Harrisons Pellets, does size matter?

Devann · Mar 11, 2013

Hi,
I'm looking into switching both my girls to harrisons. looking on line, the fine is recommended for Vino's size and the course is recommended for the Greys. I'm wondering if I were to give them the same formula, does the size of the pellet make a difference in the nutritional content? currently, Vino's pellets are acutually bigger than the ones Spot has so I don't think the size would bother the actual birds too much.... Harrisons is a higher quality I think than what either are getting and it would make life easier if they were on the same ones...

Also, since Spot is a bit of a plucker should she actually be on the high potency one for a while???

Featheredsamurai · Mar 11, 2013

The fine sized is slightly more processed and looses a little nutrition, but it makes little difference and is still extremely healthy.

I feed Rosie the lifetime fine sized pellets, and I also offer her high potency course, as well as totally organic pellets. She prefers the fine size, so in the morning she gets only course and TOPS, then later I add the fine sized pellets(and fresh food is also given randomly throughout the day)

LoveMyParrots · Mar 12, 2013

I agree with Copperarabian.

Ozzie is on the fine, but I'm starting to think if it's a little to small for him since its kind of hard for him to grab and he likes to hold food with his feet. I think I'll buy the course size when I runs out of fine and see how I goes.

Here's two photos to show how big the fine size is with Ozzie stand next to it

Featheredsamurai · Mar 12, 2013

Those do look tiny compared to him lol

I actually saw Rosie eating a course pellet with her foot today, I was very suprised because she normally throws them on the ground XD

LoveMyParrots · Mar 12, 2013

Lol! I think alexandrine should go with the course size becuase they have a bigger beak. Ozzie sometimes gets really mad because they can't get any pellet cause its so small! Hahaha!

And @Copperarabian - congrats! Take a photo next time!!!

Devann · Mar 12, 2013

Thanks everyone! I remembered this morning I had a sample at home and it turned out to be the coarse, I gave the girls each a few with their breakfast. I think it will be the most appropriate for both

MonicaMc · Mar 12, 2013

There used to be a size between Fine and Course, but they got rid of it....

It shouldn't matter either way, give them whatever they prefer, or you prefer and they'll eat!

I have my mitred conure on Fine because of his beak. He makes quite the mess with those! I'd be afraid of the kind of mess he'd make with the Course! LOL

As far as switching them, it's recommended to start on the High Potency for both.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
ADULT LIFETIME COARSE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 15%, crude fat (min.) 5.5%, crude fiber (max.) 6.5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
ADULT LIFETIME FINE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 14%, crude fat (min.) 6%, crude fiber (max.) 4.5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
HIGH POTENCY COARSE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 18%, crude fat (min.) 15%, crude fiber (max.) 6.5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
HIGH POTENCY FINE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 20%, crude fat (min.) 12%, crude fiber (max.) 5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's does recommend the High Potency Course year round for African Greys, and the High Potency for 6 months for Ringnecks, then Adult Lifetime after that.

Devann · Mar 12, 2013

MonicaMc said:
There used to be a size between Fine and Course, but they got rid of it....

It shouldn't matter either way, give them whatever they prefer, or you prefer and they'll eat! I have my mitred conure on Fine because of his beak. He makes quite the mess with those! I'd be afraid of the kind of mess he'd make with the Course! LOL

As far as switching them, it's recommended to start on the High Potency for both.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
ADULT LIFETIME COARSE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 15%, crude fat (min.) 5.5%, crude fiber (max.) 6.5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
ADULT LIFETIME FINE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 14%, crude fat (min.) 6%, crude fiber (max.) 4.5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
HIGH POTENCY COARSE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 18%, crude fat (min.) 15%, crude fiber (max.) 6.5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's Bird Foods is a family of certified organic pet bird diets that were formulated to make your bird as healthy as it can possibly be.
HIGH POTENCY FINE
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein (min.) 20%, crude fat (min.) 12%, crude fiber (max.) 5%, moisture (max.) 10%.

Harrison's does recommend the High Potency Course year round for African Greys, and the High Potency for 6 months for Ringnecks, then Adult Lifetime after that.

For the first 6 months of life or the first 6 months they're on it?? Vino (my alexandrine) is almost 7 years old. I was thinking the high potency for Spot (my grey) anyway cause she's been under some stress which is what started her plucking....

MonicaMc · Mar 12, 2013

Either or, although young parrots should probably be on the HP for longer than six months since they are still growing and maturing.

It's mostly when doing a diet change, it's with the assumption that what the birds are currently on is not as healthy as what they'll be eating, and the HP is designed to "revitalize" the bird and give them everything they require before switching to the AL formula.

Why should birds all birds start out on the High Potency formulas?

ANSWER: Most all birds undergoing diet changes are malnourished from their previous diets. All the body's systems have been somewhat compromised. To heal this as fast as possible we use High Potency. It promotes a healthy molt the quickest. The sooner the bird has recovered from malnourishment, the less likely the chances of other illnesses.

Devann · Mar 13, 2013

Thank you SO much Monica!!! That's really helpful

cdnbirdlover · Mar 13, 2013

MonicaMc said:
Either or, although young parrots should probably be on the HP for longer than six months since they are still growing and maturing.

It's mostly when doing a diet change, it's with the assumption that what the birds are currently on is not as healthy as what they'll be eating, and the HP is designed to "revitalize" the bird and give them everything they require before switching to the AL formula.

Why should birds all birds start out on the High Potency formulas?

ANSWER: Most all birds undergoing diet changes are malnourished from their previous diets. All the body's systems have been somewhat compromised. To heal this as fast as possible we use High Potency. It promotes a healthy molt the quickest. The sooner the bird has recovered from malnourishment, the less likely the chances of other illnesses.

Click to expand...

That's what I did with Basil. He was on high potency (fine) for about 8 months while we converted his diet from all seed mix to pellets. The last bag I bought was adult lifetime.

MonicaMc · Mar 13, 2013

Devann, you're welcome! You can find a lot of information on the Harrison's website, although it can be confusing figuring out where certain information is.

cdnbirdlover, how's Basil enjoying his food?

cdnbirdlover · Mar 13, 2013

He moved from high potency to adult lifetime with no issue. It took some time to change his seedaholic ways when we first got him but he did it. He is happy to eat his pellets now and I am happy to be saving the sunflower seed bits and millet for treats (although he did divebomb the treat bowl just this morning when we had him out for a fly...I think he had been planning that for awhile. Time to move the treat bowl). Now if only he'd eat more fruit and veggies...broccoli is it for my picky bird. And only if he's at the table and it's served on a plate.

MonicaMc · Mar 13, 2013

I don't recommend pellets to be more than 50% of the diet, but it is great he's eating somewhat better! Try and be creative with the fresh foods!

Weaving leafy foods through the cage bars, hanging them from the cage top or sides, providing fresh food on a skewer, chopping/dicing fresh foods into tiny bite sized pieces and mixing together, feeding sprouted seeds and mixing in a small amount of chopped/diced fresh foods, mixing the chopped/diced foods into healthy cooked/sprout grains and legumes, etc. Maybe even baking into corn bread!

cdnbirdlover · Mar 13, 2013

I've baked birdie bread, hung kale from the rafters of his cage, offered cooked and raw sweet potato, carrots, chickpeas. He will eat cooked peas (from frozen) but not beans. He's eaten kale, arugula and romaine lettuce but not recently. And he will not try fruit. I haven't tried sprouting yet.

The funny thing is that my kids have the best diets around. They eat all fruits and veggies and legumes. Basil is the picky child in this house. At least he likes his broccoli.

lpolliard · Mar 13, 2013

There was a lot of waste when I gave Chico the coarse. He seems to like the fine alright. I wish they still make the size in between. I plan to start mixing in the Lifetime with the HP rather than go all six months on HP. Too much fat in the HP and this way I don't switch him cold turkey.

has20birds · Jul 5, 2016

Psyllium works with big birds, but small ones can't handle it. So if you're concerned about this, don't use the Coarse HP with your small species. Click on this link and scroll down (past the ad) for the story ...

Organic Best Bird Food & Seed! BirD-elicious! Origins!

Harrisons Pellets, does size matter?

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