Harrison's

[PacificPaulie]

Hey all!

I can't seem to find the search feature of this forum and I know for a fact Harrison's pellets have been discussed here. I've been looking at it as an option for Paulie because a co-worker of my husband's, who claims to have raised P'lets, is sharing his experience with these pellets. According to him, something about the binding agent in pellets is what is bad for P'lets but because Harrison's has an all naturally pressed line of pellets that shouldn't be a concern (?).

Can I get some feedback please? Paulie's vet had also wanted me to switch to pellets so I'm really trying to look at it as an option.

Thanks guys!

 

[JoJo&Loki]

@Gribouille
I’m tagging her as I think she had an issue with her last p’let and Harrison’s.

 

[Gribouille]

@Gribouille
I’m tagging her as I think she had an issue with her last p’let and Harrison’s.

Thanks, yeah well, I don't actually know anything for sure. When Twitter died, someone mentioned Harrison's having too much proteins for p'lets, causing organ failure. Now I haven't heard anyone else confirming that, and several other p'lets owners said that was the best pellets they knew of. My vet recommends it too, although it was for budgies and I don't know what she says about p'lets there, but it says parrotlets on the packaging so it should be fine..

 

[JoJo&Loki]

I knew I remembered something about it, but wasn’t sure.


@PacificPaulie if your vet is recommending them and the person you know raising parrotlets stated Harrison’s is good it is most likely the case. Obviously we’re all super vigilant about what we give our babies, but unless there’s evidence of Harrison’s being bad for p’lets I’d say it is for sure a good brand to switch to.

 

[janicedyh]

I've heard pellets are bad for parrotlets because they cause liver issues. I would suggest you read more about it. This looks like a good read
http://www.parrotsecrets.com/parrotlets/prtdld/Book3-ParrotDiet.pdf

 

[janicedyh]

Heres another
Parrotlet - Food and Nutrition

 

[Gribouille]

I've heard pellets are bad for parrotlets because they cause liver issues. I would suggest you read more about it. This looks like a good read
http://www.parrotsecrets.com/parrotlets/prtdld/Book3-ParrotDiet.pdf

Heres another
Parrotlet - Food and Nutrition

I don't see anything in those links indicating pellets are bad for parrotlets? On the contrary, they say you should go over to nearly 100% pellets...?

 

[Love My Zons]

Many of the pellet claims for parrotlets are the mutation parrotlets.

I fed Harrison's for years to my normal green Pacific male. He passed 3 mos shy of turning 16. I am obw who believes in this food. I have a Cockatoo eating the high potency and she been on it over 4 years. 1 year eith me, 4 years in rescue. Also this bird had elevated liver enzymes in the past. Bloodwork a year ago and her liver values are normal.

I would never feed 100% pellets to any bird. All birds need to eat a varied diet as you guys already know.

 

[Gribouille]

Many of the pellet claims for parrotlets are the mutation parrotlets.

Do you consider the "normal" blue pacific parrotlets "mutations", or only the other fancy colors (that we don't have where I live)?

I fed Harrison's for years to my normal green Pacific male. He passed 3 mos shy of turning 16. I am obw who believes in this food. I have a Cockatoo eating the high potency and she been on it over 4 years. 1 year eith me, 4 years in rescue. Also this bird had elevated liver enzymes in the past. Bloodwork a year ago and her liver values are normal.

Thanks, it is very good to know!

I would never feed 100% pellets to any bird. All birds need to eat a varied diet as you guys already know.

yeah well, in theory they have everything they need in the pellets, but it would be like us having the same powder meal every day, I'm not sure it is THAT healthy in the end, and even if it is, it is not mentally healthy!! Good with colors, smell, textures, fresh and yummy!

 

[Love My Zons]

Do you consider the "normal" blue pacific parrotlets "mutations", or only the other fancy colors (that we don't have where I live)?


Thanks, it is very good to know!

yeah well, in theory they have everything they need in the pellets, but it would be like us having the same powder meal every day, I'm not sure it is THAT healthy in the end, and even if it is, it is not mentally healthy!! Good with colors, smell, textures, fresh and yummy!

The only normal color of a Pacific parrotlet is the green. The yellows, blues, turquoise,, whites, fallows, pied are all color mutations.

The blues existed some 25 years ago when I got my normal green. These other colors weren't around way way back. They are cool to me, but the most appealing color to me is the green.

Chops, mashes and healthy greens, grains and fruits round out a great diet in addition to pellets. I always fed egg food too.

 

[fashionfobie]

From what I have read on this, it is protein content that you need to consider. Since some pellets are formulated for a wide range of species they are too rich for parrotlets. Parrotlets are sensitive to very rich foods. Some say to never give them a sunflower seed. Veggies are a large part of these little bird's diet.

If you want to go with pellets consider the formulation and ratios. I wouldn't use a product that is higher than 14% protein, lower is better. You need to protect your parrotlet from gout or other stresses on their tiny little kidneys.

 

[Gribouille]

interesting reading about pellets and mutation parrotlets here: Mutation Parrotlets & Pellets... - Johnny's Parrot TIPS | Facebook

According to him, the problem is not the proteins but water...

 

[Gribouille]

The only normal color of a Pacific parrotlet is the green. The yellows, blues, turquoise,, whites, fallows, pied are all color mutations. The blues existed some 25 years ago when I got my normal green. These other colors weren't around way way back. .

We have only green and blue here, but my green being the son of a green and a blue, he isn't 100% original green. He certainly has mutated genes even if recessive. I can see yellow and blue under his green so I should consider him as mutated too I guess.

 

[fashionfobie]

interesting reading about pellets and mutation parrotlets here: Mutation Parrotlets & Pellets... - Johnny's Parrot TIPS | Facebook

According to him, the problem is not the proteins but water...

Dehydration and high protein are both very hard on kidneys.

 

[Love My Zons]

Dehydration and high protein are both very hard on kidneys.

I agree, this goes for our dogs and cats too. I feed wet meals even their dry food is mixed with water. The Harrison's mashes are also another way of feeding good foods moist. Little birds aren't going to dunk pellets like their larger relatives. I do have a pellet dunker with Sophie who eats Harrison's and Goldenfeast Golden'Obles.

In regard to your reply above, I never fed sunflower seeds to my parrotlet. They are prove to AFLD (Avian Fatty liver Disease)

 

[fashionfobie]

I don't feed sunflower to the parrotlets either. So many healthier options.

 

[Love My Zons]

I don't feed sunflower to the parrotlets either. So many healthier options.

Absolutely! Safflower is high in fat too, but better if limited.

 

[fashionfobie]

Sesame and pine nuts are my reward treats, sometimes walnut for special occasions

 

[janicedyh]

Thats weird, I must have missed that part. They have all these great foods and pellets Ptttt! Uncolored all natural pellets may be fine but never 100% of any birds diet. I was a little negligent to post those links I guess. I also forgot that my daughters bird is a mutation and was told by the breeder they should not have many pellets. Just shows me to stick to my lane with IRNs, GCC and Eclectus

 

[PacificPaulie]

Thank you all so much! I greatly appreciate this insight.

The fella who raised P'lets in the past said moderation is key, which seems to be what I'm gathering from this discussion. His recommendation (what he's had success with in the past), was a teaspoon of the pellets in the morning, and chop in the evening or for any other subsequent meals if a P'let is fed more than twice a day. This is what he did for his green and mutation P'lets.

Paulie was primarily on chop and seed and the vet wanted me to go away from seed. When the fella who raised P'lets heard we feed Paulie seed in addition to chop he speculated the seed may have been the culprit behind Paulie's behavioral issues...

And you guys, the correlation between absence of seed and Paulie's behavior seems to lend itself to the impression that this guy was right. He has been so ridiculously sweet the past few days in the absence of seed! No more super bitiness when hubby and I are both present... He still has his sass, but it's easier to love and live with.

Thank you all again so much! I'll go to the Harrison's store and check out what they've got.