Hi I have a blue and gold macaw, who is approximately 50 years old. I have had him for seven years. His name is Oscar, and I love him very much. He is so funny! My concern with him is that I have been trying for years to get him off of seeds, but it has been very difficult. I need help with changing him to a good quality pellet. Can someone tell me what is a good pellet that I can get for him? I live between Gilroy and Merced, CA.
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Picky Eater
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Shezbug
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Welcome to the Avenue 
Mizzely
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Honestly the one I've had the most luck with is Zupreem Fruity. Is it the best pellet? No. (Artificial colors and added sugar). However I've always had luck using it to convert a seed eater.
If you need other ideas for pellets this may help Pellets for Parrots
This may give you some conversion ideas: Converting Parrots to a Healthier Diet - Tips | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum
If you need other ideas for pellets this may help Pellets for Parrots
This may give you some conversion ideas: Converting Parrots to a Healthier Diet - Tips | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum
Zara
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Welcome to the Avenue Debra and Oscar! 
cassiesdad
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Welcome to you and Oscar!
Converting any mature bird of any species from seeds to pellets will be quite the challenge. We've had success converting tiels, 'toos, (notoriously finicky eaters) budgies, and a conure from all seed to pellet/seed eaters...although I believe Buddy the Conure would eat ANYTHING we fed her. The budgies eat 70% seed/30% pellet base diet...the tiels 70% pellet/30% seed diet...Milton da Too...100% pellets. This is in addition to chop, a few nuts, rice/pasta, etc.
We use Zupreem Fruity Pellets...and have for years.
All of that doesn't really help you any, I know...so my suggestion would be to try the leading brands...and good luck!
Converting any mature bird of any species from seeds to pellets will be quite the challenge. We've had success converting tiels, 'toos, (notoriously finicky eaters
) budgies, and a conure from all seed to pellet/seed eaters...although I believe Buddy the Conure would eat ANYTHING we fed her. The budgies eat 70% seed/30% pellet base diet...the tiels 70% pellet/30% seed diet...Milton da Too...100% pellets. This is in addition to chop, a few nuts, rice/pasta, etc.We use Zupreem Fruity Pellets...and have for years.
All of that doesn't really help you any, I know...so my suggestion would be to try the leading brands...and good luck!
Cynthia & Percy
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welcome
sunnysmom
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Welcome!
50 years old. WOW!! Harrison's is often suggested by vets, but many birds won't touch it. I'd suggest Zupreem Natural large parrot. At his age you should stay low on sugars & artificial colors. It won't be easy getting him to eat pellets. You should cut back on the seed mix slowly, but you also don't want to stop seed mix totally. Some seed mix in his diet is OK. I'd start by giving him pellets in the morning, along with a little seed mix, & other regular foods at night. Remove all food from his cage before you go to bed. That way he'll be hungry in the morning when you give him the pellets. You can also offer the pellets wet & see if he likes them better that way. Also offer veggies like cooked sweet potatoes & carrots, peas, corn, any greens, etc., or what ever you can get him to eat & some occasional fruit, again late day/evening. Offer veggies that are higher in Vitamin A. Use only fresh or frozen veggies, never canned. This will take time & once you get him eating them you can change up what foods you fed at what time of the day. I'm trying to get my soon to be 21 year old B&G Macaw to eat less nuts & more pellets. She seems to prefer eating more pellets in the morning hours than the rest of the day.
