Switching From KayTee...Thoughts?

[Reggie]

So I've seen several times that KayTee brand foods are the worst. Right now I feed them (my three budgies) KayTee pellets mixed with the ZuPreem fruit blend pellets that I found on the DrFosterSmith site. Is there something else I could feed them? They're not horribly picky, and I don't want to support such an awful company!

 

[Sylvi_]

For pellets, I feed my three Zupreem Naturals. I give about half a teaspoon a week of the Fruity Zupreem pellets to my lovebird, though. Since they make a good high-value treat for him.


Other good brands are Roudybush and Harrison's.
Good luck transitioning your budgies!

 

[BeeBop]

I would recommend Vitakraft SunSeed sunsations for a seed mix. Or if they aren't picky about pellets than TOPs pellets. TOPs pellets are cold pressed, instead of cooked because the high temperatures used for cooking destroys some of the nutrients. TOPs pellets also don't have any sugar, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

 

[LovieLuvr]

I prefer Roudybush or Harrison's. Both great brands and the only food my vet keeps in her clinic. I'm currently trying to convert my love from Zupreem fruity pellets to Roudybush due to the food coloring. She tends to pick certain colors depending on her mood even though there are no flavor differences between the colors. For example, Sprout sometimes won't eat if she ate all the "red" pellets on a Monday or the "yellow bananas" on a Friday...

 

[Ktomacie]

My Birds Love roudybush, seems like good quality pellets and very fair price. I get 10lb bags for $20 on amazon.

 

[Mizzely]

I recommend anything except Kaytee and TOPs

Zupreem
Hagen
Higgins
Harrison's
Roudybush
Caitec

Etc etc etc

 

[iamwhoiam]

I switched my birds from Zupreem to Roudbyush (big fail) and then to Caitec Oven Fresh Bites pellets which was successful except for one bird.

 

[Mizzely]

I prefer Roudybush or Harrison's. Both great brands and the only food my vet keeps in her clinic. I'm currently trying to convert my love from Zupreem fruity pellets to Roudybush due to the food coloring. She tends to pick certain colors depending on her mood even though there are no flavor differences between the colors. For example, Sprout sometimes won't eat if she ate all the "red" pellets on a Monday or the "yellow bananas" on a Friday...

Try to use the Zupreem natural as a stepping stone. I had to do that with several birds. It has a similar taste and bridges the gap between colored and uncolored once on the natural I found it exceedingly easy to give them either roudybush or Harrison's with great success.

 

[WendyN]

I feed my tiels Harrisons. They eat it and they are picky about food.

 

[LovieLuvr]

Try to use the Zupreem natural as a stepping stone. I had to do that with several birds. It has a similar taste and bridges the gap between colored and uncolored once on the natural I found it exceedingly easy to give them either roudybush or Harrison's with great success.

Thanks for this idea! I'm going to have to try it! I've been trying to convert Sprout for the past 6 months and it hasn't worked. She's the only bird I've had that wouldn't do the switch easily.

 

[Moshimaru]

Rhubarb was on a mix of Zupreem and Kaytee (I think) when I got him from the petstore. He easily transferred to Higgins Intune, another colorful pellet but much healthier.

Ephrum is holding fast to not liking anything but Zupreem Fruitblend.

 

[Reggie]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I'll be sure to look into them and decide which I'd like to try.

 

[Monica]

Seed Blends
Goldenfeast
Golden Gourmet
Kaylor of Colorado Sweet Harvest
Volkman
Sleek & Sassy

Pellets
Harrison's
Lafeber's
Roudybush

 

[SamandWilley]

I noticed that many people don't use Zupreem. I am feeding my lovies the natural because that is what they were weaned on. As far as I can tell, it does not have the colors in it. Is it less healthy or something? I ordered some of the Bountiful Harvest food to try as a supplement because it looks amazing!

 

[Monica]

There's Zupreem Fruitblend which has dyes in it, and Zupreem Natural, which doesn't have dyes. It can be a good basic pellet, but I'm not a fan of the added sugars to the diet.

 

[Lady Jane]

I believe for Budgies the best is Dr. Harvey's parakeet blend. Go to Amazon and read th ingredients. Good for you not buying Katee's foods any more and supporting bird mills.

 

[Mizzely]

I noticed that many people don't use Zupreem. I am feeding my lovies the natural because that is what they were weaned on. As far as I can tell, it does not have the colors in it. Is it less healthy or something? I ordered some of the Bountiful Harvest food to try as a supplement because it looks amazing!

It has added sugar which isn't ideal BUT Zupreem Natural is always the pellet I use for conversions because it's more palatable than some others. I call it the "gateway pellet". That being said, the past year or two the price per pound on Zupreem has been cheaper than everything else and with job changes, etc, I have had to cut back on spending, and I don't feel guilty for a moment for feeding Zupreem I honestly always have Zupreem on hand even if they are eating other pellets because it's something I know I can fall back on if needed.

As a company, they are always helping out rescue situations by donating food, etc.

So, again, it's the artificial dyes and sugar that keep people from feeding/recommending it more.

 

[Reggie]

I prefer Roudybush or Harrison's. Both great brands and the only food my vet keeps in her clinic. I'm currently trying to convert my love from Zupreem fruity pellets to Roudybush due to the food coloring. She tends to pick certain colors depending on her mood even though there are no flavor differences between the colors. For example, Sprout sometimes won't eat if she ate all the "red" pellets on a Monday or the "yellow bananas" on a Friday...

That's exactly what Manny and Jersey do! Though Happy eats everything and anything readily. Budgies are just the silliest little things! I have to vacuum the area around their cage like three times a week because of it!

My Birds Love roudybush, seems like good quality pellets and very fair price. I get 10lb bags for $20 on amazon.

That's actually amazing! I'm definitely looking on Amazon now. I wouldn't even have to set aside any food for an emergency kit with that much of it!

I recommend anything except Kaytee and TOPs

Zupreem
Hagen
Higgins
Harrison's
Roudybush
Caitec

Etc etc etc

Do you think if I picked two or three of these and blended them together that would be good? Or would it be better to choose a different one to feed on different days so they can have variety even in the pellet part of their diet? I'm always worried about them getting bored!

I switched my birds from Zupreem to Roudbyush (big fail) and then to Caitec Oven Fresh Bites pellets which was successful except for one bird.

With all of these failure stories I hear about switching birds to pellets, I'm so grateful that my little floofs aren't picky eaters!

Seed Blends
Goldenfeast
Golden Gourmet
Kaylor of Colorado Sweet Harvest
Volkman
Sleek & Sassy

Pellets
Harrison's
Lafeber's
Roudybush

I'll have to try some new seed blends too I guess! Right now I buy organic seeds from the Whole Foods on the other side of town and make my own that I offer once or twice a week.

I believe for Budgies the best is Dr. Harvey's parakeet blend. Go to Amazon and read th ingredients. Good for you not buying Katee's foods any more and supporting bird mills.

I've heard around that KayTee is bad and then I heard that it isn't anymore, and I don't want to be feeding anything controversial to my babies, haha.

 

[Mizzely]

Do you think if I picked two or three of these and blended them together that would be good? Or would it be better to choose a different one to feed on different days so they can have variety even in the pellet part of their diet? I'm always worried about them getting bored!


I've heard around that KayTee is bad and then I heard that it isn't anymore, and I don't want to be feeding anything controversial to my babies, haha.

A vet will usually tell you to pick one because the pellet is formulated to be fed as a main part of the diet, and mixing them means that you are messing with the ratios. However, there is a lot to be said about variety, and also if you can get them eating several brands, you won't have to worry if one goes out of business, or changes its shape or formula and is suddenly snubbed. I used to be a huge pellet mixer; the only reasons I don't now is 1) cost and 2) waste. LOTS of waste with my birds as one would eat one kind, another would eat another, etc. I would switch bowls when I could (so that the one they liked less got eaten by the bird who liked it more) but really it was just a huge headache. I provide variety in so many other ways that I am content to leave it at one pellet kind at a time, while maybe mixing in another occasionally just for fun.


Kaytee may no longer breeding birds, but they still are selling many products that are downright harmful for pets and preying on the stupidity of the uninformed pet parent. Any company that knowingly does this isn't worth my dollars.

 

[Reggie]

Thank you so much for that actually! I'll probably experiment with a couple of brands instead and see which ones they prefer. That's a smart idea so my birds won't starve if a business goes under!