Well I have observed this for a while now, but since Pickles never seemed to lose weight or anything, I wasn't worried about it, but lately I can feel Pickles bone pretty good in her tummy area and it's never been this pronounced.

If you guys remember Pickles was on an all seed diet for I'm guessing about 4 years before I got her, and I switched her to the natural color Zupreem pellets and she switched over really easily. One thing I notice though is when I watch her eat her pellets, not much is actually being eaten, mostly she just crumbles it to a powder. I wasn't worried though because she was a steady weight and her bone wasn't so easily felt.

I asked my dad (he has had birds in the past) and he thinks she is holding out for her Kaytee treats and not eating her pellets and thought I should stop feeding her treats. They are only supposed to make up 20% of their diets tops, but if Pickles isn't eating her pellets than I don't know how much she is getting.

Last time I weighed her (about a month ago) she was 112 grams by our food weight. Just weighed her now and her weight hasn't changed a bit, but I can still feel her bone easily and she looks like she is just breaking apart the pellets and not eating them.
Thoughts?
Do you think stopping the treats will make her starve or will she start eating her pellets like a good birdie?
Or maybe she is really eating them and I have nothing to worry about? Recent vet check said she was healthy and they made no comments about the bone but that was a few weeks ago...

My young QP does the same thing--makes a crumbly mess of the pellets. It seems like she is trying to crack the pellet like a seed. I was wondering if I put water on the pellets that maybe she would quit doing this. It's hard to tell how much she is actually eating.

judging by the amount of pellet dust i see in the bowls every day, it appears as though my birds aren't eating either (but i'm sure they are). BUT if her weight is steady, she has to be eating something, right? that's my opinion anyway. i don't know why her keel bone would be more pronounced now if her weight is steady. are you sure you aren't just a little more anxious about it, thereby noticing it more?

sorry i wasn't more help. i'm sure others with more experience will be along soon to help calm your fears. but if you are concerned you should call the vet and maybe get some kind of phone consultation.

kris

maybe try dunking acouple of her pellets in the water dish, as soon as i give my green chicken something in his water hes curious and goes right for it, now he dunks everything, goodluck!

If they are crumbing them they are eating them. This came straight from my vet's lips. If your worried about Pickles being to small add coconut (fresh kind) to his/her diet. You may also add a small amount of peanut butter every other day, plain yogurt, leafy greens, sweet potato and fresh cooked pumpkin. Try to stay away from Corn-it's a high sugar startch food with little nutritious value.

So once again I'm worried over nothing...thanks guys I love my birdie to death but she must be thinking "I'm ok mom!" And it's possible her keel bone has always been like that and I just now noticed, and the fact that she hasn't lost any weight is a good sign too. And I thought my mom was a worry wart...

welcome to parronthood lol. glad your worries were subdued. it's always hard with pets and little kids because they can't tell you when something's up. just keep paying attention to the "small" stuff and ask if you are concerned. i'd rather overreact than underreact.

kris

If she is Pooping she is eating ..keep a check on the weight ...

does pickles like veggies? When I wean babies and they seem to do what you are talking about just making crumbs I cook some sweet potatoe and mash it up sometimes I add a little bit of peanut butter, they love it plus it gives extra calories, and they go wild about it. I will sit there and act like I love it and make all kinds of noise and wont give them any until they are all lined up just dying to see what I am eating and I will tell them this is soooo goood and yummy and offer some on my finger and see if they eat it. And they always do. Then I will add pellets to that and let them get soft and warm them up. Then when they eat it I will put pellets in it without getting them soft and then slowly more pellets less mash. Good luck! All my birds are hogs!

Hey Terri, I bought Pickles some Beak Appetit, the veggie heaven one and she liked it, but I think she prefers her pellets. Problem is I left it in the refrigerator for a few days too long it said to only leave it in for 5 days and freeze it well I left it in there for like 7 so I might have to buy her some more. When we eat veggies around the house I offer some to Pickles and she acts like she doesn't know it's food so I eat some first and then she tries it. Thing is Pickles is a junk food eater, she really likes my club crackers (I only give her a tiny bit cuz it's bad) and wheat thins (don't know how good those are).

She is pooping quite regularly hadn't thought of that lol and she is crumbling the pellets so she must be eating them. And she gets this happy look on her face when she eats them so it looks like she likes them Oh and she likes peanut butter I will give her some of that too boost her weight a little.

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS If it weren't for you, my vet would be rich because I would rush over there for a pin feather!