(Using Mazuri Small Bird Pellets - Maintenance)

For my Diamond doves, Capes, Zebras & many species of Ground doves.

	Small Dove Seed Mix This seed mix contains: 60% White Millet, 10% small, non-medicated, Game Bird Crumbles & 30% good Fortified Finch Seed Mix. (100lbs cost me approx. $38.45)
	Mazuri Small Bird Maintenance Pellets (See Labels Below for Details) (100lbs cost me approx. $75.00)
	Seed Mix & Pellet Comparison The Pellets are very similar in size to the seeds in the mix and suitable for even the smallest of the dove species. ..
Label with Ingredients	Mazuri's Directions For Use

I work closely with a number of Zoos & Professional Aviaries and I noticed the each of them were feeding their doves some form of pellet as their primary diet. In asking why, they said that they experienced alot less waist in feeding the pellets and that the pellets helped to ensure that the birds were getting all that they needed as far as diet, minerals and vitamins.

 

I decided that I would try feeding pellets to some of my smaller species of doves that are in individual breeding cages and smaller flights.

 

In changing any diet or feed, it should be done gradually. In reading the instructions, I felt that at least in the beginningthe doves would still try to scatter the pellets and pick their favorite seeds. So, I selected a little different method of switching them over and it worked quite well.

 

With the doves that I was switching over, they were eating out of bowl type feeders with lids and top holes or bottle type feeders with bottom spouts. When switching my doves over to the pellets, I would make the Pellets available to them in the morning for the entire day. At leat a few hours before sun set (or the lights are to turn off), I would remove the Pellets and offer them the Seed Mix they were used to for one hour. I would then take the Seed Mix away. They would have no Seed or Pellet through the night. I then repeated the process for seven to ten days. I watched the Pellet and Seed amounts offered and what was left when they were removed. At first very little Pellets are eaten and the birds would dive into the Seed Mix. Usually within a few days, the Pellets are being eaten during the day and the Seed Mix might be picked at a little in the evening. By the end of the week, it was usually safe to not offer the Seed Mix any more. **It is important to watch the birds closely the first few days that they are offered only the Pellets. Make sure that the Pellets are being eaten by either monitoring weight or volume of the Pellets offered and remaining. And watch the birds for signs of going "light."

 

I have been feeding the pellets now for a short period of time. So far it seems as though the birds are eating (I should say, going through) half as much pellets as they were seeds and it might be even less than half. I need to watch a little longer in collecting the data before I report on this.

 

Jeff Downing