No More Pellets!!!!!!

[pinkparrot]

Ok, I just found out what really is in pellets!!!!!! all thouse ingredients you can even read well here is what some of them are and do!!!!

Ethoxyquin: first of all it not even alowed in human food.it romotes kidney carcinogenesis, significantly increases the incidence of stomach tumors, enhanced bladder carcinogenesis and urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Cancers of this type are the most lethal and fastest acting, the swiftest effects being seen among animals.

Propylene Glycol: Used as a de-icing fluid for airplanes, this chemical is added to food and skin products to maintain texture and moisture as well as inhibiting bacteria growth in products. It also inhibits the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive system by decreasing the amount of moisture in the intestinal tract leading to constipation and cancer. It can affect the liver and kidneys and causes the destruction of red blood cells.

Menadione (Vitamin K3): ok, a vitamin that has to be good right? worng it causes causes cytotoxicity in liver cells
causes formation of radicals from enzymes of leucocytes, with the consequence of cytotoxic reactions
considerably weakens the immune system
possible mutagenic effects
damages the natural vitamin K cycle
has no effect on coumarin derivatives, which are often present in commercial food due to mold contamination (toxic when ingested)
causes hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia, not just linked to large doses
disturbs the level of calcium ions (Ca2+) in the body, which is an important factor fibrinolysis
is directly toxic in high doses (vomiting, albuminuria), unlike natural vitamin K
builds up in tissue and has been detected in eggs, meat and milk of animals supplemented with menadione derivatives
causes irritation of skin and mucous membranes
causes allergic reactions and eczema

wow! and this was is the pellets i fed my bird this moring!!!!!

BHA: These petroleum products are used to stabilize fats in foods. In the process of metabolizing BHA and BHT, chemical changes occur in the body. These changes have caused reduced growth rates and they inhibit white blood cell stimulation. In pets, they can exhibit reactions such as skin blisters, hemorrhaging of the eye, weakness, discomfort in breathing, a reduction of the body's own antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase and may cause cancer. According to Dr. Wendell Belfield, DVM, a practicing vet for some 26 years, both BHA and BHT are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some European countries.

Sodium Nitrite: Used in the curing of meats, this substance participates in a chemical reaction in the body that becomes carcinogenic. It is used also in pet foods to add color.


ok, I do not know about you but, my birds are going on a pellet free/seed mix diet!

fresh veg, whole grains,fruit,some seed,nuts ect!!!!!

It makes you wonder what we are eating???????

[pinkparrot]

also it just not natural for a parrot to eat a pellet like a dog!!!!! they where meant to have fresh foods!!! you would not feed a tiger a pellet!!so my birds are getting a diet change!

[cfulhage]

Well not one of those ingredients is in the pellet brand that I feed (Zupreem). Zupreem is a high quality pellet. I'm not promoting a pellet-only diet, but pellets as a staple along with fresh fruits, veggies, pasta, rice, etc, is no worse than an all seed, or seed-based diet.

[jimpierce7]

pellets are a small part of my birds diet but they do get pellets. I have the opposite going on of some folks I've read about whose birds won't eat pellets at all. Mine won't eat without pellets. I tried to go to a pellet free diet when I started using Mike's manna mash, which is the point of the mash, a complete diet. Roudybush is another that doesn't have those nasty ones. But all foods have stuff in 'em I can't pronounce. Or spell. lol

[Monica]

In short, an all pellet diet is just as bad as an all seed diet. If the "base" diet (dry food) is seeds OR pellets, or even both, and there's plenty of fresh foods available, either one is fine, however if pellets are in the diet then there is no need for supplements of any kind.

I only have one bird here who eats pellets, but that's only because he can't eat seeds.

[pinkparrot]

how ever it does have Sugar and other Sweeteners: The most common sweeteners in pet/bird foods are beet sugar, corn sugar, molasses and sucrose. They are used as preservatives and have the side effect of creating sugar addicts in pets. They require almost no digestion and are rapidly absorbed into the blood stream. These will provide sugar highs (just as humans experience) and subsequent lows (moodiness), inhibit the proper growth of friendly intestinal bacteria and they virtually shut down the digestive system while being processed. Sugar can also contribute to diabetes and hypoglycemia, cataract development, obesity and arthritis.

Colors: Most people are aware of toxic side effects of artificial colors and flavors from coal tar derivatives such as Red #40, a possible carcinogen, and Yellow #6, which causes sensitivity to fatal viruses in animals. Artificial colors DO cause yellow feather discoloration in Eclectus.

I feel that any pellet is not natural for a parrot to be eating, they grains in them get heated up, ground i to powder, pressed togeter ect.

however if you do feed pellets i would go for the un colored, oranic pellets

[Hootie'sMom]

I feed Zupreem along with fresh foods and I have seen a big difference in my birds appearance and general health. It has all been for the better. I adopted 2 BFAs who had been on an all seed diet for 10 yrs, I have switched them to Zupreem and fresh foods and they look so much better. I wish I could afford to feed Harrison's but with all the birds I have I can't. What pellets are you feeding that have all that stuff in them?

[pinkparrot]

This list may need updating...check labels!)

Abba = ethoxyquin, artificial color, artificial flavor
Avian Special Needs = fish solubles, mineral oil
Avi-Sci =ethoxyquin
Breeders Blend=artificial flavors, salt
Hagen =salt
Harrison's = salt
Kaytee =ethoxyquin, artificial color, salt, BHT or BHA
Kellogg =ethoxyquin, artificial flavor, salt
Lafeber Pellets=ethoxyquin
Lefeber Nutriberries=ethoxyquin, propylene glycol
L&M Pellets=ethoxyquin, artificial color, artificial flavor
Pretty Bird Pellets=ethoxyquin, artificial flavor, salt, added sugar, BHT or BHA
Roudybush Pellets=ethoxyquin
Scenic=salt
ZuPreem=artificial flavor, BHT or BHA

ok I got this list
also you have to rember that some brands will call it something diffrent. but, hey I have fed my bird pellets for years (zupreem mostly) and im a shocked as any of you and there are some ok ones out there like harrisons seems to be the best.

[Machelle]

I give my babies Zupreem also. As its already been stated, as long as the pellets are not the only thing being fed, I think its fine. The important thing is that they get the fresh foods.

[homebird]

When you asked about what 'we are eating' my eyes rolled too!

A number of years ago my health went critical & I looked into alternative measures. It was a hard change but I pretty much cook like my grandmother did - I make mostly everything & what i don't is a health product or organic. Of course I cheat but I'm fairly healthy if it wasn't for my laziness.

If all these artificial foods are bad for us they can't be good for birds. I think the people who can get their fids to eat fresh every day have done a great job. I'm working towards it for my bird & he'll always get seed, being a Budgie. He won't try the pellets or most fresh food at this point.

I'm glad you looked into it - hope it makes a difference for everyone.
The recipe section is very important.