Zupreme Nut Blend? Vet Recommended.

texsize

Supporting Member
Parrot of the Month šŸ†
Oct 23, 2015
3,921
Media
5
4,842
so-cal
Parrots
1 YNA (Bingo)
1 OWA (Plumas R.I.P.)
1 RLA (Pacho R.I.P.)
2 GCA(Luna,Merlin) The Twins
1 Congo AG (Bella)
5 Cockatiels
Thanks for the replyā€¦it is a definite planned landing. About 5ā€ after the landing the trauma starts. It gets worse for the next minute and then starts to subside. Within 3ā€™ or so itā€™s over and he is fine. Of course, as it is happening I hold him. When getting him off the perch he definitely knows Iā€™m there but stutters to get onto my hand.
It is strange.
only thing comes close is when one of my Tiels hit a wall or window when in fight/flight mode.
this has only happened a few times luckily
but afterwards they act the way U describe.
Stunned.
almost like they are out of body and unable to respond normally to external stimulation.

I have always rationalized this as ā€¦.. well Godā€™s way of protecting them from predators.
When caught by and about to be eaten this protection letā€™s them escape the horror of it, they donā€™t feel it because they are no longer in there body.
 

wrench13

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Parrot of the Month šŸ†
Nov 22, 2015
11,466
Media
14
Albums
2
12,705
Isle of Long, NY
Parrots
Yellow Shoulder Amazon, Salty
Yeah, that is my saying Wade. The best pellet is the one your parrot will eat. You can offer the best (what ever that is), but if they ain't eating it, its worthless. Me, I serve Roudybush Maintainence because thats what Salty will eat!
 
OP
Caitnah

Caitnah

Active member
Mar 24, 2018
267
65
Upstate New York
Parrots
GCC Pineapple
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #23
Yeah, that is my saying Wade. The best pellet is the one your parrot will eat. You can offer the best (what ever that is), but if they ain't eating it, its worthless. Me, I serve Roudybush Maintainence because thats what Salty will eat!
A few years ago, I gave him the same Roudy pellets and he did eat them a bit.
But I did get the Zupreem today and he ate them INSTANTLY! I was floored by this. Thinking it was a fluke, I waited about 4 hours and gave him more and he dove into them also.
 

Adamandpet

New member
Oct 19, 2023
2
0
Parrots
Parakeet
Yesterday, I brought my 6 year old Conure home from a checkup at the Cornell University Avian Specialists. Cant go wrong for taking him to THAT type of institute.
They did a complete work up on him including blood & ex-rays. Obviously his entire history was discussed especially diet.
My Conure eats a seed combo from VitaMix (no sunflower but safflower) and fresh fruits/vegs. He used to eat some pellets but doesnā€™t any longer.
The Vet wants to reduce his seed (eventually) to maybe 2 tsps per day and get him to eat pellets again. Although I mentioned this seed mix seems good with vitamins, she somewhat agreed but felt that he probably isnā€™t eating too much of those items and mainly eating the safflowersā€¦which he does.
She recommended Zupreme Nut Blend Pellets (which she feeds to her Pionus) but after looking at the ingredients, sugar seems to be high as well as Soy.
Am surprised she would recommend a product like that unless she feels he may like this flavor as a way of getting him back to pellets.
Anyone use this product?
Soy info I found (https://www.bestbirdfoodever.com/20...hat mimic,a bird's sensitive endocrine system.)

Has anyone else noticed commercial mix seeds have debris and most seed mix also contain pallets. How can they be allowed to sell mix seeds with pallets in same bag? It is like me buying peanuts in shells with cake in same bag. Clean part of food in seeds is contained in shell but shell debris would be all over cake.
 

Jobaby

Member
Jul 4, 2022
46
57
New York
Parrots
Indian ringneck
Superb Parrot (Barraband Parakeet)
It was a battery of tests since my Conure sometimes has seizures. The only test that wasnā€™t done was cholesterol/triglycerides since they would need more blood. He had to be sedated twice for these tests and you could hear him scream out when they needled himā€¦broke my heart.
Anyway, it was $700 and had to be paid in full. This required ME to be sedated.
They said he was overweight due to VitaMix diet and we are still waiting for a specific toxicology test that they have to send to Ohio and will take two weeks.
I was very impressed with the care they gave. It was about 6 hours and the Drs. talked with me for at least 1/2 hour.
They said he's overweight and they wan him eating that nut blend? I give it to my DH Amazon but it's not his main pellet. I mix, and kind of make my own mix for him so I know he's getting good stuff and not all one thing.
 
OP
Caitnah

Caitnah

Active member
Mar 24, 2018
267
65
Upstate New York
Parrots
GCC Pineapple
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #26
They said he's overweight and they wan him eating that nut blend? I give it to my DH Amazon but it's not his main pellet. I mix, and kind of make my own mix for him so I know he's getting good stuff and not all one thing.
Whatā€™s confusing is the Vet said he was 70 grams and overweight. But a Conures weight is supposed to be between 60-80 gr.
???
Gotta make a call again.
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,669
10,071
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Regardless of whether an Avian Vet or a dog and cat vet, I always look at what the clinic sells!! That is what they will push, regardless!!

Understand that Pellets are classified as 'dead food' as it is heated to above the level of killing off near everything and then cooling to the forming temperature. Specific minerals, Vitamins, etc, are then added. A favor is added along with some amount of Sugar, salt and COLORINGS! The greater the level of sugar the easier it is to start a Parrot on that Pellet.

Because of the high-level of additives, Pellets should be looked at as a supplement to a healthy, fresh food diet found at your local food store which would include, fruits and Vegs (in season). A high quality, human grade seed diet without sunflower, safflower or peanuts provides variety. That diet can include tree nuts, grains and grasses. Ekkies must have very limited access to Pellets as they native range has very poor soil quality and as a result they can easily be effected by a high-protein diet, common with Pellets.
 
OP
Caitnah

Caitnah

Active member
Mar 24, 2018
267
65
Upstate New York
Parrots
GCC Pineapple
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #28
Regardless of whether an Avian Vet or a dog and cat vet, I always look at what the clinic sells!! That is what they will push, regardless!!

Understand that Pellets are classified as 'dead food' as it is heated to above the level of killing off near everything and then cooling to the forming temperature. Specific minerals, Vitamins, etc, are then added. A favor is added along with some amount of Sugar, salt and COLORINGS! The greater the level of sugar the easier it is to start a Parrot on that Pellet.

Because of the high-level of additives, Pellets should be looked at as a supplement to a healthy, fresh food diet found at your local food store which would include, fruits and Vegs (in season). A high quality, human grade seed diet without sunflower, safflower or peanuts provides variety. That diet can include tree nuts, grains and grasses. Ekkies must have very limited access to Pellets as they native range has very poor soil quality and as a result they can easily be effected by a high-protein diet, common with Pellets.
Thanks for the infoā€¦is there a good human grade seed you would recommend.
 

DonnaBudgie

Supporting Member
Jan 24, 2023
3,213
3,964
Windham, Maine
Parrots
Budgies. Lotsa Budgies.
Yes, will call her this morning and post what she says. Iā€™ve tried him in Harrisonā€™s a few years ago and he wouldnā€™t eat it. Am so confused on proper pellets and itā€™s also difficult to try different brands due to cost.
The funny thing about "Nut Blend" is that according to the ingredients there are no nuts in it! The manufacturer claims to have made the pellets to physically resemble the "nuts" they want to eat by their color and shape. Imitation nuts? Kinda strange, isn't it?
 
OP
Caitnah

Caitnah

Active member
Mar 24, 2018
267
65
Upstate New York
Parrots
GCC Pineapple
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #31
The funny thing about "Nut Blend" is that according to the ingredients there are no nuts in it! The manufacturer claims to have made the pellets to physically resemble the "nuts" they want to eat by their color and shape. Imitation nuts? Kinda strange, isn't it?
The colors of these pellets are tan (like Harrisonā€™s)and black. Buddy mainly eats the tan ones. I wrote to Zupreme and asked if the black pellets have the same exact ingredients as the tan ones but they never responded.
 

DonnaBudgie

Supporting Member
Jan 24, 2023
3,213
3,964
Windham, Maine
Parrots
Budgies. Lotsa Budgies.
The colors of these pellets are tan (like Harrisonā€™s)and black. Buddy mainly eats the tan ones. I wrote to Zupreme and asked if the black pellets have the same exact ingredients as the tan ones but they never responded.
I read the ingredients on Zupreem's website. The "Conure and Parrot"sized Nut Blend with the picture of an Amazon on the bag (largest size pieces) has different ingredients than the smaller Nut Blend pellets with the picture of a Quaker on the bag. Quaker ones have veggies in them and more other ingredients.
Conure Parrot in order: ground corn, soybean meal, ground wheat, wheat germ meal. Unfortunately, the #5 ingredient is Sugar and #6 ingredient is unspecified vegetable oil. Next is various chemicals, iodized salt, natural flavors (says it makes it taste like nuts) and a list of added vitamins, minerals and micronutrients and preservatives.

In the Quaker picture, in order: ground corn, soybean meal, ground millet, ground oats groats, ground barley, ground wheat, wheat germ meal. Unfortunately one the #8 ingredient is Sugar and #9 is unspecified vegetable oil. Next is celery, carrots, parsley, beets, blueberries, cranberries, ground flaxseed, then the various chemicals, vitamins, minerals micronutrients, preservatives and Rosemary extract.

One reviewer tasted each pellet and they did taste different.

I agree with tasting my birds pellets- if I can't eat them I'm not eager to feed them to my babies! I don't expect them to taste great. No, I won't taste dog or cat food.

I guess my issue is that the Conure Parrot formula especially is made from a very few cheap ingredients. The Quaker bag has much better ingredients. But what about all that corn, soybean meal and SUGAR? And NOTHING is organic.

Does it matter? Not according to the experts at Cornell University, the Ornithology Experts. Are we just too fussy? The best pellets are ones your bird actually eats, bod course.

I don't know but I feel so much better about feeding Harrisons. The High Potency Super Fine ingredients are so much better (all Harrisons formulas have different ingredients so read the labels) and my budgies love them. They taste okay but very bland.

Then there's the cost difference. Harrisons at about $17-$20 a pound or Zupreem Nut Blend at about $5 a pound. Hmmm. A one pound bag of Harrisons lasts me about six months for a few budgies (they also eat chop and some eat seeds too. I think $3 a month for bird pellets is CHEAP but not as cheap as less than $1 a month but my budgies are worth it.
However, if a $20 one pound bag of Harrisons only lasts a week because you have bigger parrots that eat a lot, I guess that can be kind of pricey. Is $80 a month too much for parrot pellets? What does it cost to feed a large dog? I don't know because I've never had dogs (bad allergies).

All of us have different financial situations so I would not second guess someone else's bird food budget. I'm sure Cornell wouldn't recommend Nut Blend if it was bad. But get the one with the cute Quaker on the bag. Better Ingredients.
 

Jcas

Supporting Member
Parrot of the Month šŸ†
Jan 9, 2023
564
911
Parrots
Quaker, 2 budgies
DonnaBudgie, not to be argumentative, but the second list of ingredients comes from the Zupreem naturals. All the Zupreem nutblend have the same formula. To the OP, if your bird likes ā€œthe tan pelletsā€ better he might like the Zupreem naturals which, as DonnaBudgie pointed out, does have some better ingredients than the nut blend. You can always check with the vet, but I imagine they would be perfectly happy to have your bird eating Zupreem Naturals ( if you want to risk spending money on a food your bird may or may not like!).
 

DonnaBudgie

Supporting Member
Jan 24, 2023
3,213
3,964
Windham, Maine
Parrots
Budgies. Lotsa Budgies.
DonnaBudgie, not to be argumentative, but the second list of ingredients comes from the Zupreem naturals. All the Zupreem nutblend have the same formula. To the OP, if your bird likes ā€œthe tan pelletsā€ better he might like the Zupreem naturals which, as DonnaBudgie pointed out, does have some better ingredients than the nut blend. You can always check with the vet, but I imagine they would be perfectly happy to have your bird eating Zupreem Naturals ( if you want to risk spending money on a food your bird may or may not like!).
I was very careful reading and transcribing the Zupreem ingredient lists, and personally know nothing about Zupreem Nut Blend or Zupreem's other pellets (Naturals). I was curious about the ingredients in Nut Blend pellets specifically because the Cornell vet recommended it. And I wanted to compare with Harrisons that I use. I went to Zupreem's website and read (and typed) directly off the Zupreem website ingredients lists for their two Nut Blend Flavor formulations (the package with a Quaker and the package with the Amazon) Go to the website and read both Nut Blend ingredient lists. And the Naturals lists.
I just doubled checked and also went to the Naturals line and curiously enough all the Naturals and the Quaker photo Nut Blend package ingredients were the same!
So the only one that's different is the Nut Blend with the Amazon on the package- no vegetables! I don't see why they didn't make it the same.
Does any of this matter? Is it okay to feed your bird all that Soybean meal and sugar? Don't people claim these ingredients make birds hormonal (soy) or hyper (corn and sugar)? I have no idea and no opinion on it but other PF members believe they do.
I'm sure these Zupreem pellets are nutritious and delicious (to birds) or why would Cornell recommend them. If I knew for sure Rocky would eat them I would use them. Am I acting like an elitist snob by feeding Harrisons? I don't think so because Rocky and friends eat them and like them and it takes a long time for a few 1-2 ounce budgies to eat a pound of any pellets. Probably much different with big parrots.
 

Jcas

Supporting Member
Parrot of the Month šŸ†
Jan 9, 2023
564
911
Parrots
Quaker, 2 budgies
I was very careful reading and transcribing the Zupreem ingredient lists, and personally know nothing about Zupreem Nut Blend or Zupreem's other pellets (Naturals). I was curious about the ingredients in Nut Blend pellets specifically because the Cornell vet recommended it. And I wanted to compare with Harrisons that I use. I went to Zupreem's website and read (and typed) directly off the Zupreem website ingredients lists for their two Nut Blend Flavor formulations (the package with a Quaker and the package with the Amazon) Go to the website and read both Nut Blend ingredient lists. And the Naturals lists.
I just doubled checked and also went to the Naturals line and curiously enough all the Naturals and the Quaker photo Nut Blend package ingredients were the same!
So the only one that's different is the Nut Blend with the Amazon on the package- no vegetables! I don't see why they didn't make it the same.
Does any of this matter? Is it okay to feed your bird all that Soybean meal and sugar? Don't people claim these ingredients make birds hormonal (soy) or hyper (corn and sugar)? I have no idea and no opinion on it but other PF members believe they do.
I'm sure these Zupreem pellets are nutritious and delicious (to birds) or why would Cornell recommend them. If I knew for sure Rocky would eat them I would use them. Am I acting like an elitist snob by feeding Harrisons? I don't think so because Rocky and friends eat them and like them and it takes a long time for a few 1-2 ounce budgies to eat a pound of any pellets. Probably much different with big parrots.
DonnaBudgie, thatā€™s so weird! Youā€™re right; on the Zupreem website the smaller nutblend ingredients are different ( and the same as the ā€œnaturalsā€ ingredients) but if you look anywhere else ( Chewy, Amazon etc) they literally have a picture of the back of the bag with the same ingredients list as the parrot blend . So which one is right šŸ¤”. Iā€™m not a huge fan of sugar in pet food but I suppose a little wouldnā€™t hurt. I would love to feed Harrisonā€™s but unfortunately my bird hates it with passion šŸ«¤. Pet Bird diets seems to still be such an uncertain scienceā€¦
 

DonnaBudgie

Supporting Member
Jan 24, 2023
3,213
3,964
Windham, Maine
Parrots
Budgies. Lotsa Budgies.
DonnaBudgie, thatā€™s so weird! Youā€™re right; on the Zupreem website the smaller nutblend ingredients are different ( and the same as the ā€œnaturalsā€ ingredients) but if you look anywhere else ( Chewy, Amazon etc) they literally have a picture of the back of the bag with the same ingredients list as the parrot blend . So which one is right šŸ¤”. Iā€™m not a huge fan of sugar in pet food but I suppose a little wouldnā€™t hurt. I would love to feed Harrisonā€™s but unfortunately my bird hates it with passion šŸ«¤. Pet Bird diets seems to still be such an uncertain scienceā€¦
Exactly. So uncertain, and if he hates Harrisons he shouldn't have to eat them. Zupreem probably tastes better with a bit of sugar in it.
 

DonnaBudgie

Supporting Member
Jan 24, 2023
3,213
3,964
Windham, Maine
Parrots
Budgies. Lotsa Budgies.
Exactly. So uncertain, and if he hates Harrisons he shouldn't have to eat them. Zupreem probably tastes better with a bit of sugar in it.
I would expect their own website to be correct but mistakes are made on websites a lot. And who is going to actually read all that fine print anyway? šŸ™„
I would look at the back of the actual bag (not a photo of it). I can't imagine they would make a mistake on the bag itself. But I never shop at pet food stores.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top