How do I transition my parrot from an all-seed diet to pellets?

Mango has been on a seed mix his whole life and I now know pellets are healthier. But he flat-out ignores pellets — picks them out and throws them. How do I actually make this switch without starving him?

Slow and steady. Never go cold turkey — birds will literally starve rather than recognize pellets as food. Mix pellets into the seed and shift the ratio over weeks, and serve pellets when he's hungriest (first thing in the morning).

Tricks that worked for me: crush pellets over a favourite wet veg so he tastes them, eat 'pellets' yourself dramatically (birds copy flockmates), and warm them slightly. It took my Amazon about 6 weeks.

This is one of the most common — and most important — diet projects, so you're doing right by Mango. The golden rule: never go cold turkey. Seed addicts will ignore pellets to the point of starvation because they don't recognize them as food.

A proven approach:

1. Start ~80% seed / 20% pellet, mixed together; shift the ratio every 1–2 weeks (60/40 → 40/60 → 20/80).
2. Offer pellets first thing in the morning when he's hungriest.
3. Make them interesting: crush over a favourite moist veg, or model 'eating' them yourself.
4. Monitor weight with a gram scale and check droppings — make sure he's actually eating, not just refusing.

Expect 4–8 weeks (sometimes months for a stubborn bird). Full walkthrough in transitioning your bird to a healthier diet and brand guidance in the complete guide to parrot pellets.