Parrot pellets- need to find some without the triggers

[Buteo]

As some of you on here may know, I have major allergic skin & digestive reactions to a bunch of different things including various plants, perfumes and chemicals. (That's why I have to get out of aquarium hobby).
It's become so serious over the past 10 years that my doctor classes it as an "invisible" disability.
Let me tell ya, it's impossible to hold any normal job.
Who in their right mind would hire a guy when a slight wiff of a client's aftershave, perfume or a trace scent from the lunch they had can have that employee spewwin their guts all over the customer in a matter of seconds.

My life is also complicated by the fact I have severe IBS. It's triggered by my allergies & hypersensitivities to common foodstuffs; All dairy products, all corn, egg, pork and whole wheat are like "the 5 Deadly Venoms" to me. It may sound odd, but the # of cases of people in North America developing various food sensitivities (especially to Dairy & Corn) are growing at an alarming rate. Lots of folks are finding out they suddenly have to start making big modifications to their diets & lifestyles.

Unfortunately for me, corn is one of my worst trigger elements. It only takes 5 parts per million to set me off. Just the smell of popcorn for instance, can cause immediate high pressure Projectile Vomitting.

((If it weren't for VHS/DVD and home theater systems , I'd have never see another movie since the 1988.))

These food precautions extend to pet foods as well.
I was lucky to find a top quality dog food without corn - Old Mother Hubbard's Wellness brand. Max absoltuely LOVES it! So much so that I can't leave a bag of it where he can get at it or he'll rip the bag open.

I've been looking over every brand of Parrot pellet I can find. There isn't a single one that isn't loaded with corn kernals, corn syrup or corn startch.

It's not too bad for me with just Petey the Budgie at the moment as he's more partial to seed mixes, but if we do end up getting another bigger parrot, it would be nice to have a ready-made food to offer it. ((Above & beyond the daily fruit/nut/veggies/pasta/rice that we'd offer it, of course.))

Does anyone know of a brand of pellet made that doesn't contain corn????
Or are we gonna have to resign ourselves to making all our own parrot food all the time...

[jamieo]

Roudybush makes a line of pellets that are made exclusively from Rice:
http://roudybush.com/index.cfm?fusea...ders.group_all

http://yhst-51898397859030.stores.yahoo.net/rrds.html

[Freedomoflight]

Have you looked at TOP? Totally Organic Pellets? Try a google search on them.

[Buteo]

Originally Posted by jamieo

Roudybush makes a line of pellets that are made exclusively from Rice:
http://roudybush.com/index.cfm?fusea...ders.group_all

A couple of the formulas look promising. They seem more designed to combat a bird's food allergies. I couldn't find an ingredient list for any of them though.

Originally Posted by Freedomoflight

Have you looked at TOP? Totally Organic Pellets? Try a google search on them.

Unfortunately TOP's are a No-Go - they contain corn as well.

Certified Organic Ingredients: Rice, barley, corn, sunflower seed hulled, alfalfa leaf, sesame seeds unhulled, amaranth whole, quinoa whole, buckwheat hulled, millet hulled, dandelion leaf powder, carrot powder, spinach leaf powder, purple dulse, rose hips powder, rose hips crushed, orange peel powder, lemon peel powder, rosemary whole leaf, cayenne ground, crushed red chili peppers, wheat grass powder, barley grass powder. Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 15% Min., Fat 6% Min., Crude Fiber 6% Max. Contains NO BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin. NO artificial colors, flavors, vitamins, preservatives, or sucrose/sugar. GMO free. Does NOT contain any animal products, or by-products.

[jamieo]

See if you can find the address or phone number for their customer support department. I am sure that if you explain your situation, they will tell you what's in those pellets.

good luck!

[birdsnthings]

I am looking into an "organic" pellet here. Sample should be here shortly. The one thing I will look at is ingredients and will let you know if this is a possibily.
Alice

[The Outlaw]

Buteo:

I have to ask this question, so please don't think me mean spirited: do you think your allergies will be exacerbated by the birds themselves? Many people develop bird allergies and with your chronic history, it seems likely that you may always have a problem no matter what you do. I know of people who are allergic to some of the seeds in the bird seed mixes as well as the dust from newspapers.

[Dayna]

Roudybush Rice pellets ingridents list:

Ingredients: Rice, Rice Bran, Rice Protein Concentrate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Potassium Chloride, Biotin Premix, Vitamin B12 Premix, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Copper Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Riboflavin.

[Buteo]

Thank you very much for the Roudybush Rice pellets Ingredients list, Dayna.
That's perfect.

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Buteo:
I have to ask this question, so please don't think me mean spirited: do you think your allergies will be exacerbated by the birds themselves? Many people develop bird allergies and with your chronic history, it seems likely that you may always have a problem no matter what you do. I know of people who are allergic to some of the seeds in the bird seed mixes as well as the dust from newspapers.

OH YOU MEANIE!!!!.....
boohoohoo! just ruining all my fun!!!!....
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Just kidding

Seriously though - I understand what yer sayin.
We've had feather pillows in the house all my life.
Feathers & fur have been repeatedly tested on me. No reaction - even from dustmites & their residue.

Most of my triggers are foodstuffs, chemical, plants or their extracts, byproducts, etc.
As for the aquariums, I wasn't having it when we first started the tanks. Now that they're well established though, I'm having a problem.
That leads me to think my reaction could be to a bacteria or more probably to one of the various types of algea that grow in tanks.

Don't worry Outlaw, I understand fully that I could (and probably will) develope reactions to many more things in the future.
I can only pray that it isn't to feather or fur.
'cuz God knows I don't do very well without my animals around me.