Pellet Ingredients

[Lysis]

I've been a little bothered when I take a close look at the list of ingredients on the back of any bag of pellets or "treats." I believe manufacturers list the ingredients by percentage composition.

 

Yellow corn seems to make up the majority of most brands -- how do we know it doesn't make up 99% and then the other stuff makes the rest? We don't know!

 

I'm always bothered as well by the fact that Harrisons put peanuts and sunflower seeds in their pellets -- these ingredients are pretty high on their list (higher than rice!) Peanuts is the third ingredient on the list for Roudybush maintenance. Then again, like I said before, corn could make up the majority (like dog food). I also realize that sometimes adding a little sunflower or peanut taste can get the bird to eat something undesirable.

 

Also, take a look at Zupreem's Avian Entrees -- they put sugar (sucrose) in and I believe it has even more than their maintenance.

 

Have you ever taken a whiff of some of these pellets? They smell terrible!

 

I know that pellets are more balanced than seeds, but I wish I knew how much of each ingredient each manufacturer puts in. I'm not bashing pellets as I'm trying to convert my bird to them, but I can't help but share my concern. Unfortunately, I'm always afraid food will spoil since I'm not home for 12 hours, sometimes.

 

Here's a list of some pellet ingredients.

 

Harrisons

 

*Ground Yellow Corn, *Ground Hulless Barley, *Ground Soybeans, *Ground Shelled Peanuts, *Ground Shelled Sunflower Seeds, *Ground Lentils, *Ground Green Peas, *Ground Rice, *Ground Toasted Oat Groats, *Ground Sun-Dried Alfalfa, Calcium Carbonate, *Psyllium, Montmorillonite Clay, *Spirulina, *Ground Dried Sea Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Sea Salt, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, d-Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite.

 

 

Zupreem Natural

 

Ground corn, Soybean meal, Ground wheat,Vegetable oil, Wheat germ meal, Sucrose, Dicalcium phosphate, Calcium carbonate, Ground vegetables (carrots, celery, beets, watercress and spinach), Iodized salt, DL-methionine, Choline chloride, Ascorbic acid (source of Vitamin C), Natural mixed tocopherols,

Rosemary extract, Citric acid, Manganous oxide, Zinc oxide,Copper sulfate, Calcium iodate, Sodium selenite,Vitamin A supplement,Vitamin D3 supplement,Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin K supplement, Niacin, Calcium pantothenate, Pyridoxine

hydrochloride,Thiamine, Riboflavin, Folic acid, Biotin,Vitamin B12 supplement.

 

Roudybush

 

Ground Corn, Ground Wheat, Peanut Meal, Soy Oil,Soy Meal, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Yucca schidigen Extract,Salt, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide (carrier for liquid antioxidants), Sodium Selenite (on Calcium Carbonate), Niacin, Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), Biotin, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Oxide, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vit. A Acetate, Thiamine, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vit K), Cyanocobalamin (VitB12), Vit D3 Sup. Folic Acid, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Propionic Acid, Ammonium Hydroxide, Acetic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Tartaric Acid, and natural apple flavoring.

[LisaM]

Lysis - I totally get what you are saying and is why I stopped giving my parrots Harrison's (though it is the pellet my vet recommended..and one that they sell). (And I should probably mention that I did discuss this with my vet so she is aware of the diet change).

 

Here is the list of ingredients in the dry food I just bought and am trying out with my CAG (and a slightly different mix for my two SI Eclectus):

 

100% human-grade, natural and organic ingredients:

Bananas, squash (variety depends on seasonal availability), alfalfa, hemp oil (a perfectly balanced source of Omegas), sesame seed meal, cranberries, flax seed meal, hemp seed meal, yams, kiwi, almonds, unsweetened coconut, mango, buckwheat groats meal (not wheat, actually a berry!), papaya, palm oil, quinoa, black beans, pumpkin seed, safflower seed, flax seed, hemp seeds, carrots, bee pollen, buckwheat groats, Brazilian marine coral calcium, CA-Montmorillonite clay, persimmon, red bell peppers, basil, cilantro, eucalyptus leaves, cinnamon, ginger, kelp, schisandra berry powder, parsley, proprietary edible flower mix, rose hips, rosemary, wild mountain oregano.

In addition, dehydrated, finely ground mealworms providing essential "animal protein", representing less than .25% of total protein sources in any of our adult formulas.

*Est. Protein 12%-14%

We cannot list the worms in our general list of ingredients because they are not considered "human-grade" by the FDA. However, they are raised on human-grade foodstuffs, usually carrots and barley.

 

All fruits and vegetables are unsulphured. Our ingredients are of organic quality and most are human-grade certified organic. That means no pesticide residues, no artificial preservatives, no artificial coloring, no artificial flavoring and no added hormones, sugars or starches. None of our ingredients are GMO's. We DO NOT use fillers such as corn, wheat, soy or peanuts (common fillers, common allergens).

 

I don't know if it's in order of composition % as it's from their website, not from the bag (and I'm too lazy to go check the bag to see if it's in the same order). I ordered it from www.bird-elicious.com). So far my female ekkie loves hers, my male will eat it, but it isn't his first choice, and my CAG has nibbled a bit here and there. All the ingredients are blended together more or less so they get a blend of the ingredients vs. picking through. I use this in conjuction with an organic, human-grade nut/seed/dried fruit/dried veggie mix as their "all day in the dish" food. I'm still trying to get my CAG off her PrettyBird pellets.

[lovemyGreys]

Lysis i can fully understand your concerns, but unfortunately many greys diets lack some of the essential nutrients & vitamins for them to thrive.Even when we feed/offer our greys additional foods for example vegetables they tend to pick their favourites & discard the rest and therefore will not get the full range of foods necessary to get a nutritional balance.I commend your research in to the ingrediants & hope you can find a pellet/manafacturer that you are happy with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.hbf-uk.co.uk/products/ingredients.html#highpotencyingredients