The guy that runs the local bird shop here says Lafebers and I think Zupreem are not made by Avian companies and they deal with making other pet products as well. He is very pro-Roudybush and pro-Harrison's and says Avian biologists make those brands or something to that extent. My bird readily took to Roudybush within 2 days of offering it to him, but he is not a picky eater. Pellets only make up maybe 30-40% of my p'let's diet. I paid 45ish bucks for a ten pound bag that will likely last 4 months or so for him (and I'm sort of wasteful with it since I empty his bowl everyday). I don't know anything about Totally organic pellets and Harrison's isn't easily available to me without specially ordering it, so Roudybush it is for my guy!

 

If you contact these companies they will send you samples so you can see what they like best.I have heard varying opinions on what is best ,but Harrison's and Roudybush are the two I hear most.

 

I just emailed Harrison's this week about samples. So far they have been very friendly. Today I got 2 boxes of samples from them which I am going to try on them tomorrow.

Zupreem responded that they do not send samples, but do have a return policy.

Roudybush did not respond.


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Zupreem usually offers a five dollar off coupon and refund policy instead.

Roudybush doesn't respond, they just send you a pound sample within about a weeks time. Happened this way for both me and my sister.

Tops doesn't give any samples or coupons.

None of my birds will eat Tops or Harrisons. I haven't tried Zupreem. All of my birds except my budgie will eat Roudybush.

I don't care for Tops because it has no balance of vitamins and minerals which is the whole point of a pellet. Also the fiber in it is really high compared to seeds or other pellets. Zupreem adds sugar and I don't like that. I have heard mixed things about Lefeber, not in a good light. Harrison's is great but more expensive than Roudybush by a lot and my birds don't like Harrison's. I think quality wise they are both just as good if you read their nutritional panel and ingredients. At that point, it is about which the bird will eat.

The one you missed is Goldenfeast. It is good too but very expensive and I worry about all the added probiotics. Too much of a good thing can back fire.

In general with my pets' food I like to go with the ones with a limited ingredient list and not a lot of additives like artificial this, preservative that, sugar/oils, etc. Sometimes less is more.

 

The one that is is best is the one you bird will eat. Personally I think TOP is a great formula. Oliver turns his nose up. He will eat Lafeber or Zupreem or Goldenfest. I would try to ask for samples from the company or buy the smallest version you can and see which one your bird will eat. Oliver loves the plain Nutriberries especially but will eat the others. He loves Zupreem and Goldenfest so I do all three plus his seeds (very little) and fresh food. I do n't know which I will continue to purchase on a regular basis but since he loves the 3 and I have them I just mix them together for now. Roudybush and Harrison's was a no go for Baby and Oliver not to say I won't try again but for now he is very happy eating his pellets and that's all that matters.

 

I want Timmy to eat Roudybush but he has other ideas. He likes Kaytee Exact and Zupreem.

 

Well, my p'lets eat Zupreem natural. It was easier for me since my cockatiel would only eat Zupreem fruit flavored ones... and then transition her from the fruit flavored ones to the natural colored ones.

Now my African Grey came to me on Lafaebers and she's done well with it, for variety (as she doesn't get seed like the smaller birds), I also add Zupreem natural or sometimes the colored ones if they're on sale and Scenic bird food. I started the Scenic bird food because it was in the mix that I got for Bonsai because one of the bird specific stores locally feeds it to their caique and I thought I would try. Bonsai likes it. She seems to like her mix of Scenic (large and small pellets), Zupreem natural (parrot size), and then a small amount of the p'let/cockatiel seed and pellet mix.

 

Bjartey, Bjarma, and Björk all came from the same breeder who maintained full offering of ZuPreem in one dish and a Kaytee seed mix in another. We continued with that because they liked it and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Bjarma never touched a single pellet her entire life, despite many efforts to transition her to them. Our vet told us his first choice was Roudybush. When we got Bjargdis, the breeder had fed exclusively Roudybush. We transitioned Björk to Roudybush and we really like it and more importantly, the girls like it, too!

The ZuPreem was good, but they picked out the different colors--green first, then yellow, and if nothing else was left, they would go for the red and orange. This made for a menagerie of poop colors and was difficult to monitor health as a result. We didn't like the dyes anyway. I see that ZuPreem seems to be increasing availability of their product line that does not contain dyes; I might have tried that if we weren't well established on Roudybush.

My biggest critique of Roudybush is the fact that they pulverize it while eating it. We sift the dish twice per day and every other day, we discard and replace with new the entire contents. We maintain full availability, but try to keep it within what they'll eat to cut down on waste. The amount lost due to sifting is significant.

We stayed with the Roudybush because of the organic line-up of ingredients and the poops are much more well formed and not nearly as messy. Ultimately, our avian vet--whom we completely trust because he is so wonderful with us and our babies--recommended it as his first choice. By no means am I a nutritionist, but even if he did not have a recommendation, I would likely be inclined to stay with Roudybush.

 

I like that Roudybush doesn't have added sugar in it. Azuki will also eat Zupreem so he gets both. Harrison's is a total bust and I've never seen the other brands locally.

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I agree with jeannepp, feed them whatever they will eat, especially if they already eat one. I doubt it makes a difference.

 

I have managed to get samples of Roudybush, Harrisons and Zupreme (the guy at the bird store gave me a small bag to try). The breeder does not use pellets at all, so I'm pretty sure we may have a long walk up a high hill

Its ok, because I will just keep at it. I have decided that pellets are important and I want them to be a part of the diet along with fresh and a seed mix now and then.

 

I agree, I keep trying and they keep ignoring but I will get them in the end.


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I now have pellets from 4 different vendors, none of which my birds show the least interest in. They will literally not eat and starve before eating the pellets. They do eat seed but tend to pick what they want out of it. The LOVE fresh veggies and eggs either hard boiled or scrambled.

We know they need the vitamins and other good things that pellets give them but they will not go over to them. Besides I now have 6 bags of uneaten pellets. This week we hit on something that seems to work. We take an egg, shell and all, tossed in their favorite veggies and some pellets, grind up in a magic bullet, pour resulting concoction into a bird size portion, microwave for 15 or seconds and tada, Birdie Soufflé. They love the stuff, get their vitamins, etc. I know it is not Birdie Bread but for a quick down and dirty answer it seem to work.

I plan to keep offering pellets in the cage and trying different brands till I find one they can be convinced to eat but thought you folks would be interested in this possible answer.

 

I read somewhere that grinding the pellets to a powder in the food processor and then mixing it with seeds and a few drops of water gets bird to eat it. Then they get used to the taste and you start reducing the powder and adding more whole pellets gradually. I saw it on another forum and the person was able to convert all of her birds of different species this way.

With my birds, I have just discovered limiting the amount of seeds works because when they finish the seeds they will eat the pellets. I give Oliver about 2 tsps of seeds now. So he eats more pellets the less seed I provide.

 

I tried mixing the pellets with water, mixing with various juices and grinding down but could still get no takers. They will eat one or two pellets if I hand feed them but then lose interest. My guys are 3+ year olds and are sort of set in their ways. So far only the birdie soufflé seems to work. I have been thinking about increasing pellet content and reducing the rest once I have them established the new eating pattern.


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Yes with Baby I used to do it in her birdie bread. The egg is a great idea.