.....For your birds health: Seed diets are deficient in: Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Lysine, Methionine, Tryptophan, Calcium, Manganese...

Common problems associated with seed diet malnutrition

• Obesity/hepatic lipidosis
• Hyperkeratosis
• Poor feathering and abnormal molting
• Feather picking
• Beak deformities
• Chronic and recurrent infections

Fresh Vegetables

The most beneficial vegetables to feed are the dark green and leafy or dark yellow--those with high vitamin A content:    beets, broccoli, endive, escarole, carrots, parsley, pumpkin, squash and sweet potatoes.

Fresh Fruits

Fruits should be offered in limited quantities.  Apples and grapes are commonly feed but are high  in water and low in nutrients.  Good sources of vitamin A include papaya, cantaloupe and apricots.

Hint: Introducing vegetables

*Try chopping up a variety of veggies and putting them on top of the seeds.
*Make cornbread and mix in veggies and/or vegetable baby food

Pellet Conversion

Is a process in which a bird is converted from a seed diet to Harrison's Bird Diet.  Birds must have a current examination before starting the process (within the last 3 months) and a general blood screen is recommended.  During this process the bird will be weighed daily and food consumption will be evaluated.  If the bird is not eating or is losing significant weight it will be crop  (tube) fed.  Your birds health and welfare is of utmost importance to us so if at any time your bird is not performing well during the conversion process , you will be notified and based on the doctor's evaluation, we will decide whether or not to proceed with the process.  In most cases conversion takes two weeks, however some birds will take longer especially if the have a history of chronic health problems.

Please bring your own cage whenever possible.  Your bird will be more comfortable in  familiar surroundings.  Cages are provided when necessary.  Please bring the food that  your bird is currently eating so that we can mix it with the pellet mash during the conversion process.

Changing from a seed diet to a pelleted diet

1. Mix small pellets with enough water to make a mush.  Mix seeds in with the mush and put some seeds on top.  Your bird should start eating some of the pellet by digging through to get to the seed.  *Some birds prefer to have the pellets mixed with a treat such as juice or yogurt.
2. When your bird is eating the seed mush mixture well, progressively mix in less and less seed.  Watch to make sure your bird is eating well (one way to tell if a bird is eating as much as usual is if it is pooping as much as usual).  Take your time, it may take 2 to 4 weeks or more to convince your bird that a healthy diet is in their best interest.
3. When your bird is eating the mush well, start adding dry pellets.  Yes, your bird will learn to love the convenience and good nutrition.  
4. In addition to pellets, the diet should include fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin A.  Many other foods will dilute out the good nutrition of the pellets.