From: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Subject: Pellets, Etc.
Reply-To: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 19:04:19 GMT


A couple weeks ago I posted some info on protein levels for
parrots and other hookbills, but didn't have the source.  I
now have this information - it was Tom Roudybush, who advocates
a diet with 14-16% protein for budgies, cockatiels, conures, etc.
Slightly higher than the 12% number I cited before.  This
information came via a seminar at the University of Tennessee
vet school.  I don't have the speaker's name, unfortch. 

For those who asked, the pellet I use is from Dr. D's in Michigan.
They do mailorder, and their toll free # is (800) 942-3438.  I
feed my birds (quaker and cockatiel) a combination of their
Cockatiel Maintenance Diet (21% protein) and Parrot Maintenance
Diet (16% protein).  The pellets include all "necessary" vitamins
and minerals, so no supplements are recommended (though fresh food
is as a matter of course) and it was pretty easy to convert my
cockatiel (former seed eater) and quaker (former Pretty Bird eater)
over.  Their prices are quite reasonable, about 9 bucks for a five
pound bag (including UPS) which I then freeze in gallon Ziplock bags
for freshness.  There are also discounts for referrals, so work
together on this one :)  They also have a good handfeeding diet
(which I personally have never used).

Happy Feeding

--
************* "How about a little fire, Scarecrow?" **************
Orin Day, Code 664.1                    oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov
Hughes STX/NASA       GSFC Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics
*******"Think that this is NASA's opinion?   NO, NO, NO!!!" ******


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