Dr. Foster and Smith and Harrisons parrot food

[beckalexis]

I use Dr. Foster and Smith all the time with my bird, fish, and dog needs. They are a wonderful company and have exceptional customer service. Ok, ok....now to the point of my post. I do not know how many of you order from them or feed Harrison bird food to your birds. But Dr. Foster and Smith does not carry Harrison bird food and I would love anyone who feeds Harrison or orders from Dr. Foster and Smith to help me in a little campaign to encourage Dr. Foster and Smith to carry Harrisons. It would only take a moment to write them a quick e-mail on their customer service page to encourage them to carry Harrisons. Hopefully with the huge response of people asking for Harrisons, they will start carrying the line. Thanks!

[The Outlaw]

Frankly, you won't get a huge response. Harrisons is too pricey for folks with a lot of birds and frankly my birds won't even touch their stuff. Harrison's has arrangements with many vets, so don't expect the price to ever become competitive. That's the reason so many vets PUSH Harrison's in the first place.

[poi_lover]

You can also purchase Harrison's directly from the company. It is slightly cheaper than the vet's office, but not by much.

[Lisa B]

Harrisons has it worked out with vets and bird clubs to sell thier diets.
Unfortuately, it is illegal for pet stores to carry it...dont know about online places.
It might have changed from when I used to order for my club.
I order it from harrisons directly.

ps..i also like Dr Foster and Smith. I do use them also.....

[birdsnthings]

It isn't illegal for stores to carry it. Stores have to purchase it from a vet which is why I believe it is expensive.
Alice

[beckalexis]

I have bought Harrisons from online stores, vets, and bird stores before. I like to buy the 5lbs bags and I have gotten them for about $20. My birds love Harrisons and it has done wonders for my quaker (she distructs her feathers). I actually became aquinted with it from a friend who breeds.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by birdsnthings

It isn't illegal for stores to carry it. Stores have to purchase it from a vet which is why I believe it is expensive.
Alice

It was illegal. It might have changed.
I know for a fact it used to be, because I was the one who ordered it back in the 90's from Harrison himself when i purchased it for my bird club.
The word Illegal came from harrison.

the stores I know if keep it on the QT.

[Willow]

My birds loved Harrisons, but I found after comparing ingredients, I liked the Foundation Formula (my birds like the Spciver's Blend) much better and healthier! Check it out at http://www.organicbirdfood.com

['Too Haven]

I myself, love Harrisons. All of ours birds didn't. All of our birds converted to Harrisons nicely, but 1. Almost 2 years later, she still fights eating it, but it is better. Most of these guys came to us on all seed diets, pretty bird pellets, or zupreme.

I've heard many people comment on the expense of the Harrisons. But, IME, we buy the same amount in Harrisons, less often tham we did in Zupreme or PB and it lasts longer. After a few month analysis ... we were actually spending less ... and our birds looked 100% better.

As for the vet thing ... our vet does carry Harrisons. But, one of the local bird stores here in town carries it too, for exactly the same price.

[BirdsUnlimited]

Nope, it's never been illegal to sell Harrisons Diets, he just didn't want to sell it to pet stores. I spoke with Dr. Greg Harrison at the MARE convention when it was in Buffalo several years ago and he said he sold it only through vets because "any vet knows more about birds than anyone in any petstore" and he wanted it only to go to places that know what they're doing.
I sell it in my store and it is expensive (read, overpriced), conversion doesn't seem any higher than any other "pellet" for my customers, I don't believe any pet foods are certified as organic any more. The FDA took that label away at the end of last year and will come up with new guidelines.
Is it a better diet than other pelleted or formulated diets? I wouldn't say so. From what I've been shown Roudybush, Hagen Tropican, and KayTee all have done more research.