Conversion to Dr. Harrisons bird food
Before changing food for parrots and parakeets the breeder or keeper should obtain detailed and exact information. To do so please contact our hotline or read our information in Extruded bird food versus previous bird food.
The eating habits of parrots and parakeets can be compared to those of their human owners. In captivity they do not eat what is healthy but what they like. Food, which is new to them, is not accepted at first. Out of boredom they often eat more than they need.
Some birds will eat the Harrisons food immediately; some birds may require a little coaxing. As a rule it can however be stated that every parrot and every parakeet can get used to a new, wholesome, balanced food. In cases where it does not work it is usually the fault of the owner, as every bird can be converted, but not every owner!
The bird does not understand why its familiar and preferred food, which it has eaten for many years, all of a sudden comes in such a reduced quantity. Increased aggression, frequent vocalisations, search for food, and even apathy might occur during time of transition. The informed and committed owner knows understands these difficulties and will help the bird during this short time of transition by giving it more attention and by tasting the new food in front of the bird. Once a bird that has been used to receiving food off the table sees that its master or mistress will eat the new food with gusto (try it, it really tastes good!), it will become interested and soon try the food.
HERE ARE SOME EASY STEPS TO PRESENT Harrison BIRD FOODS TO YOUR BIRD
Some parrots accept the Dr. Harrisons Maintenance or Breeding formula spontaneously. In those cases you just stop offering the previous food. Other parrots and parakeets take more time to accept the food in its unusual form. In this case you should offer the previous food without nuts in limited amount (Amazons/African Grey Parrots ca. 1 tablespoon, large Cockatoos and Macaws ca. 2 tablespoons/each day), and mix it with slightly chopped Dr. Harrisons conversion formula. The previous seed mixture should meet the basic needs only. A slight hunger makes the bird try the new food.
During the time of transition chopped fruits and vegetables should be offered in unlimited quantity. To avoid contamination they should be retrieved from the feeding bowl after 3 hours. During the time of transition the Dr. Harrisons conversion formula for larger parrots or the Dr. Harrisons breeding formula, fine, for smaller parrots and parakeets, can be offered slightly moistened with water or fruit juice. The conversion or breeding formula can be ground, for example in a coffee grinder, and sprinkled onto the fruits and vegetables. The Harrisons food is thus eaten together with the fruits and vegetables. Each day the Harrisons food should be ground less finely, finally you mix whole pieces with the fruits and vegetables. As soon as the bird accepts the whole pieces the food is offered in a separate bowl. Once the bird eats the conversion formula, it should be introduced to the breeding formula and then – depending on species – to the maintenance formula.
Parakeets get used to the maintenance formula fine via the breeding formula fine. African Parrots, Hyacinth Macaws, Palm Cockatoos, and Golden Conures should be given the breeding formula year-round. All others should be given the maintenance formula with 5,5% fat in dry measure year-round. Only when breeding, moulting, recovering from a disease, or when younger than 5 months, should they be given the breeding formula.
Dr. Harrisons food for parrots and parakeets is a balanced food with addition of vitamins and minerals. This means that this food and water are sufficient for your bird. No adding of multi-vitamins or minerals to the food or to the water is necessary. It is recommended to feed limited amounts of chopped fruits, berries and vegetables according to the season. These should be offered in a separate bowl 1-2 times a day and for 2 hours only. After 2 hours the bowls and the leftovers have to be removed from the cage. Another possibility is to hand-feed the fruits and vegetables. This promotes the contact between the owner and the bird and prevents that the bird eats old or rotten fruits and vegetables. Recommended vegetables are: carrots, peppers, pepperonis, tomatoes, spinach, endives, cucumbers, zucchini, radish, maize, parsley, strawberries, rowan berries, apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches, kiwi, bananas, papayas, oranges, mandarins or grapes (in fruits the seeds and stones should be removed before feeding). Avocado is poisonous for most parrots and should not be offered. The fruits and the vegetables should be organically grown.
Small parrots and parakeets should get 1-2 teaspoons fruits and vegetables twice a day, medium-sized parrots and parakeets should get 1-2 tablespoons, large parrots 3-4 tablespoons.
It is recommended to give the birds access to sand or grit or top quality mineral stones (the latter can be ordered from Parrot Park). The sand and the grit should not be placed on the floor, as they will mix with the faeces. They should be offered in a separate stainless steel bowl close to the perch. The same goes for the mineral stones for which specific holders made from stainless steel or aluminium are available.
Offer only as much food per day as is eaten. The amounts recommended in our brochure „The organic difference“ are estimates which vary from bird to bird. 2-3 pieces can be left over. If there is too much food in the bowls some parrots start to squander it and to throw it onto the floor of the cage, from where they should not eat it.
Watch your bird closely. Just because food has been ground to a powder, thrown around, or it is in the feeding cup all the time, is not a sign that it is eating or eating enough. If any of the following should occur, or your are unsure about your bird’s health call your avian veterinarian. These are important warnings that a diet change should be rescheduled:
- appears cold, listless, fluffed-up
- very loose or significantly reduced faeces, while amount of urine/urates has increased
- faeces change their colour to yellow or dark green
- looses more than 10% weight
If you have any further questions concerning the Harrisons food call the hotline +49 234 6049299-0 or send an email to: info(at)zoo-mundt.de. Dr. Harrisons birdfood is often shortened with the term harrison food.
