Fruit flavored pellets brands?

Kiwibird · Jan 4, 2018

Is there an alternative to Zupreem fruit pellets that would be similar in color/flavor available at petco or petsmart? When I called my mom to tell her about the possible contamination issue she said she just ran out of Zupreem and was about to go get more. She only gives it to her birds as treats, but they've been eating the stuff for probably 20 years and do enjoy a little handful every couple days in addition to a lot of fresh foods and some seeds (different brand than the possible contaminated brand). Out of an abundance of caution, it would be nice to give her an alternative brand to try until this situation is resolved. Her birds are both healthy, but are also 'seniors' and probably less resilient to a health crisis than a younger bird would be. If there's not a good alternative, they'll just go without for a few weeks but it seems kind of mean to deprive 2 old birds of something they're used to getting as a treat for reasons they don't understand.

FlyBirdiesFly · Jan 4, 2018

Fruit flavored, colored pellets like Zupreem really aren’t the best for any bird. They are loaded with sugar and artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives. Have you considered talking to your mom about switching her birds over to a healthier pellet, like Harrison’s or TOPs?

texsize · Jan 4, 2018

It does not matter how healthy it is for them if they don't eat it.

I tried Harrisons, my birds just throw it on the floor of the cage.
I have not seen Tops in any of the pet shops in my area. I picked up a bag from Petsmart and I think the name was "Brand's". It was on the bottom shelf and not easy to see.

I am at work and can't easily check the name. I am still giving one of my Amazons Zupreem nut flavored.

FlyBirdiesFly · Jan 4, 2018

You can order the TOPs on Amazon if you can’t find it in pet shops. There are also other brands of non colored pellets such as Roudybush (which I still feed to my birds) however they aren’t organic. The nut flavored Zupreem probably isn’t as bad as the Fruit Blend (less sugar and coloring), but Zupreem also makes a “Natural” pellet that isn’t artificially colored or flavored.

Kiwibird · Jan 4, 2018

My mom is as set in her ways of how she feeds her birds as her birds are about what they eat

Her birds eat mostly human grade fresh foods. They don't have too many foods that could be counted as real "treats". Colorful pellets aren't a dietary staple for them, she started buying the stuff in the first place because it was better for birds than the similarly flavored/colored cereal I ate as a kid the birds would steal

They get maybe 10 or 12 fruity pellets in their dish as a treat a couple times a week. A regular pellet wouldn't be a treat and they eat healthy enough as-is.

Terry57 · Jan 4, 2018

I fed Roudybush a few years ago, and experienced plucking in birds who had not plucked. After changing their pellets, this problem subsided.
All parrots are different, and can experience different reactions to different pellets. We have not had any adverse reactions to Zupreem or Tropican, we tried Harrisons but no one was interested in it at all except for our CAG. We are going to stick with what they will eat.
April, I'm not sure of another pellet to recommend, unfortunately.

bill_e · Jan 4, 2018

For a treat, I recommend Harrison's Power treats

My super fussy eater takes them with almost as much enthusiasm as she does cashews, she love them.

FlyBirdiesFly · Jan 4, 2018

Terry57 said:
I fed Roudybush a few years ago, and experienced plucking in birds who had not plucked. After changing their pellets, this problem subsided.

Good to know, Terry. Do you think I should stop feeding Roudybush? Currently they get a mix of Roudybush, Harrison’s, and TOPs.

Terry57 · Jan 4, 2018

FlyBirdiesFly said:
Terry57 said:

I fed Roudybush a few years ago, and experienced plucking in birds who had not plucked. After changing their pellets, this problem subsided.

Click to expand...

Good to know, Terry. Do you think I should stop feeding Roudybush? Currently they get a mix of Roudybush, Harrison’s, and TOPs.

If you aren't having any issues like we did, I would say keep feeding what they eat. That was just our experience with it.

SailBoat · Jan 4, 2018

The Rescue appeared be be keeping very good records as to the batch numbers of the product that had been provided. It will be worthwhile to double check the Thread and define the Batches that are in question.

FYI: If your dear mother can wait until mid-late next week, the Lab work should be completing and a much better understand of what is or is not in question available. This just seems like a more reasonable approach and more comfort for you and your mother.

Laylatoo · Jan 4, 2018

I use tops and sometimes a sprinkle of the small size Higgins Intune fruit blend. My birds prefer the Higgins to zupreem and then smell delicious. They get them only as a treat and usually prefer Tops to any of the 10 brands of pellets I currently have and offer. Lol

Kiwibird · Jan 4, 2018

Laylatoo said:
I use tops and sometimes a sprinkle of the small size Higgins Intune fruit blend. My birds prefer the Higgins to zupreem and then smell delicious. They get them only as a treat and usually prefer Tops to any of the 10 brands of pellets I currently have and offer. Lol

Thanks for the recommendation! Had no idea Higgins Intune existed. I haven't ever looked that much into pellets. I will see if my mom wants me to order her a bag since she doesn't 'do' computers

or just to wait to buy more of what her birds eat at the local pet store until Zupreem is deemed safe by an independent lab.

I may even order a small bag of those for Kiwi and see if he'd try them as foraging treats. He used to eat Golden'Obles out of his foraging, but seemed to loose interest after a while.

LordTriggs · Jan 5, 2018

Kaytee do a fruit pellet

though I hear mixed things about Kaytee, some people seem to think the food causes cancer in birds but nothing has been proven otherwise they wouldn't be on sale

Scott · Jan 5, 2018

texsize said:
It does not matter how healthy it is for them if they don't eat it.

^^^ This! ^^^

The best diet in the world for human or companion pet is useless if not eaten! I've tried many pellets over the years and the only one consistently eaten is Zupreem Fruit Blend. They won't touch the monotone Zupreem Organic.

Anybody know of a better pellet that is multi-hued with natural colors? My flock definitely likes the color, but may not care whether it is highly fruit enhanced.

texsize · Jan 5, 2018

This was what I found at Petsmart.
Brown's tropical carnival.

Both pellet eaters are eating this mix.

FlyBirdiesFly · Jan 5, 2018

Only two of your birds will eat pellets? You’ve got some picky eaters.

texsize · Jan 5, 2018

FlyBirdiesFly said:
Only two of your birds will eat pellets? You’ve got some picky eaters.

of the 3 big birds I have yes, only 2 eat pellets.
My tiels eat a version of Zupreems that has both pellets and dried fruit and veggies in it.
I am still feeding the Tiels with the same mix. Most of them eat at least some of the pellets.

sorry for the confusion. Bingo is the one that is fussy, he mostly wants people food.

syakti · Jan 5, 2018

Which brand is the contaminated one?

Edit: I just saw all other threads. Terrible news.

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Scott · Jan 7, 2018

syakti said:
Which brand is the contaminated one?

Edit: I just saw all other threads. Terrible news.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We don't yet know which brand if any is the responsible culprit. Lab tests are pending and countless nervous parronts are awaiting a clear answer. It may not come from the analysis but rather a painstaking analysis of necropsies and tissue samples. I dearly hope for a clear and simple answer but remain skeptical one is forthcoming.

Fruit flavored pellets brands?

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