Steve Ducks
Banned
I am getting my baby GW MAcaw in <<16 weeks. I’ve done intensive research and found what I believe to be the right cage and have also ordered a large java tree.
My experience is 20 years with Gilbert and Lola - Ammys who have Bonded and now gone almost totally hormonal. They have been fed mainly whatever seed mixes i found best value from amazon / ebay / gw titmuss or whatever. But this is supplemented with fresh fruit. I also only ever eat parrot friendly meals of an evening, which they share (think jacket spuds tuna rice beans sweetcorn. - they love my parrot chilli - which is basically mince with rice )
Getting my Macaw is a huge step - I have already read up on @Roz sprouting guide and have ordered a jar with a premix sprouting mix. I never considered this for my ammies so they will be my test subjects.
So my questions are firstly for @Roz How can I buy these seeds and legumes etc at a reasonable price. It seems to mainly healthfoodshop stuff which is a premium. I was wondering if you had a good ebay contact for bulk (assuming it is a dry food that will keep for bulk use)
This brings me to my main question. Macaws need a higher fat diet - hence I will need expensive nuts such as walnuts, brasils. Does anyone have a good contact for bulk buy? I have found 5K for walnuts for about £50 is this reasonable? I hate to spend say £20 for half a kilo when you can spend £50 and get ten times as much - this tends to be the case with anything you buy . Intending to stock up also on almonds, hazelnuts and macadamias - so possibly a £200 outlay.... buying small amounts from super markets is unfeasible - they only got unshelled nuts at xmas.
One thing I could consider is if any member is close to me we could bulk buy and share the value.essex ss8.... @Michael Reynolds - as I’m thinking bulk buy every 6 months at a guess.
An unknown thing at the moment is what diet the baby will be fed on before I collect - I suspect it will be pellets. I know jack poop about pellets. I tried a bag with the Ammys and they gave me a look as if they were saying “yeah you eat that cardboard crap!"
I like feeding a seed mix but it is hella messy. It seems the best most natural feed. Pellets although technically perfect just aren't palatable - think eating bran flakes every day.... I know its a HUGE divide - but my feeling would be if a parrot lived for 30 years and enjoyed tons of naughty food - wouldnt that be a better life than a parrot living on a strict technical diet? Kill me now if you insist I eat Bran flakes!
Ideally I’d like all my birds to eat both, so i intend to start mixing in pellets- could someone advice me on what brand and size I should buy to try to get my ammies switched a bit? They are very spoilt and selective eaters.
It would be very helpful if I could chat privately with some people with recent experience of a baby macaw. I’m gettin a bit scared! Like an expectant father!
My experience is 20 years with Gilbert and Lola - Ammys who have Bonded and now gone almost totally hormonal. They have been fed mainly whatever seed mixes i found best value from amazon / ebay / gw titmuss or whatever. But this is supplemented with fresh fruit. I also only ever eat parrot friendly meals of an evening, which they share (think jacket spuds tuna rice beans sweetcorn. - they love my parrot chilli - which is basically mince with rice )
Getting my Macaw is a huge step - I have already read up on @Roz sprouting guide and have ordered a jar with a premix sprouting mix. I never considered this for my ammies so they will be my test subjects.
So my questions are firstly for @Roz How can I buy these seeds and legumes etc at a reasonable price. It seems to mainly healthfoodshop stuff which is a premium. I was wondering if you had a good ebay contact for bulk (assuming it is a dry food that will keep for bulk use)
This brings me to my main question. Macaws need a higher fat diet - hence I will need expensive nuts such as walnuts, brasils. Does anyone have a good contact for bulk buy? I have found 5K for walnuts for about £50 is this reasonable? I hate to spend say £20 for half a kilo when you can spend £50 and get ten times as much - this tends to be the case with anything you buy . Intending to stock up also on almonds, hazelnuts and macadamias - so possibly a £200 outlay.... buying small amounts from super markets is unfeasible - they only got unshelled nuts at xmas.
One thing I could consider is if any member is close to me we could bulk buy and share the value.essex ss8.... @Michael Reynolds - as I’m thinking bulk buy every 6 months at a guess.
An unknown thing at the moment is what diet the baby will be fed on before I collect - I suspect it will be pellets. I know jack poop about pellets. I tried a bag with the Ammys and they gave me a look as if they were saying “yeah you eat that cardboard crap!"
I like feeding a seed mix but it is hella messy. It seems the best most natural feed. Pellets although technically perfect just aren't palatable - think eating bran flakes every day.... I know its a HUGE divide - but my feeling would be if a parrot lived for 30 years and enjoyed tons of naughty food - wouldnt that be a better life than a parrot living on a strict technical diet? Kill me now if you insist I eat Bran flakes!
Ideally I’d like all my birds to eat both, so i intend to start mixing in pellets- could someone advice me on what brand and size I should buy to try to get my ammies switched a bit? They are very spoilt and selective eaters.
It would be very helpful if I could chat privately with some people with recent experience of a baby macaw. I’m gettin a bit scared! Like an expectant father!