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Post by wsteinhoff on Nov 15, 2015 21:59:02 GMT -5
So very recently a huge petco store opened up in a nearby town and they have a TON of bird food there. Like at least 40 different kinds, probably more. I spent quite some time looking through them to see if there was anything new to try that the birds may like. For Bishop I got one made by a brand called H.A.R.I (Hagen Avicultural Research Institute) and it's called Tropimix. It's a blend of pellets with an assortment of various fruits, nuts, veggies, and herbs. Anyways I was curious if anyone has tried this food and what their birds thought of it. Did they like it? I saw it the one other time I've been in that store since they've opened and didn't get it because it was quite expensive, nearly twice as much as his regular pellets but armed with coupons, my petco member rewards card, and their 20% off sale I was able to save a good bit on it and thought I would try it.
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Post by biteybird on Nov 16, 2015 1:16:22 GMT -5
Sorry, can't help you with this one…in Australia I've only seen one brand of pellets (at least in Melbourne pet supply places). I'm sure the US forum members will be able to offer advice.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 16, 2015 1:44:20 GMT -5
Yep, I have used Tropimix - it was very expensive. There was a lot of wastage. Plus there are some things in there which may not have been beneficial. With Shah being ill, the vet pulled him off it and now he has an extremely specialised diet. There are others on this forum who can give you advice on what is best for your bird.
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Post by easttex on Nov 16, 2015 6:03:28 GMT -5
I've never tried it. I use Harrison's as the basic element of their meals. Because Peppy has been so ill and lost so much weight, I'm giving him whatever he will eat now, but I hope to eventually have him eating Harrison's. It looks dull with all the uniformity of size and color, but it's natural and certified organic, and each pellet has the same nutritional value. My grey accepted it right off the bat, though she had been on a multi-color and size diet previously, but Peppy has been harder.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Nov 16, 2015 6:31:00 GMT -5
Alright thanks. I was giving him zupreem pellets. He won't eat the plain ones and the fruity ones he only will eat the red or orange pieces so he's wasting a lot.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Nov 16, 2015 10:15:36 GMT -5
After spending my morning reading through online reviews I may feed it to him still if he'll eat it. There is very few bad reviews on it and some vets have recommended it. I do agree a few of the ingredients are questionable with their low nutritional value but they may not be a big problem with all the other stuff mixed with it. It is screened for molds and other toxins and it supposed to be naturally preserved. The HARI research flock is supposed to be fed a part of every batch of food they make and looking on their website their birds appear to be pretty healthy and don't look like they have any nutritional deficiencies. I looked at the Harissons food and I like that it is certified organic but it's much more expensive than even the tropimix which I realize is because of it being organic. I also can't get it anywhere around here, only online.
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Post by easttex on Nov 16, 2015 11:35:13 GMT -5
Another option for you if those don't work out is Higgins InTune. They are similar to the Zupreem fruit pellets, but have no artificial color or flavor. I think they taste pretty good.  There are not as many colors and they are not as intense as the Zupreem, so he might be less picky. |
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Post by msdani1981 on Nov 16, 2015 13:07:39 GMT -5
Taz (our cockatiel) was diabetic, so our vet took him off Zupreem and put him on Harrison's. Chewy (our quaker) is on Roudybush. I'm not familiar with the HARI brand. |
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Post by aaron on Nov 16, 2015 13:19:49 GMT -5
I'm not familiar with that brand either... we use Harrison's as well.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Nov 16, 2015 16:46:40 GMT -5
Well so far he just picks through it and eats the nuts and papaya and occasionally a pea but most of it is wasted. I'll probably just use it for a snack so it isn't wasted and try the Higgins Intune that was posted, it has good reviews from people with picky birds. I saw Higgins safflower and Higgins seeds for cockatiels so maybe the parrot section will have Higgins pellets or some other good pellets that I didn't see last time.
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Post by cnyguy on Nov 16, 2015 20:50:45 GMT -5
The Hagen brand has been around a long time, and makes several different foods and treats for birds. The one in question I've never tried.
Ralph likes the Higgins InTune pellets too, along with the ZuPreem fruit Blend and Pretty Bird Daily Select. I think the Higgins are the best quality of the ones Ralph likes.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 17, 2015 3:17:16 GMT -5
Ahhh, the diet of the Gentleman Quaker - when only the best will do |
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Post by wsteinhoff on Nov 17, 2015 15:23:49 GMT -5
Figures, they did have the Higgins Intune and now that I got him that he has decided he won't eat them, he wants the Tropimix instead.
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Post by biteybird on Nov 18, 2015 3:07:04 GMT -5
He's a cheeky little bugger (much like Bonnie, it seems)! |
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Post by wsteinhoff on Nov 19, 2015 10:15:46 GMT -5
I told him he has to eat the pellets before he can have the tropimix since he's suddenly decided he really likes it now. He's now happy getting a spoonful of pellets and then a spoonful of tropimix along with his fresh foods.
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There are not as many colors and they are not as intense as the Zupreem, so he might be less picky. 
