Best non-Harrisons, easy to find food...

[maxorific1]

Hi, I have read the forums and have decided on purchasing Harrison's pellets. I am not quite sure on if I can find/get them or not so I might result to other pet store brands. Any "plan-B" suggestions? Pellets of course...:confused:

[chapala]

Harrison's is available on-line from many sources, and is often sold in avian vet offices. Zupreem (natural) is available on-line and in some pet stores.
Reta

[Phoenix-cry]

With a lot of places offering free shipping buying food online is often cheaper than going to a store. However I agree with Chapala, Zupreem is second best to Harrisons

[skthurley]

Zupreem, from what i've read, is second best to harrison's. I would get it in the naturals though, not the fruit blend. It has some artificial colors in it, which could have some negative affects on the bird.

[chapala]

The fruity pellets in addiition to artificial colors also have artifical flavorings. When we had a Greenwing Macaw for 14 months, she came to us having been on a diet of 95% fruity pellets. Her feathers had a weird, artificial sweetish, smell. I quickly converted her to a mash diet, and then her feathers smelled fine, nice, fresh Macaw. Can't think those chemicals can be good for our birds!
Reta

[Vegasmom]

I prefer TOPS or Harrisons. TOPS, because the main ingredient isn't corn, though corn does have B, C, fiber and potassium it also puts on weight and has sugar. I don't think it should make up most of a diet. Roudybush is a good pellet and also has a rice formula that is good too. There aren't many certified organic pellets out there, but you can find some larger chain companies like Roudybush and some Zupreem formulas, that don't have artificial coloring added and that's a good start. Really, most pellets are mainly corn anyway so if organic isn't important to you, any non colored pellet is fine. IMO pellet diets are better than all seed, but they have a long way to go before really being a complete diet even though a lot of vets and pellet companies think so. Even Harrisons says it should be 90% of a diet. I don't agree.

[chapala]

Yes, the fresh foods are so important! Harrison's has much more research and supplies Vit. D3 which TOPS doesn't. Personally I think Harrison's is a much better pellet. They both are organic.

My birds get about 15 to 20% of the diet in Harrison's pellets (plus about 1/2 the pellet amount for the Macaw is Zupreem natural, her favorite) - the rest is fresh food and sprouts and the cooked grain/lentil/sweet potato mix plus natural supplements.
Reta

[Vegasmom]

I agree Reta, that's why I like to use both of those organic brands, plus Roudybush and Zupreem sometimes. And Pandora loves that spicy one from Zupreem.
I think it's important to use a variety of pellets. I learned that from having ferrets, they imprint on food and it can be really hard to change over to a new brand. Now, all the critters are fed several brands. Because if one company changes their formula, the shape of the pellet, a crazy raise in price, or even go out of business, then what do you do if you only feed one type and your bird won't touch a new brand? Sometimes it's hard to get your brand, or you run out and can't wait for online delivery. Also, why I think a variety is important is if one doesn't have some ingredients, another does.

[unpoquito]

Well, my plets won't eat the Harrison's pellets, only the Zupreem fruity and Roudybush minis. So I buy the Harrison's Mash (basically smashed pellets) and mix it into their pellet mix. I just ordered TOPS seed mix - it has no sunflower or safflower seeds like the Volkman. I only give seeds now as a foraging food, so they don't get a lot of it. They get fresh and cooked foods, though my p'lets are so picky w/ fresh vegies and fruits. They hate it mashed and prefer leafy greens or stalks to be whole and stuffed through toys or cage bars. Same with green pepper. I cut the top off, and cut out the stem, and slide it into a perch, and they like to munch on it that way. My p'lets really are little foragers!

[BUUZBEE]

everyone gets roudybush except my blue crowned conure, he preffers harrisons.

[maxorific1]

So Roudybush vs. Zupreem Naturals... that is the question. I have almost ruled out Harrison's due to the issue with shipping and expiration life.

[chapala]

Roudybush crumbles more than the natural Zupreem, so you end up with a fair amount of powder at the bottom of the bag.
Reta

[maxorific1]

I don't mind the "crumble" but I am speaking nutrition-wise.. Thanks