(My cockatiels are the same way with the bananas) I bought a bag of the Nutraberries Garden Veggie variety for him to try and now other than some real veggies and a bit of table food that is all he will eat. The Zupreem will sit in his bowl and always goes untouched. I always put it in but it hasn't been touched in months. I am wondering what everyone thinks about using Nutraberries as a main food source for QPs. I know about the Fatty Liver disease problem but really don't know how these factor in to that. I thought the garden veggie would be good for him and there is no sunflower in it that I can see. What does everyone think about this? Thanks!
Full Version: Nutraberries As Main Food?
When I got my QP Larry bird a year and a half ago he was just 8 weeks old and eating almost exclusively small Pretty Bird pellets. I upgraded him to Zupreem Fruit as these were bigger pieces and he liked all of it but the bananas. Funny but I would always end up with a bowl of little bananas (My cockatiels are the same way with the bananas) I bought a bag of the Nutraberries Garden Veggie variety for him to try and now other than some real veggies and a bit of table food that is all he will eat. The Zupreem will sit in his bowl and always goes untouched. I always put it in but it hasn't been touched in months. I am wondering what everyone thinks about using Nutraberries as a main food source for QPs. I know about the Fatty Liver disease problem but really don't know how these factor in to that. I thought the garden veggie would be good for him and there is no sunflower in it that I can see. What does everyone think about this? Thanks!
(My cockatiels are the same way with the bananas) I bought a bag of the Nutraberries Garden Veggie variety for him to try and now other than some real veggies and a bit of table food that is all he will eat. The Zupreem will sit in his bowl and always goes untouched. I always put it in but it hasn't been touched in months. I am wondering what everyone thinks about using Nutraberries as a main food source for QPs. I know about the Fatty Liver disease problem but really don't know how these factor in to that. I thought the garden veggie would be good for him and there is no sunflower in it that I can see. What does everyone think about this? Thanks!
I'm not familiar with the Garden Veggie variety but all the Nutraberries I've seen are stuck together with molasses (LOTS of sugar!!!). I would be working on getitng him back on the pellets.
Yup.. high in sguar.. I would stop giving the nutriberries immed. and give him his pellets with fresh food ... pellets are definitely a healthier choice for him and nutriberries are best as treats. We give ours a broken one into several peices about once/week and some millet spray as a treat.
As a training treat for when we're interaating together i got some bird dried papaya fruit that he LOVEs..,, maybe you could try something like that as a treat! Good luck!
As a training treat for when we're interaating together i got some bird dried papaya fruit that he LOVEs..,, maybe you could try something like that as a treat! Good luck!
I'd definitely stick to pellets as a main source of food with added fresh foods in their diet. 
There was a fantastic discussion about this a few months ago... so instead of retyping everything, some great information can be found HERE! 
Hope that helps!
There was a fantastic discussion about this a few months ago... so instead of retyping everything, some great information can be found HERE! Hope that helps!
I agree with the general concenous here, If you really look at a nutriberry, read the label the major part of the nutriberry is seed. On some of the bigger bird varieties there are a few small pellet type morsels but very few, They are held together with either molasses or corn syrup (SUGAR) they have added vitamins and minerals mixed in but the usually only goes onto the hull of the seeds and doesn't penetrate the the actual seed itsself, That's the term (fortified with vitamins and minerals)
So in my opinion by giving a bird a diet with the majority of it being nutriberries, you're just feeding it candied seed. As a TREAT its fine but as a staple I don't think its a good idea.
Stop and think about when you were a kid, If you had your choice of eating candy all day or eating veggies which would you do? Same thing goes for a bird.
If you birds seem to pick out one color of the fruity flavored pellets have you thought about switching to a natural type where the pellets are all the same color? You can then offer them variety by the different fruits and veggies that you offer them. Plus by changing to a single colored pellet you will be making it easier on yourself by being able to tell any change in their droppings easier.
I only give nutriberries as an occasional treat I'd rather they had straight seed than the extra molasses or corn syrup. And my guys do get a small amount of seed mix every so often, when ever the mood strikes me.
So in my opinion by giving a bird a diet with the majority of it being nutriberries, you're just feeding it candied seed. As a TREAT its fine but as a staple I don't think its a good idea.
Stop and think about when you were a kid, If you had your choice of eating candy all day or eating veggies which would you do? Same thing goes for a bird.
If you birds seem to pick out one color of the fruity flavored pellets have you thought about switching to a natural type where the pellets are all the same color? You can then offer them variety by the different fruits and veggies that you offer them. Plus by changing to a single colored pellet you will be making it easier on yourself by being able to tell any change in their droppings easier.
I only give nutriberries as an occasional treat I'd rather they had straight seed than the extra molasses or corn syrup. And my guys do get a small amount of seed mix every so often, when ever the mood strikes me.
Thanks for the link it was very helpful..Seems like a lot of others have had this issue and debate.
I do not give him seed mix at all. I did try a single color pellet by Zupreem that has dried pepper bits in it. He won't touch it. He does eat fresh green pepper and love snap peas and broccoli. I think it is one of the main attraction to the Garden Veggie Nutri berries because he won't eat any of the other types of nutri berries and he doesnt care for most fruits. He is a veggie kinda guy. I think I will try to wean him off the berries though and not buy more when my supply is gone (which will be a while cause I bought a 3 pound bag and he is eating 8 berries a day. (4 in the morning and 4 in the evening) Maybe reduce it by 1 per feeding at a time until he is off the bird crack. Kinda like a parrot intervention! 
QUOTE (Larry Bird's Mom @ Jun 29 2008, 12:14 PM) 
I do not give him seed mix at all. I did try a single color pellet by Zupreem that has dried pepper bits in it. He won't touch it. He does eat fresh green pepper and love snap peas and broccoli. I think it is one of the main attraction to the Garden Veggie Nutri berries because he won't eat any of the other types of nutri berries and he doesnt care for most fruits. He is a veggie kinda guy. I think I will try to wean him off the berries though and not buy more when my supply is gone (which will be a while cause I bought a 3 pound bag and he is eating 8 berries a day. (4 in the morning and 4 in the evening) Maybe reduce it by 1 per feeding at a time until he is off the bird crack. Kinda like a parrot intervention!
I just had to say this last post made me LOL!!! Thanks
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