Breeders - Hand Feeding Formula?

[Monica]

Was just wondering what all breeders use for handfeeding formula... I know there is Pretty Bird, Kaytee, Zupreem, Hagen, Roudybush, Lafeber... I think there may be other brands out there that I can't find....

But what I would like to know... what formula do you use, what other formulas have you used, have you noticed a difference in feather quality/growth of chicks from using different brands?

I was just thinking that I've been seeing a lot of chicks with "dirty feathers" or feathers full of stress bars... Can't say I know what they were fed as chicks, but I wonder if it has anything to do with the formula they are eating...



I can't say that I'd recommend any of Kaytee's products (seeds or pellets), yet I've used their handfeeding formula, and still do... thought that was kind of stupid... figured if they didn't have good food blends, what makes their formula so good? I've heard complaints about it being too grainy or not mixing well.... I can see their issues there....


I haven't used any other handfeeding formula, however have heard to stay away from Pretty Bird ANYTHING... I would assume that both Roudybush and Zupreem are good formulas since their pellets are recommended... I however don't know about Hagen (Tropican - although from what I've seen they look like they have good seed mixes) or Lafeber formulas....



Obviously, I'm not looking to breed.... just looking for experiences from breeders on handfeeding formulas that they've used and results of chicks once weaned (i.e. do their feathers appear healthy or are many of the feathers appear dark?)...

[Birdsmile]

We currently use Zupreem Embrace Plus
We use to use Exact
The Zupreem does not seperate like Exact, We get plumper babies, The babies take to it easier and it is not as gritty.
Prettybird did not like.
Roudybush does not mix like the others, can't remember if i liked it or not.
I like Embrace Plus the best.

[2horse]

I am in South Africa and have enjoyed great success with Avi-products. I ony have available to me Exact, Harrisons and Monati.

There are currently 3 versions of Avi - premium hand feed for less than 10 days, very fine and can be mixed very thin.
Avi - parrot hand feed, A little coarser but still fine, mixes very well with water, does not separate.
Avi - parakeet hand feed, this is what I am using for my sun conures, it leaves them satisfied for longer, on the parrot formula I was having babies being hungry before the crop was empty. When the babies are weaning I mix in about 1/4 Avi parrot soft mix, this is sort of like a crushed pellet/aviary rusk type product. I find the babies eat a variety of different foods more readily when they have been used to different textures.
Stress bars may be the manner in which they are feed and handled rather than food. It is more than just food as to how the baby process the food and crop empting times.

[denmor55]

Lately I have been using Zupreem and it seams to work great on the younger babies but I think the birds weaned quicker using Exact.

I tried the Roudy Bush Formula and did not like it was hard to mix.

I did however use up the Roudy Bush that I had bought by mixing it 40/60 with the Exact formula that seemed to mix well and not seperate like Exact alone. I think I am going back to this when the Zupreem runs out.

[Monica]

I appreciate all the responces thus far! I've only had experience with Exact, and I have noticed that it seperates...

And indeed, it may not just be food that causes stress bars... anything from handling, to heat changes, stunted growth... but still I think diet plays a huge role in the development of chicks (of course) thus I wandered what differences breeders have seen using different handraising formulas.

[Samm]

I have always used Exact, (about 5 years now) and yes it does seperate, but usually I'm only feeding 3-4 babies at one time so it really isn't an issue for me.....it doesn't sit in the mixing jar long enough to seperate.

Next time I buy baby formula I may try the ZuPreem Embrace.

[Monica]

Found this site... which has some good percentages on the different types of handfeeding formulas...

http://www.parrotletranch.com/hand-feeding101.html

Thus now the question is just HOW much protein, and HOW much fat do the various bird species need? I know that tiels (toos? greys?) need less protein, amazons need less fat and protein, macaws need a diet higher in fat, conures need a diet higher in fat and lower in protein, and lories need a diet lower in protein..

[Joel]

Monica..... I use Kaytee Exact and have always liked it. Most breeders/keepers I know use the same.

I tried Harrisons but did not like it. Too much Pysillium if I remember correctly? I think (someone correct me if I am wrong) that the instructions on the bag say not to feed to babies under a week old? I have to check that out again so don't anyone trust MY memory on that, read the info. on the bag yourself.... No need for me to try the others as why change from a very good one IMO (Kaytee Exact).

[Mr Five]

The only thing that we use is Kaytee Exact. We have used many others but do not get the results from them that we do from Kaytee. At the present we're feeding 8 but over the past two months we've fed 25+ and all are an average of 55-65 grams. Oh I forgot to say that we raise Lovebirds.

As for the mix separating it does if you make a lot of it so that is why the most we'll make at one time is one of the blue scoops that comes in the container. With Kaytee you can start feeding at a day old as long as you thin the formula down enough. If you've ever seen a crop of a parent raised bird you can see that if they are on a seed diet that the seeds are in their crop though they are softened from the parent first eating them.

so my vote would have to go to Kaytee Exact.

[CrazyBirdLady]

I'll throw in my two cents. We do use Kaytee Exact, it works well for our birds, but check with a specific breeder of the specific bird you are thinking of handfeeding. Certain brands are not and have not been tested for certain breeds. For example, Zupreem Embrace Plus has not been tested on certain species of lovebirds. Unless i knew it was successful, I wouldn't try it. Also, feeding large parrot formula to small parrots and vice versa, as the fat content is different.