Do I want to feed my parrot pellets?

Many people feel uncertain about putting their parrot on a pelleted diet because it’s not ‘natural’. This is true, but the popular seed diet, for example, is not ‘natural’ for a parrot either; it is given out of human tradition. Seeds are only one of many food items that may be consumed by wild parrots and it is important to recognise that the majority of seed and grains used in commercial mixes do not occur in a parrot’s natural habitat, especially in regards to Australian natives. The seeds that are eaten in the wild are widely varied from area to area and are more often eaten in their milk seed or sprouting form which is very different nutritionally speaking. To provide a completely natural diet for your bird would require the kind of work that most companion parrot owners do not have the time or resources for and would find very difficult to get right. Pellets have come a long way since their first conception and will continue to get better and more species specific as further research into avian nutrition is completed. Currently they provide all the vitamins and minerals (in the correct proportions) your parrot is known to need.

Whilst you can feed your parrot on a 100% pelleted diet and meet all their needs nutritionally it is terribly unfair and boring not to provide a variety of fruit, vegetables, sprouts and pulses as well. Foraging for a wide range of food occupies a large part of a wild bird’s day and is known to have many psychological benefits when encouraged in captive pets.

What’s the difference between extruded and pressed pellets?

There are two main ways of manufacturing pellets and the main difference between them is the temperature the ingredients are mixed at. The hotter way, producing pellets they call ‘extruded pellets’, partially cooks the mixture. This has the advantage of breaking down the cellulose structures of certain ingredients to release the energy contained. This is helpful because birds lack the digestive enzyme necessary to take full advantage of this stored energy. The cooler way is often referred to as ‘cold pressed’. This is a misnomer as the ingredients are mixed at over 90 degrees Celsius and pressed into pellets whilst still hot. However, the temperature is not high enough to break down the previously mentioned cellulose structures. The appropriate enzyme must be added to the mixture if those ingredients are not to be redundant.

Who is Australian Animal Nutrition?

AAN have been formulating and producing avian products for almost 10 years, while the director Michael Vojtek, an animal nutritionist, has been involved with birds for over 30 years. Michael has completed Avian Nutritional/Formulation studies which are regularly updated with post graduate courses in agriculture, nutritional sciences and other relevant subjects.

AAN uses only the finest products available to make their pressed pellets and each ingredient is checked and tested prior to being included in a batch at their HCCP approved plant. The premium products also undergo gamma irradiation (a very safe and expensive treatment) to remove any mycotoxins, aflotoxins, insects, bacteria(s) and any other pathogens which may have been within the base product or machinery. They regularly confer with Mr J Lu (Animal Nutritionist) to ensure no micro or macro nutrients are missed, and the fullest attention is paid to new results and research in avian nutrition around the world. Based in Australia and with plenty of manufacturing runs per year, you can be sure the product is fresh.