No More Pellets!!!!!!

[Mammabird]

I believe at this point Roudybush and Lafaber have eliminated Ethoxyquin from their products including now Nutriberries and Avicakes.

There is another important note - there are two different types of "pellets" compressed and extruded.

Compressed pellets (like Roudybush & Lefaber) - ingredients are finely ground up and vitamins and minerals are added. Material is then heated by steam to about 180degrees. Mix is forced thru a die and compressed into a pellet. Nutritional loss is little because the heat level is low BUT this procedure does kill off some bacteria, there can be still some present and this includes both good and bad bacteria. On a personal note I recently had what may have been a bad bag of Roudybush which how I have come to find out more about the pellets we are feeding.

Extruded or expansion method- Have been around a long time (ie dog and cat dry foods are extruded). Ingrediets are finely ground with vitamins and minerals added and cooked under pressure at temperatures over 300degrees. A gruel is formed and forced thru a die. As it hits the air it expands to form a "pellet." These "pellets" can be different shapes and colors and are uniform in shape and size but less dense then the compressed pelleted method. Because the temp is higher, it kills off all bacteria but the drawback is that it sometimes can destroy some of tie vitamins and minerals tho the fiber is more digestible and can result in a lower fiber diet.

Do not ever use a "pellet" type that says it contains animal by-products because these can spoil and develop gram negative bacteria - a person should NEVER feed dog or cat food to a bird. The protein content is also usually much much higher in foods developed for dogs and cats which could cause kidney problems if fed long term or too often.

You should also check the labels if you buy different pellets - some are now designed so that you can supplement with anything from 10 - 30% fresh foods. Some are designed not to be supplemented at all so read all that tiny print! All we can do is try to do the best we can for our birds based on current information but very little has been done as far as researching the nutritional needs of large parrots and their natural diet in the wild. You can criticize pellets and criticize seed but even the fresh food we give is only a substitute for their natural diet - you ever seen corn growing in a rainforset or an orange tree in the savannah?

[pinkparrot]

Ok, all of us have some good points and I think all of us need to look at what where feeding are parrot. I for one feed my parrot to much ppl food. ( she goes crazy for a frys) as far as me posting that article we need to read all different views on the issue of feeding our bird. and it is true we can never give our birds everything that they need. Im not fight agenst pellets Im, doing what I think is best for my fid. I dont trust any company(they are all out their to make money) to the health and life of my bird. anyways with that being said here is a web site that has the best info in the way of a no pellet or pellet reduced diet http://www.birdcareco.com/English/Ar...rSeed/POS.html

[Ainon]

I don't feed my birds pellets as I don't belive in manufactured and cooked/heated food

The amazon eats as a base, fruits,vegetables and greens with sprouted seeds/beens, some food from my table and nuts as a compliment every day.
The budgie gets a good seedmixture and leafy-greens as a base complimented with vegetables, fruits and sprouted seed as a compliment 3 times a week.
Both birds are active and flighted.

[Valo's Moirana]

I feed Zupreem pellets as a part of Valo's diet. He likes it and I won't take it away from him.
I follow the same strategy for the bird as for myself - in our world, it is very labor and time intense (organic garden at the house, cook everything yourself, adjust for seasonal changes), expensive (alternative to own garden - organic food store) and difficult to live absolutely healthy and avoid all negative influences and by-products (anybody drink soft drinks for example? or use household cleaning products?).
I try to keep my diet balanced with lots of fresh food (salad, veggies, fruit), rice, pasta, not too much meat and so forth. And I try to do the same thing for Valo - he gets pellets and seeds, but only as part of his diet... the majority is fresh veggies and fruit, and home-cooked stuff. It's the best I can do without spending all my time on food or similar.
[this is only my opinion and does not suggest I'm right - I understand the concerns many people have about processed food, but in order to fully avoid all these influences one has to go a far distance and be willing to put a lot of time and effort into it]

[CALVINS MOM]

I'm surprised that you are very concerned about pellets, but would feed your bird french fries? Best of luck with your diet change, but do your research on the effects of an all seed diet, especially sunflower and safflower seeds

[The Outlaw]

Here's why I don't offer pellets. I have had two very badly plucked birds that came through my doors. Both were weaned to Harrison's pellets, recommended by their vets. I only have photos of the grey. This is Cleo when I first acquired her and after I removed pellets. In the first photo, she has been off of pellets and on a totally fresh diet for 28 days. She was just fuzzy and had bloody wings when she first arrived. The second photo was shot this past Saturday. She is in perfect feather. NO PELLETS.

[cfulhage]

Nancy,
Are you sure that her plucking was caused only by her diet? Couldn't it have been anything in her previous environment? And since she was rehomed to you, she was just happier/less stressed so she quit plucking? Was she on pellet only, or as a base diet supplemented with fresh fruits, veggies, and others? I am just wondering, because I know a LOT of people who have their birds on pellet based diets, and their birds don't pluck at all. I want to do the best by Ollie, and so far I've gathered that a pellet based diet supplemented with good stuff is about equal to a seed based diet supplemented with good stuff.

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by cfulhage

so far I've gathered that a pellet based diet supplemented with good stuff is about equal to a seed based diet supplemented with good stuff.

From what I've learned in the past 2 years or so, you can feed just fresh foods and nuts and skip the seed and pellets. Scar is on all-fresh and she's a very healthy, happy, and pretty girl.

[cfulhage]

Originally Posted by felisdomesticus

From what I've learned in the past 2 years or so, you can feed just fresh foods and nuts and skip the seed and pellets. Scar is on all-fresh and she's a very healthy, happy, and pretty girl.

Jill- I would LOVE to be able to do this, knowing that it is probably the best thing for our fids. However, being a college student on a budget, and having a hectic schedule, its just not possible right now. Ollie travels with me most weekends, and taking fresh foods every time and keeping them good would be a real challenge. Not to mention me having to go to class and study groups while the fresh stuff would be going bad in her cage. Hopefully in the future I can make her diet more of a fresh food only one!

[kimtoo]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Here's why I don't offer feed pellets. I have had two very badly plucked birds that came through my doors. Both were weaned to Harrison's pellets, recommended by their vets. I only have photos of the grey. This is Cleo when I first acquired her and after I removed pellets. In the first photo, she has been off of pellets and on a totally fresh diet for 28 days. She was just fuzzy and had bloody wings when she first arrived. The second photo was shot this past Saturday. She is in perfect feather. NO PELLETS.

This may sound strange but how did you get Cleo OFF Harrisons? My grey was raised on Harrisons and though I offer him what I offer the other fids...he wants nothing to do with anything but a FEW fruits . I don't know that I want to take him competely off pellets but I would certainly like him to eat the freash foods that the other fids eat daily.