Good starter pellets?

Only_speed

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Sep 12, 2019
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I want to order pellets for my cockatiel and I researched and birdtricks recommended tops pellets. I want something to give my cockatiel that he will love from the beginning as i would order online. Would you still recommend tops?
 
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chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
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Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
there are no ā€œstarterā€ pellets. There are only diversity of pellets.

TOPS is great, I use it. Cold pressed is always wonderful. My concern with TOPS, major annoyance really, is how easily they pulverize. They turn into a powder SO easily you feel like youā€™re wasting 80% of the food. Most Others, such as goldenfeast goldnā€™obles, crumble. They donā€™t pulverize. So more of them get consumed, less waste.
 

Laurasea

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Aug 2, 2018
12,593
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Full house
I like Tops, I feed a mix of most pellets offered though. I once had a picky bird, and I didn't want any of my current birds to be picky eaters. My only hold is my rescue Quaker, even the parakeets will Bible all the pellets.
I think getting them eating leafy greens and veggies is very important too.
 

Owlet

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Oct 27, 2016
2,754
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Colorado
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Lincoln (Eclectus), Apollo (Cockatiel), Aster (GCC)
there are no ā€œstarterā€ pellets. There are only diversity of pellets.

TOPS is great, I use it. Cold pressed is always wonderful. My concern with TOPS, major annoyance really, is how easily they pulverize. They turn into a powder SO easily you feel like youā€™re wasting 80% of the food. Most Others, such as goldenfeast goldnā€™obles, crumble. They donā€™t pulverize. So more of them get consumed, less waste.

100% agree, tops is the only pellet i use but it becomes mostly dust. HOWEVER Ive heard that you can use the powder to make bird bread by just following the instruction on their normal bird bread, i have yet to try it but ive been storing away dust >>
 

Jen5200

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Mar 27, 2017
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Baby - Sun Conure;
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Stanley - Pineapple GCC;
Screamer Ć¢ā‚¬Å“ScreeĆ¢ā‚¬ļæ½ - Cockatiel;
Tee - Pineapple GCC; Jimmy - Cockatiel
Yup - the best pellet is: the one they will eat :)

You may need to try a few different kinds, so order small size bags until you figure out what works for your bird. I feed Roudybush, Zupreem natural, Zupreem fruit, and Lefaber currently. TOPs is a wonderful pellet, but mine suddenly stopped eating it - so I put it in the freezer and will try again some other month. Iā€™ve tried Harrisonā€™s (also a great pellet) several times and no one here will eat it. I have 6 birds, and their preferences vary a lot...so there is no ā€œone size fits allā€.
 

Gemster

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Aug 4, 2019
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I 100% agree with tops pellets. My birds will eat the powder that is produced so that isn't a problem for me, although as stated above some birds won't eat the powder. If my birds one day decide to not eat the 'dust', I will add that to their chop next morning if there isn't anything else added to that. Sadly, Gemma likes to add tiny pieces of her toys into her bowl, the powder is then not reusable.
I don't really like zupreem natural as there is a lot of added supplements that shouldn't be in there. Sugar? This is one big reason I said no to zupreem.
If you can transition your bird on to ANY pellet from a seed diet, that is already a step in the right direction. :)
 

Tami2

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2017
5,088
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New Jersey
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Levi - 6 yr old CAG

DOH-4/2/2016
Levi eats, Harrison's, Higgins Intune and Tops.
His fave is Harrison's. When I got him he was on Zupreem Natural Large.
 

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