Harrison's, Zupreem Natural, or Roudybush for Galah and GCC?

My galah, Lucille, is currently on Zupreem Natural pellets, but I am getting a new GCC baby soon (who has been weaned to Roudybush Mini), and I am thinking about slowly changing the general diet for both birds over to Harrison's.

At not quite two years old my galah has only JUST started accepting a few bites of veggies now and then though I chop them fresh for her every day--she LOVES pellets and will not even eat treats, only pellets!--and I want to have her on the healthiest pellets possible since she accepts on minimal veggies and fruits so as to minimize weight issues in the future. I know there are lots of opinions on pellets, but I have generally seen that Harrison's are the "cleanest", have the broadest range of health advantages, and are probably best for a bird who has potential for weight issues like a galah.

Do you think it would be best to gradually move both my birdies from Zupreem and Roudybush to Harrison's? Of course I will continue to offer lots of fresh greens to both babes, but since my galah is such a picky eater (with an intense love of all pellets!), I am thinking maybe Harrison's is the best choice. I want to make the decision before my new baby gets here so when I switch him (or her) from Roudybush I won't be making ANOTHER switch later from Zupreem to Harrison's

Opinions?

Here's a pic of my baby to be, btw!

Plum likes/eats TOPs organics and would only take to the crumplets for small birds so I am wondering if this would cover both of yours?

I tried him on the big boy pellets but he wouldn't eat them initially, he has got used to them and will take a bigger pellet now, but no way jose to Harrisons.

Gorgeous baby btw.

plumsmum2005 said:

Plum likes/eats TOPs organics and would only take to the crumplets for small birds so I am wondering if this would cover both of yours?

I tried him on the big boy pellets but he wouldn't eat them initially, he has got used to them and will take a bigger pellet now, but no way jose to Harrisons.

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Lucille is cool with all size pellets--I've given her smaller and bigger--so I am definitely thinking I can do a size that will be fine for both her and Emmitt. She is simply a pellet addict!

I actually had not seen Top's before! I just looked them up on Amazon, and they look really good. Do you use the ones for small birds or all size hook bills?

Puck said:

plumsmum2005 said:

Plum likes/eats TOPs organics and would only take to the crumplets for small birds so I am wondering if this would cover both of yours?

I tried him on the big boy pellets but he wouldn't eat them initially, he has got used to them and will take a bigger pellet now, but no way jose to Harrisons.

Click to expand...

Lucille is cool with all size pellets--I've given her smaller and bigger--so I am definitely thinking I can do a size that will be fine for both her and Emmitt. She is simply a pellet addict!

I actually had not seen Top's before! I just looked them up on Amazon, and they look really good. Do you use the ones for small birds or all size hook bills?

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Small Hookbills, used to do one called Crumplets which looked crumbled. Have a pleasant smell, Plum seems to be Ok with them. Keep in the freezer very well.

Try giving Lucille chop as first meal of the day and then put in pellets a bit later. She needs to eat other things IMO.

Tops gets my vote too. All great ingredients and both my girls took to them immediately. I have both the large and smaller pellet size and they both eat both. Tops is soft and break easily so messier. I also offer zupreem natural to Layla because she likes to dunk them and they both are now attempting goldn'oodles sometimes too. They won't touch Harrison's fine or coarse, lafaber pellets, caitec, Tropican alternative, or roudybush. (I have a cupboard full of brand new bags of each now). They do enjoy pelletberries here and there.

I started giving Plum Nutriberries as an intro to pellets and he loves those.

@ Laylatoo why not freeze what you can, they last longer?
http://www.northernparrots.com/quick-locking-parrot-food-or-water-bowl-large-prod343095/ I find that this type of feeding dish is great for his pellets as it all stays inside the dish.

plumsmum2005 said:

I started giving Plum Nutriberries as an intro to pellets and he loves those.

@ Laylatoo why not freeze what you can, they last longer?
Quick Locking Parrot Food or Water Bowl - Large I find that this type of feeding dish is great for his pellets as it all stays inside the dish.

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I am moving all the unused back to the freezer into the garage today. With Layla not eating well this week, I had everything up stairs to try and entice her with anything. I also have a couple of those bowls . I can't use though because my girls eat on their tree stands so those have the annoying screw on bowls. I've learned to get used to the tops powder and love my vacuum. Lol.

Valentine eats the harrisons coarse. The fine looked reall smalll and he likes to hold the pellet in his foot when he eats them. Y'all have me curious about TOPS but I think it has a little higher fat content in it. I might try it down the road.

My usual dos centavos...

Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. 30-ish years ago, Harrison's was still a small company. My vet was actually able to talk to Dr. Harrison about my bird's species and status, and they decided on the High Potency. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff. My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

GaleriaGila said:

My usual dos centavos...

Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. 30-ish years ago, Harrison's was still a small company. My vet was actually able to talk to Dr. Harrison about my bird's species and status, and they decided on the High Potency. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff. My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

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Gail every AV recommends Harrison's from here to Timbucktoo. It is always only Harrison's, they never recommend this one and another, I wonder why?

StChelle said:

Valentine eats the harrisons coarse. The fine looked reall smalll and he likes to hold the pellet in his foot when he eats them. Y'all have me curious about TOPS but I think it has a little higher fat content in it. I might try it down the road.

Click to expand...

From memory I think it is a couple of % different. There is no reason why you cannot limit the amount of pellets you feed, ie a weighed portion.

I feed Harrisons, again recommend by a vet and a bit of my own research. I do like the look of zupreem though and as I'm coming to the end of the current bag of Harrisons I think I'm going to get some and make a pellet mix and see what he thinks.

Call me different... but IF I was a bird id get tired of one kind hof pellet diet in my dish. Soooooooooo.. what I have done is keep several on hand and give birdies a mix. Also I keep all opened bags of pellets in freezer to preserve them. On top of all that fresh foods are served twice a day.

Good thought on the variety I use roudy bush and harrisons and a little nutriberry to supplement fresh foods and homemade birdiebread.

I am a fan of pellets because I am no nutritionist and doing the best I can with variety, but I like to think of pellets as a good back up so that I am certain they are getting all nutritional needs met if I have any gaps.

I think there are several good pellets out there to choose from between Tops, harrisons, roudy bush, zupreme and others. As long as it's high quality and your bird finds it tastey! ��

I like the mixing idea. Is there any reason NOT to do that? I know that each type of pellet has differing ingredients and % of protein, fat, minerals, etc. I can only buy Zumpreem locally, but I would like to try others and mixing seems like a good idea if I ordered Harrisons or TOPS to try as well.

I mix the pellets as well. Mine get a mixture of Harrison's, TOP's, and Roudybush. I used to feed Zupreem Fruitblend as well but switched because I felt that they really didn't need the artificial dyes and added sugar. I think the TOP's are the best quality, but Harrison's and Roudybush are good too. Emmit is adorable!! But I thought you were getting a quaker?

I was going to, but the breeder I was going with seemed a little discreditable when I started looking into him Further. He was not very forthcoming when asked questions on diet and I generally decided I didn't like his vibe and went with better safe than sorry. I then went to a breeder I absolutely adore to see if her Quakers were still hatching. She had one blue Wuaker left, but I decided to go with a conure I asked her to send me several videos of. I have had both and while Quakers are my fav, I love conures, too! I am very glad I decided not to go with the other breeder, though. When someone won't answer even one question about a bird, it's usually a big turn off for me. Getting birds long distance is very chancy, and I think good breeders are defined by wanting to get their birds into the best homes possible and won't be reluctant to answer any questions.

I've always wondered about quakers. What are they like? I think you'll be happy with your choice! Conures are great!

My mix is Tops, Harrison Power Treats, Zupreme Natural, and Zupreme Fruit blend...with a lil bit of Sunsations seed/pellet/dried fruit mix. Nutribeeries on the side for treats. Harrisons I keep open bags in the freezer.