What PELLET BRAND do you feed your macaw?

[junglenutcracker]

I recently made a switch from GoldnObles 1 to Tropican Alternative Formula but was wondering if there are better/healthier brands forum members would recommend?

My GreenWing has been on Tropican for about 12 days now and she seems to like them. Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Patagonian Conures used to be classified as macaws.

Here's what I use.
Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it.
It was developed by an avian vet, and in my experience commonly recommended by avian vets. 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, like fruits and vegetables! 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 I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.
The Rb has been on them for over 30 years.

 

[riddick07]

I use pretty bird daily select (medium size) for all of my birds except the Cockatiels. But I’ve fed them pretty much everything under the sun haha. I used to take a ziplock bag of the shelter mixes where they put 3-4 different pellets in the mixes and the mixes were different almost everyday. So I’m not picky about pellets. I really only look for ones without sugar or little sugar if I’m feeding it all the time.

 

[Flboy]

Tops! No soy!

 

[Scott]

Harrison's for the past 6 months or so, Zupreem Fruit Blend prior.

Was an easy transition for the entire flock; 2 weeks of following Harrison's conversion protocol and they were hooked!

 

[ChristaNL]

Nutribird and a nameless e-shop-bought one.
(checked the ingredients- they were not bad)


Of course also veggies/fruit/extra nuts as well as seedmix for fun and fourage.


She was on "just pellets" by Zupreem before and though her feathers are still broken and mutilated she now shines like fresly lacquered instead of just being yellow and blue/greenish.

 

[Owlet]

at the store we use roudybush for all our birds (except the eclectus then we use tops) we also mix in dried fruits and vegis and stuff.

 

[EllenD]

I actually switched all 4 of my guys from Zupreem Natural pellets, which they were on for years, to Tropican pellets and Tropimix seed-mix about a year ago, at the suggestion of my Certified Avian Vet, who actually has a Blue and Gold Macaw who he feeds both Tropican pellets and Tropimix seed-mix to! The Tropican pellets are much healthier overall than the Zupreem Natural pellets, which contain several preservatives that have come to be known as harmful over time, which is why I made the switch...

There are several great pellet brands, the best being Harrison's and Tops, but if your Macaw likes the Tropican pellets, then there is no reason at all to switch him, as they are every bit as good for him...And the nice thing about Tropican is that if you do want to add a healthy, low-fat, non-sunflower seed, non-peanut or nuts of any kind, non-corn seed-mix to his diet, even as a "treat", their Tropimix seed-mix not only fits all of these, but it also contains the same Tropican pellets! So that your bird actually gets the same Tropican pellets when he's eating his seed-mix! I am one who feeds my birds a healthy pellet as their daily "staple" diet, but still feed them each a small amount of healthy, low fat, varied seed-mix every day too, and the Tropimix is awesome! And they all love both the Tropican pellets and the Tropimix seed-mix, even though it contains no sunflower seeds, nuts, corn, etc. And then of course they get fresh veggies/chop every day, and a small amount of fresh fruit 4-5 days a week (lots of sugar in all types of fruit, so have to limit it a bit)...But again, if your Macaw likes the Tropican, I highly recommend just keeping him on it, as it's a great pellet, and I've actually noticed a change in their energy levels, their feather health, and they've all increased their weight slightly, which they needed to do for whatever reason..My CAV does a Wellness Exam once a year that includes blood-work, and none of them have ever suffered from any Nutritional Deficiencies or any issues at all, but they were all slightly underweight for the longest time while eating the Zupreem Natural pellets and also Higgin's VitaPrima California Blend seed-mix...After a year of being on the Tropican pellets and the Tropimix seed-mix, all 4 of them have filled-out and look wonderful, and have noticeable rises in their energy levels...And I would have never switched onto the Tropican/Tropimix if my CAV had not suggested it...

 

[Cthebird]

I have a Hahn's macaw (mini macaw). Harrison's pellets (adult lifetime coarse) are his main food along with his water. He also gets lots of fresh fruit and veggies every day, and a little bit of treat mix that has all kinds of things in it (nuts, dried veggies, a small amount of seeds, dried fruit, grains). Unlike my past bird, he's not that into people food (fish, meat, rice, pasta, muesli). He also refuses to eat mash. He does love juices like orange juice and apple cider, which we have to stop him from drinking because he'll consume way too much. We don't really give him the juices. He steals it from our glasses at breakfast. Actually, he is only now starting to behave himself when we invite him to the dinner table.

 

[junglenutcracker]

My Green-Wing hasn’t been on Tropican long enough for me to notice any type of behavioral change...but at least her stools look normal. She certainly loves them. I know many of the members here also recommend Harrisons...so I might try to mix in some Harrisons with her Tropican pellets. Don’t know if its a good idea or not though...

 

[junglenutcracker]

So here I am a week or so later and my GW is still on Tropican but I’ve added a few Harrison’s pellets which she just hates and throws away to the bottom of her cage. I will keep on trying to if this persists. But at least I’m reassured that if she sticks to Tropican, she is getting good quality pellets and essential nutrients.

 

[ChristaNL]

Nice try Just keep offering crazy things in between the usual foodstufs, it keeps their meals exiting and their minds a bit more enganged.


(and speaking of ... mine is due for her experimental porridge aka "smurrie" with meds& supplements)