Bird FAQs

In spite of all your best efforts, do you sometimes wonder if your bird is getting the best nutrition you can give him? Find the answers to many of your questions here in Frequently Asked Questions. If you have a question we haven't thought of, go to Contact Us to send us an e-mail message.

Before I switched my birds to a pelleted food from seeds, I added vitamin and mineral supplements. Do I need these now?

Category: Birds

Answer

Because seeds are lacking in many essential vitamins and minerals birds need, bird owners commonly try to provide vitamins and minerals for their birds in the form of supplements or by feeding fortified seeds. Birds have dry tongues and often the vitamins and minerals are not swallowed, or the supplements are discarded along with the hulls of the seeds. You're never sure just how much of the vitamin and mineral supplements your bird is actually eating. ZuPreem Premium Bird Foods are nutritionally balanced foods and offer your bird everything he needs for a long and healthy life. No supplements are required.

I'd like to switch my 12-year-old blue and gold macaw off his current diet and on to ZuPreem. I've heard it may be hard to switch him. Any hints?

Category: Birds

Answer

There's no question that birds get pretty opinionated about their seeds, and it may be a challenge to switch. You need to have patience and not give up, because the health benefits for your bird will be worth it. Visit the avian conversion page in the Learning Center on this site for important information, including several step-by-step methods for converting your bird to a new diet. On our conversion page, you'll also be able to download our avian feeding brochure and watch our avian conversion video. Also, discuss this with your avian veterinarian. He can decide which method may work best for your bird.

My birds, two green conures and a Moluccan cockatoo, really enjoy their fruits and vegetables, and I enjoy preparing them. Lately, I've been reading that I should limit the amount I feed them. What do you recommend?

Category: Birds

Answer

Most fruits and vegetables are considered healthy additions to a bird's diet, but they shouldn't make up more than 20% of your bird's daily diet. Most fruits lack sufficient protein to meet birds' requirements. Some are high in sugar and carbohydrates, some lack important nutrients, and because they add bulk and fiber, the bird will feel satisfied and not eat the more nutritious balanced diet. Go ahead and keep preparing and feeding them, but just make sure it's in moderation. For more information on what is really in your bird’s food cup, visit www.birdfoodfacts.com.

I don't want to feed my birds a food that has artificial preservatives. What is in the ZuPreem bird foods?

Category: Birds

Answer

All ZuPreem bird foods are naturally preserved. The foods contain rosemary extract, citric acid and natural mixed tocopherols (Vitamins E and C). These natural preservatives maintain product freshness. For years, scientists at ZuPreem have been carefully researching preservatives used in the manufacturing of animal diets, always with the consideration of preserving and protecting the nutrients but with a goal to use the best combination of the safest and most effective preservatives available.

The breeder where I got my two greys named Fuzzy and Dusty swears by ZuPreem products and says my birds had an advantage because they were hand fed with the ZuPreem hand-feeding formula. What did he mean and what's so good about it?

Category: Birds

Answer

Breeders everywhere have been experiencing the tremendous benefits of Embrace and Embrace Plus Hand-Feeding Formulas. Your breeder was referring to some of the same things other breeders are saying - greater strength, faster weight gain and better overall good health. Embrace is available in two formulas, each suitable for the different nutrient requirements of various species of birds. Visit the Embrace pages in the Our Food section on our website for product information.

On the FruitBlend package, the feeding instructions say not to leave the food in the bowl for more than two hours. Why is this?

Category: Birds

Answer

Notice the instructions say not to leave "moistened" food in the bowl for more than two hours. ZuPreem cautions bird owners to take care to practice good husbandry procedures by removing the moist food often, as well as changing the bird's water. If the environment is not clean, bacteria growth in the cage or surrounding areas could contaminate the food, particularly if the food is moist. ZuPreem's stringent quality control standards ensure that the unopened ZuPreem products you purchase are clean and free from harmful bacteria.

I am interested in getting two cockatiels. I want to make sure they have been raised with good care and that they are healthy. Where's the best place buy them?

Category: Birds

Answer

There are many reputable bird breeders, as well as quality pet stores that sell birds. Visit the Locator section on this site to locate a breeder near you. Once you locate a breeder or pet store that sells the bird you are looking for, ask the breeder or the store to give you the name of someone who has purchased a bird from them and who would be willing to share their experiences with you. It's very important to ask about the feeding history for the birds.

I was reading an article about how African greys developed problems with their bones because they weren’t getting enough calcium in their diet. How do I know if my birds are getting enough calcium? If they aren't, what should I do?

Category: Birds

Answer

Most likely, these African greys were on a diet high in seeds. Calcium levels in seeds are so low that after just a few years on seeds, birds may develop muscle and bone problems. Merely giving calcium supplements isn't the answer, because it is the ratio of calcium to phosphorus that is important. A 1:5 - 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus is desirable. This means there should be twice as much calcium as phosphorus in the diet. ZuPreem premium bird foods provide this proper ratio your bird needs everyday for good health.

My bird likes the colors and shapes in FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors, but lately I've been wondering if he should be on a more natural food. What's the difference between your FruitBlend and Natural foods?

Category: Birds

Answer

Both products are the same nutritionally. Both have the same proper levels of vitamins, minerals and amino acids your bird needs for excellent health. FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors has dried bananas, oranges, apples and grapes. Natural has dried carrots, celery, beets, watercress, spinach, cranberries and blueberries. Natural does not have the fruity shapes or colors like FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors. It will appeal to you if you like feeding your bird a more natural food.

My bird likes the colors and shapes in FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors. Can I also feed VeggieBlend with Natural Carrot Flavor and NutBlend with Natural Nut Flavor?

Answer

All ZuPreem adult maintenance diets have the same complete nutrition. These diets can be interchanged to add variety to your bird’s daily diet.

My African grey seems to prefer the smaller FruitBlend pellet size - the one made for cockatiels. Is this okay, or should I try to get him to eat the size made for him?

Category: Birds

Answer

ZuPreem offers FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors and Natural in various pellet sizes for different species and sizes of birds. Although most species enjoy the size recommended for them, occasionally a bird will prefer a larger or smaller sized pellet. Because the same complete and balanced nutrition is in every pellet size, you can be assured your bird is getting adequate nutrition, no matter which size he prefers.

I have an orange-winged Amazon who has decided he only likes the banana shape in your FruitBlend food. He picks the bananas out and throws the rest on the floor of his cage. Can I buy this bird food in only the banana shape?

Category: Birds

Answer

Although not common, you are not the first bird owner we've heard from whose bird prefers one shape or color pellet over the others in FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors. Because the nuggets are uniform in flavoring, it must be the particular shape or color that your bird likes. We do not sell individual shapes or colors, but we do have a couple of suggestions. If you are feeding a lot of birds, you can pick out the particular shape or color this bird likes. Or, you can feed our Natural Bird Food which offers a uniform shape and color. It provides the same nutrition as FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors.

I've heard that too much sugar is bad for birds. Do your products contain sugar?

Category: Birds

Answer

Sugar is added to ZuPreem FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors, VeggieBlend with Natural Carrot Flavor, NutBlend with Natural Nut Flavor, Natural, AvianBreeder FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors, AvianBreeder Natural and Lory and Low Iron Diets in very small amounts. Sugar in ZuPreem bird diets mimic simple sugars found in fruits that most birds eat and enjoy in the wild. All sugars such as sucrose, fructose or lactose, are carbohydrates and contain four calories per gram. After digestion, sugars travel through the bloodstream to body cells where they are used for energy to help metabolize fat, help form proteins, or to be stored for future use.

I have friends who say that the coloring in some ZuPreem diets has had an effect on the bird's skin and feathers. Why do you put the coloring in some of your products?

Category: Birds

Answer

Through research, ZuPreem scientists have confirmed that birds find a diet filled with a variety of flavors, shapes and colors more interesting. This is why ZuPreem developed FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors. This premium bird food contains differently colored, individually shaped, fruit-flavored pellets. It is scientifically formulated to contain the highest quality ingredients - complete nutrition for birds. These colorants are the same as those used in many bird toys and almost every processed food found on grocery store shelves today.

Are there nuts in any ZuPreem food?

Answer

ZuPreem avian, ferret and small animal foods do not contain any nut products.

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Bird FAQs

Before I switched my birds to a pelleted food from seeds, I added vitamin and mineral supplements. Do I need these now?

I'd like to switch my 12-year-old blue and gold macaw off his current diet and on to ZuPreem. I've heard it may be hard to switch him. Any hints?

My birds, two green conures and a Moluccan cockatoo, really enjoy their fruits and vegetables, and I enjoy preparing them. Lately, I've been reading that I should limit the amount I feed them. What do you recommend?

I don't want to feed my birds a food that has artificial preservatives. What is in the ZuPreem bird foods?

The breeder where I got my two greys named Fuzzy and Dusty swears by ZuPreem products and says my birds had an advantage because they were hand fed with the ZuPreem hand-feeding formula. What did he mean and what's so good about it?

On the FruitBlend package, the feeding instructions say not to leave the food in the bowl for more than two hours. Why is this?

I am interested in getting two cockatiels. I want to make sure they have been raised with good care and that they are healthy. Where's the best place buy them?

I was reading an article about how African greys developed problems with their bones because they weren’t getting enough calcium in their diet. How do I know if my birds are getting enough calcium? If they aren't, what should I do?

My bird likes the colors and shapes in FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors, but lately I've been wondering if he should be on a more natural food. What's the difference between your FruitBlend and Natural foods?

My bird likes the colors and shapes in FruitBlend with Natural Fruit Flavors. Can I also feed VeggieBlend with Natural Carrot Flavor and NutBlend with Natural Nut Flavor?

My African grey seems to prefer the smaller FruitBlend pellet size - the one made for cockatiels. Is this okay, or should I try to get him to eat the size made for him?

I have an orange-winged Amazon who has decided he only likes the banana shape in your FruitBlend food. He picks the bananas out and throws the rest on the floor of his cage. Can I buy this bird food in only the banana shape?

I've heard that too much sugar is bad for birds. Do your products contain sugar?

I have friends who say that the coloring in some ZuPreem diets has had an effect on the bird's skin and feathers. Why do you put the coloring in some of your products?

Are there nuts in any ZuPreem food?

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