The 11 Best Parrot Pellets
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Parrots may be choosy eaters, and it's not always simple to locate nutritious and delicious food that is good for them. It's not good for your pet to eat only seeds, so pellets are a great way to add variety to their diet and make sure they get all the nutrients they need.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has picked the best parrot pellets to evaluate for you so you can see how they measure up when presented next to each other. We will talk about the pros and cons of each as well as how our bird feels about each.
In addition, we have included a brief buyer's guide that examines the component list of parrot pellets so you know what to look for while shopping.
Join us as we discuss vitamins, minerals, preservatives, food coloring, and much more so that you may make an informed decision.
Reviews
TOP’s Parrot Food Pellets – Overall Winner
The TOP’s Parrot Food Pellets are the best parrot pellets overall. It is the only USDA-certified bird food that does not include maize, and it is supplemented with the vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids your bird needs to develop and stay healthy.
There are no chemical preservatives; rosemary is used to maintain freshness, and the pellets are cold-pressed to preserve nutrients and limit the danger of allergic reactions.
Numerous certified organic natural ingredients are available, including alfalfa, sesame seeds, sunflower seed, pumpkin, and quinoa.
A handful of our parrots did not enjoy TOP’s 04 and favored less nutritious brands.
Pros
- Other than corn-based USDA-approved bird food
- Contains vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids
- Natural preservatives
- Cold-pressed
- Certified natural
Cons
- Some birds don’t like it
Higgins Natural Parrot Bird Food – Best Price
We recommend Higgins InTune Natural Parrot Bird Food as the most cost-effective parrot pellets. It employs all-natural preservatives and colorings to create an appetizing food for your parrot that smells natural.
It includes fatty acids, which are a vital source of fuel for birds and also aid in reducing the occurrence of atherosclerosis.
There are a variety of actual fruits and vegetables, including flaxseed, blueberries, apples, celery, and parsley, that contribute to the alluring scent. It is additionally fortified with probiotics to aid your parrot’s digestive function.
The only issue we had with Higgins 144961 was that some of our birds refused to eat it, opting instead for a comparable but less nutritious brand. Consequently, we believe they are the most cost-effective parrotlet pellets on the market.
Pros
- Natural preservatives
- Contains omega fatty acids
- Alluring tropical scent
- Probiotics
- Genuine fruits and veggies are present
Cons
- Some birds don’t like it
Premium Choice Natural Bird Food from ZuPreem
ZuPreem Natural Bird Food is our preferred parrot pellet option.
This well-balanced meal contains lots of fruits and vegetables, like flaxseed, carrots, celery, cranberries, blueberries, and more that will help offer all of the vitamins and nutrients your bird needs to keep healthy and live a long life. No artificial preservatives or food coloring are present.
We did not enjoy that ZuPreem Natural Bird Food contains sugar, which will only cause your pet to gain weight. Also, a handful of our birds refused to eat it.
Pros
- Genuine fruits and veggies
- No chemical preservatives
- High in vitamins
Cons
- Contains sugar
- Some parrots won’t eat it
Organic Pepper Harrison’s Lifetime Coarse Bird Pellets
Harrison’s Organic Pepper Lifetime Coarse Bird Pellets is an additional well-known brand that does not contain any dangerous chemical preservatives, artificial food colorings, or sugar.
It provides a spicy variety to your parrot’s usual diet, but don’t worry; birds are unaffected by the ingredient in pepper that creates the burning sensation, so they may eat habanero peppers directly without flinching.
There are several additional organic, high-quality components, including peas, lentils, sunflower seeds, and more.
We did not appreciate that Harrison’s was only available in tiny containers and was a bit pricey. Like many other healthy meals, this brand is not consumed by some of our birds.
Pros
- No chemical preservatives
- Genuine organic fruits and veggies
- Spicy substitute
- No sugar or artificial coloring
Cons
- Only available in small quantities
- Some birds don’t like it
Roudybush Bird Food for Daily Maintenance
Routine Bush Maintenance Bird Food appears to be a brand that all of our birds appreciate. It is rich in a number of vitamins, including A, E, B12, and D3. There are no additional colors, sugars, or byproducts, and there are no artificial preservatives or dyes.
Unfortunately, there are no true fruits or veggies in Roudybush to make us feel good about giving it to our pets even if they seem to like it. We also believed that the pellets were a bit too tiny for an adult parrot.
Pros
- There are no additional colors, sugars, or byproducts
- Containing many vitamins
- Birds enjoy it
Cons
- No genuine fruits or veggies
- Small pellet size
Lafeber Premium Daily Diet Dietary Supplements
Lafeber Premium Daily Diet Another brand that does not contain artificial preservatives or colours that can cause skin irritation and feather plucking is Parrot Bird Food.
It is also rich in vitamins and minerals, which offer energy and support a healthy immune system. This brand was also found to be less abundant than several others.
The disadvantage of the Lafeber is that it contains molasses, which is an extremely sugary ingredient. In addition, there are no true fruits or vegetables in this band, and the packaging is fairly tiny, so frequent feeding may be quite costly.
Pros
- Vitamins and minerals in plenty
- No chemicals or colorings
- Less mess
Cons
- Contains molasses
- No genuine fruits or veggies
- Small package
Kaytee Exact Rainbow Chunky Premium Daily Dietary Supplement for Large Parrots
The vibrant hues of Kaytee Exact Rainbow Chunky Premium Daily Nutrition for Large Parrots will catch your pet’s attention. It provides vital omega fatty acids in addition to probiotics, prebiotics, and probiotics.
There are several other vitamins and minerals that will assist keep your bird healthy.
The disadvantage of Kaytee is that it contains an abundance of artificial colors, which may trigger allergic responses or other health issues in some birds.
Several maize components, particularly corn sugar, might cause your bird to gain extra weight, resulting in precocious aging and other health issues commonly associated with obesity.
Pros
- Contains omega fats
- Prebiotics and probiotics are present
- Vitamins and minerals in plenty
- Colorful
Cons
- Contains artificial colors
- A number of corn ingredients
FruitBlend Flavor Parrot Food by ZuPreem
The colorful, low-fat pellets of ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor Parrot Food come in a variety of sizes and shapes to lure your parrot into eating. It contains vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids.
In addition, it contains an abundance of actual fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, bananas, apples, and oranges. There are no chemical preservatives, and the food is packaged in a resealable bag to extend its freshness.
The disadvantage of ZuPreem FruitBlend is that it contains a number of components that are unhealthy for your bird.
It contains an excessive amount of sugar that your birds do not require, which can lead to obesity, as well as an abundance of artificial colours that can cause allergic responses and other health issues.
Although the birds enjoy it, we are only comfortable feeding it on occasion.
Pros
- Low-fat pellets
- Novel hues, contours, and tastes
- Contains vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids
- Resealable pouch
- No chemical preservatives
- Genuine fruits and veggies
Cons
- Contains added coloring
- Contains sugar
How To Select The Top Parrotlet Pellets
Let’s take a deeper look at the components included in most parrot pellets to assist you in selecting an appropriate brand.
What should I feed my bird?
Wild parrots may live up to 70 years in the wild but average just 15 in captivity, so there is still lots of effort needed to improve the parrot’s quality of life.
Bird Seed
Your parrot will consume plenty of nuts and seeds in the wild, however these foods are highly rich I fat and calories. Wild birds are able to expend surplus energy by flight and foraging, but confined birds are unable to do so and may gain weight.
The majority of specialists advocate restricting seeds and nuts to no more than twenty percent of one’s overall caloric intake.
Fruits and vegetables
Real fruits and vegetables should be the primary source of nutrition for your parrot, and according to some experts, they should make up around 80% of their daily diet.
Because fruit is high in sugar, you should feed the fruits and vegetables as 80% veggies and 20% fruit. You should offer your pet vegetables such as kale, spinach, carrots, broccoli, peppers, blueberries, raspberries, and grapes.
Wheat, Corn, and Soybean
The world’s most genetically modified foods include corn, wheat, and soy. These items provide your bird with very little nourishment, therefore they are only fillers.
Unfortunately, the vast bulk of bird food contains these substances in excessive amounts. As a pet owner, the best you can do is to feed lots of veggies to offset it and supply the nutrients essential.
Colorant and Chemical Preservative in Food
Many businesses strive to make their food more enticing for parrots by adding food coloring to make the colors more vibrant.
While there hasn’t been much study on birds, we recommend avoiding food colorings wherever feasible, as certain studies on dogs and cats indicate that consuming particular colors may have undesirable side effects.
Additionally, you should avoid artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and others. Despite the need for more research, several studies on dogs, cats, and people indicate that these chemicals pose a threat to your pet’s health and should be avoided.
Pepper
Capsaicin, a molecule found in peppers, is responsible for the “hot” feeling in humans. Capsaicin has little effect on birds, thus they may consume peppers that would send most animals scurrying for cover.
Birds appreciate all varieties of peppers, and they are a terrific way to add brilliant colors to your pet’s food, so they are more drawn to it.
Feather Plucking Disorder
Several factors, including as sickness, boredom, stress, cancer, and starvation, might cause your parrot to begin plucking its feathers.
If you observe your bird plucking its feathers, examine its diet to ensure it is receiving an adequate amount of veggies and not too many maize products or artificial food colorings.
If you are certain that the food is not the issue, verify that they have sufficient space to roam around and activities to engage in. There are several toys available to keep your parrot engaged, and if you can safely arrange it, they will also appreciate some time outside the cage.
Make sure that none of your other pets are giving the bird a hard time, generating anxiety. Additionally, loud sounds might distress the bird and increase its stress level. The less likely the parrot is to pluck out its feathers, the more at ease it feels.
Conclusion
When selecting a brand of bird food for your parrot, we strongly advise selecting the best option. TOP’s 04 This is the only brand of parrot pellets that is not corn-based and delivers the greatest possible nourishment for your pet. It is cold-pressed to preserve nutrients and is organically certified.
Another terrific choice is our recommendation for the greatest value. The omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics in Higgins 144961 InTune Natural Parrot Food assist in regulating the digestive tract and support general wellness. It comprises natural fruits and vegetables and has a citrus aroma that will appeal to your parrot.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) would like to thank our visitors for selecting our website to learn about and research the best parrot pellets. We hope you liked reading our evaluations and that they were helpful in deciding which pet food pellets to purchase.
If you want to continue shopping, have our buyer’s guide on hand so that you can compare ingredients on product labels to verify you’re purchasing a high-quality brand. If you believe it might be of assistance to others, please feel free to share our information about the finest parrot food on Facebook and Twitter.
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Comment
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.