Issues and concerns with health and behavior with some birds on dyed pellets. Nowadays, most reputable sources will discourage bird people from feeding colored pellets to parrots. Kaytee, Pretty Bird and Zupreem are the top colored (and sugary pellets). They are often referred to as fruity pebble pellets for this reason. They are inexpensive and readily available in most stores, so many are still using them. Quality/premium pellet brands do not add dyes or sugars to their pellets and they take pride in this, so it will be stated on the packaging. Just read the ingredients list when comparing pellets so you know what you are buying. You can go to any company website to see their list of ingredients and the process of how they are made. Table sugar is not added to pellets with parrot nutrition in mind. Table sugar is very addictive, as well as being a factor in obesity and health related illness and disease. Sugar is added to pellets to keep birds eating them, and keep you buying them. Just putting the info out there so people can think about the differences in pellets, and research for themselves, and decide whats best for them and their birds.There is also a difference between soft pressed or cold pressed, and the hard pressed pellets baked at high temperatures. (Again, this is Zupreem, Pretty Bird and Kaytee.) The gentler processing is done to try to prevent nutrition loss from turning pellets into crunchy hard baked kibble (Harrisons Roudybush, TOPS). You can read on each pellet manufacture company website on how and why they process them the way they do and how that benefits your bird.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:10:42 +0000