about it. Be polite, but SAY SOMETHING!

This just happened.

 

Edited by MarzipanTheHam, 05 December 2018 - 04:30 AM.

[LeviandI]

I just need to vent here. Say what you want, I just need to talk about this. I just got a job for babysitting. The family has a cockatiel. Now, it's a common misconception that birds can live off just seeds, but in facts, 80% of their diet or more should be vegetables and fruit. Cockatiels only need 1-2 tablespoons of seeds a day. So, very politely, I asked what they fed the bird. They were feeding a really bad brand of seeds and only that. I very politely explained that she needs a different brand and mostly fruit, and even how to get her to like fruit. When I got home, my dad told me I'm gonna lose my job. First of all, I'm not gonna loose my job because I offered help with someone's bird, and second, it doesn't matter what happens to me. What matters is that I at least tried to help. I would feel way worse about keeping my job and not saying anything then losing my job and having said something, even if it didn't change .  That mindset is the EXACT reason why so many animals suffer. People not wanting to say anything because it is there close friends and family taking improper care of their animals. It doesn't matter who it is. If you see someone who isn't taking good care of their animal, say something about it. Be polite, but SAY SOMETHING![/size]

This just happened.[/size]

Totally agree! I know this girl who has a dwarf and had him in a tiny cage with NO TOYS and I always tried to give her advice, like that bedding isn't safe Emily, and immediately she said yes I will get somehing else. Next time I saw her: did u get the bedding? She's like no my mom bought the wood shavings again (she said it didn't say what wood it was that's why it wasn't safe). Anyway, there's nothing wrong with ranting!

[nebit]

 

The family has a cockatiel. Now, it's a common misconception that birds can live off just seeds, but in facts, 80% of their diet or more should be vegetables and fruit. Cockatiels only need 1-2 tablespoons of seeds a day.

 

 

Sorry, but you're wrong here. Birds have a wide variety of diets depending on species, sort of like how mammals, or even just rodents, might carnivores, or herbivore, insectivores, or omnivores etc. Some parrots do eat most fruits and veggies, but cockatiels are natural seed eaters. A diet that is 80% fruits and veggies would be highly inappropriate for them.

 

That said, they best cockatiel care consists of a seed diet, pellets, and supplemental fresh and cooked foods. But the fruits/veggies etc are supplemental- not the bulk of the diet.

[MarzipanTheHam]

In the wild, 

 

Sorry, but you're wrong here. Birds have a wide variety of diets depending on species, sort of like how mammals, or even just rodents, might carnivores, or herbivore, insectivores, or omnivores etc. Some parrots do eat most fruits and veggies, but cockatiels are natural seed eaters. A diet that is 80% fruits and veggies would be highly inappropriate for them.

 

That said, they best cockatiel care consists of a seed diet, pellets, and supplemental fresh and cooked foods. But the fruits/veggies etc are supplemental- not the bulk of the diet.

birds in the wild need mostly seeds, which is perfect for them. However, seeds are very high in calories, which can make a bird overweight in captivity as they are not moving around NEARLY as much. They need more vegies, and should also get a small amount of protein, like eggs or insects, once a week.

[nebit]

In the wild, 

 

birds in the wild need mostly seeds, which is perfect for them. However, seeds are very high in calories, which can make a bird overweight in captivity as they are not moving around NEARLY as much. They need more vegies, and should also get a small amount of protein, like eggs or insects, once a week.

Again, this is highly species dependent, and also obviously depends on the seeds offered. Cockatiels are not meant to eat large amounts of veggies, they're natural seed eaters. They can have some, but the majority of their diet in captivity should be seeds and/or pellets, not veggies.

[IsAnyoneThere]

In the wild, 

 

birds in the wild need mostly seeds, which is perfect for them. However, seeds are very high in calories, which can make a bird overweight in captivity as they are not moving around NEARLY as much. They need more vegies, and should also get a small amount of protein, like eggs or insects, once a week.

 

Sorry, have to agree with nebit here. Cockatiels should have a mixed diet of seeds and pellets, not mainly vegetables. Leafy greens and other veg should be offered a few times a week, but bear in mind that they don't get many nutrients out of most veg, you need good dark-green leaves or fruit, and even then it should only be may 1/5th to 1/4 of their diet, not a staple.

 

Also bear in mind the absolute pain in the proverbial that it can be to transition a bird used to seed, on to a diet of pellets and veg. It's not a case of "replace the seed with veg, bird will eat it". They really won't. Birds that have grown up on seed mixes often literally won't recognise pellets or vegetables as food, and won't eat them, even if hungry. I've heard many MANY owners struggle with trying to transition their bird onto a healthier diet.

 

I'm going to hold my hand up here and say that one of my birds will NOT eat anything but seed. I have 2 budgies. The other, I've managed to get him to eat pellets as well as the seed, but he still won't touch a vegetable, it's like they're some sort of food from Satan himself. I've tried all the tricks, like eating it in front of them so that they copy you and know that it's a food (this worked for one budgie, for pellets, but neither for veg). 

 

So, to reply to your topic:

No, it's not correct that they should be feeding mainly veggies to their cockatiel, and certainly not 80% fruit in the diet. Secondly, you don't know what the background is... they could have been trying to transition the bird onto a pellet diet (which is what it needs, not 80% fruit!), and are struggling but trying, and probably don't need their babysitter coming in to tell them how they're doing it wrong :-/

 

Not meaning to sound harsh, I know it is frustrating when you come across pet care that you think is sub-optimal, but you also have to remember that you don't know the full story, and also that you need to be sure your own facts are straight before you go telling people how to look after their pets. I personally wouldn't take too kindly to a babysitter (who I assume I'm paying) coming round and telling me I was mistreating my birds, without knowing their history, or what I've been working with them on for the last 5 years. But that's just me.

[♥LoveAlfie♥]

 

I just need to vent here. Say what you want, I just need to talk about this. I just got a job for babysitting. The family has a cockatiel. Now, it's a common misconception that birds can live off just seeds, but in facts, 80% of their diet or more should be vegetables and fruit. Cockatiels only need 1-2 tablespoons of seeds a day. So, very politely, I asked what they fed the bird. They were feeding a really bad brand of seeds and only that. I very politely explained that she needs a different brand and mostly fruit, and even how to get her to like fruit. When I got home, my dad told me I'm gonna lose my job. First of all, I'm not gonna loose my job because I offered help with someone's bird, and second, it doesn't matter what happens to me. What matters is that I at least tried to help. I would feel way worse about keeping my job and not saying anything then losing my job and having said something, even if it didn't change .  That mindset is the EXACT reason why so many animals suffer. People not wanting to say anything because it is there close friends and family taking improper care of their animals. It doesn't matter who it is. If you see someone who isn't taking good care of their animal, say something about it. Be polite, but SAY SOMETHING!

This just happened.

 

 

 

It's okay if you need to talk about this! You're right, people should speak up when they see people not taking good care of their animals. Including me!  

Edited by ♥LoveAlfie♥, 23 December 2018 - 12:06 PM.

[nebit]

I don't know much about cockatiels, or birds in general, but I understand the general idea. I have a close friend with a chihuahua mix, and she's feeding a terrible diet of, what's it called, something like Purina Science Hill and Caesers? Something like that. I tried speaking up, but she doesn't really get it and her parents are like they care a lot about the dog but they didn't really do their research. And it's really annoying because I don't want to sound like a know it all but I know what's best for the dog and every time I just see the dog not really wanting to eat. I really want to tell them throughly how bad the food is, though! I also thought of telling them that they shouldn't mix wet and dry food without asking a vet if it's a good idea first! Also I heard that you should take your new dog or cat to the vet in less than 72 hours after you first get them. And my friend didn't. :(  But don't get me wrong, other than her not-really-good knowledge on animal care, she's a great friend.

 

Sorry this turned into a little mini-rant of my own, but I'm just agreeing with you on the general idea.

 

Respectfully, if it's not your dog, or your finances caring for it, you don't know what's best for that particular animal.

 

Small dogs can be notoriously picky eaters for a variety of reasons besides food quality, and they may have very good reasons for feeding what they do- up to and including that their vet recommended it (many vets recommend Hills). It's not my first choice of foods, but its not the worst either.

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with mixing wet and dry food, and plenty of people don't go to the vet in the first 3 days, even if that is the "official" recommendation.

 

Unless you have advanced knowledge in dog care, or you're speaking of your own animals, barring obvious abuse, the best move is generally to keep your opinions to yourself. There are a wide variety of opinions on what is "best" for pets, many of them hotly debated. Your friends are clearly doing what they deem best.

[♥LoveAlfie♥]

Respectfully, if it's not your dog, or your finances caring for it, you don't know what's best for that particular animal.

 

Small dogs can be notoriously picky eaters for a variety of reasons besides food quality, and they may have very good reasons for feeding what they do- up to and including that their vet recommended it (many vets recommend Hills). It's not my first choice of foods, but its not the worst either.

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with mixing wet and dry food, and plenty of people don't go to the vet in the first 3 days, even if that is the "official" recommendation.

 

Unless you have advanced knowledge in dog care, or you're speaking of your own animals, barring obvious abuse, the best move is generally to keep your opinions to yourself. There are a wide variety of opinions on what is "best" for pets, many of them hotly debated. Your friends are clearly doing what they deem best.

 

I'm sorry I said that. I'm not very used to forums yet, I don't know it's best to keep these opinions to myself. Again, so sorry! I edited my original post to something different. I'm so so so sorry, the information is just what I gathered from research that the food the friend's feeding isn't the best, but of course websites could be wrong, and they could have a reason for feeding the food. And I've been doing a lot of research about dog care, and the strong reccomendation to take your new dog to the vet within 72 hours of first getting them is just what popped out on a lot of websites. Also a lot of websites say that you shouldn't mix different types of dog food without first asking a vet because of weight and vitamins. Is this wrong?  I just voiced what many websites said.

 

I'm really sorry!

Edited by ♥LoveAlfie♥, 23 December 2018 - 12:14 PM.

[IsAnyoneThere]

I'm sorry I said that. I'm not very used to forums yet, I don't know it's best to keep these opinions to myself. Again, so sorry! I edited my original post to something different. I'm so so so sorry, the information is just what I gathered from research that the food the friend's feeding isn't the best, but of course websites could be wrong, and they could have a reason for feeding the food. And I've been doing a lot of research about dog care, and the strong reccomendation to take your new dog to the vet within 72 hours of first getting them is just what popped out on a lot of websites. Also a lot of websites say that you shouldn't mix different types of dog food without first asking a vet because of weight and vitamins. Is this wrong?  I just voiced what many websites said.

 

I'm really sorry!

 

No need to be sorry, just re-read nebits post without thinking he's attacking you

 

Incidentally, I agree with nebit. If you happen to be an expert in a particular field of animal care and can give pointers to someone who clearly isn't, OR alternatively you know a fair amount and the other person is bordering on neglect/abuse with their poor care, then sure, step in and give them advice.

 

If, however, you know "some stuff you read on a website" or "did some research and found some recommendations", or if the care the person is giving is actually okay (maybe not great, but not harmful), or if you don't know the full situation (for example, you said a few times how the owners should only have done something on the recommendation of a vet... how do you know that they weren't acting on the recommendation of a vet?), then it really is best to let it be. 

 

If I was a first-time, say, rabbit owner, and someone came to me and said that they had owned 20 rabbits and I was doing something wrong... fair enough. If I myself have owned a few rabbits and have been to the vets with this one and have taken on board their recommendations, I've also done my own research but maybe due to some circumstances I can't follow it exactly.. .then someone who "read something on the internet" came along and told me I was a bad owner... yeah, I think I'd be a bit peeved.

[Birb]

Sorry, but you're wrong here. Birds have a wide variety of diets depending on species, sort of like how mammals, or even just rodents, might carnivores, or herbivore, insectivores, or omnivores etc. Some parrots do eat most fruits and veggies, but cockatiels are natural seed eaters. A diet that is 80% fruits and veggies would be highly inappropriate for them.

 

That said, they best cockatiel care consists of a seed diet, pellets, and supplemental fresh and cooked foods. But the fruits/veggies etc are supplemental- not the bulk of the diet.

I give my birds fruits as treats. Is that good, or should I not feed them it?