[axs221]

I have been keeping a full cup of pellets for Archie for the first month and a half that I've had him. I have switched him from seeds to mostly pellets. He has gained weight noticably since I got him 6/1/2008. I let him have a cup of pellets in his cage constantly. Is this OK for him? Should I take the food out sometimes?

Also, should I let Archie eat crumbs from the carpet? He ate some pellets an hour ago or less, but he keeps jumping off me and his perch, he keeps running around eating crumbs from the ground. The carpet is new and fairly clean, but he does find crumbs. Should I worry about this?

[Paula0442]

I'd just be worried about what else he could find hiding in the carpet. You never know what can come in on your shoes.

[so102778]

If you vacuum a lot, I wouldn't worry too much. We vacuum every day and all of our birds like to forage out of the carpet for dropped seeds. If you are worried about it, try to set up a foraging area in his cage. You can use Orchard Grass for it.

[QPdad]

If I understand correctly, you're filling his cup up. Most quakers eat about a tablespoon of pellets a day. They should be there constantly.

If you put only what he needs in the cup each day, maybe he will be less messy with them.

[Majj]

Yep the pellets need to be available 24/7 as birds have a fast metabolism and they eat constantly picking and pooping machines ...lol.., I don`t worry when Buddy flys to the floor to get crumbs I just shoo him up in case he gets stepped on thats the only reason I don`t like him on the floor..he usually gets what he spots on the floor and flys back up to his stand anyway...

[Siobhan]

Clyde eats five or six times a day, but only a little at each meal. He has food available all the time and I give him nibbles on top of that, but he doesn't always want them. He always eats a hearty breakfast, once he's done his birdy duty of getting me out of bed and himself moved into the main living area from the bedroom -- we move his cage into the bedroom at night and out here in the morning. But that's the only meal where he really chows down. The rest of the times, he has a few mouthfuls and that's it. More of a snack than a meal, though I gave him millet this evening and he went to town on it.

He never gets on the floor. I wouldn't allow it because I don't completely trust the dogs with him and I'd be afraid of him getting stepped on, too, and he doesn't show any interest anyway, so it's not an issue. When he's out of his cage, he's on our shoulders or hands or on the back of the couch with us sitting on the couch, so he can walk back and forth between us and make comments. He doesn't want to be anywhere else and that suits me, because I know he's safe if he's sitting on my shoulder pulling my hair. I would really be nervous if he wanted to get on the floor.

[Sandi Kiwis Mom]

Just keep his cup full of fresh pellets. Please vacumn everyday. You don't want your bird picking up strange things on the carpet. Pretty soon your bird won't be on the carpet because he will enjoy being on his cage....................

[Paula0442]

I wouldn't have to worry about this because my dogs eat the pellets before they hit the ground. LOL