My husband isn't happy with the longevity of mine..PA is 17 & Q is a year or so younger. Sunflower seeds are addicting to them, like candy, fried foods are to us. I personally don't use the pelleted food as there was too much waste with my little monsters. They would grind it up to powder tossing it out of the cage for the dog to snuffle up. I do however feed a mashevery day. It's
1C 15 bean soup or equivelent
1C frozen corn
1C cat or dog food (small bits)
1C rice, I use brown basmati but as long as it isn't instant
dump beans into pan, add 1 1/4 c hot water, cover let sit for an hour. Add the corn, rice, dogfood & 1 more cup water. Bring to a boil (be careful,don't walk off or it will burn & weld itself to your pan....
) cover & turn off, let sit for another hour or so. It should be mostly crumbly, not gummy. I put it in old yogurt containers, enough for 3 days or so & freeze. You can use ice trays or whatever to freeze. I also sprinkle some of the canine missing link on,(cats get it too..) if you also have dogs this stuff is wonderful. Mine do get seed, the Kaytee regular, not too much safflower or sunflower. Also all the greens, veggie chunks, eggs, cereal..whatever we are eating. They will also eat chix chunks like Cockatoo said. You have to keep introducing stuff to them, they can be VERY stubborn, looking at you like you put snakes in their dishes but don't give up! J