THERE ISN’T A WEEK THAT GOES BY THAT WE AREN’T ASKED ABOUT PELLETS, THEIR NUTRITIONAL VALUE, NECESSITY AND COMPOSITION.

After doing some research and talking to people in the industry, here are my findings: A diet 100% consisting of one thing isn’t healthy….A complete diet should consist of 25% seeds, 25% pellets, 25% fruits and veggies and 25% nuts and healthy people foods….

PELLET DIETS

Pelleted diets have become very popular...especially if you have a picky eater who has decided to only eat apples and millet or some other bizarre combination! Some manufacturers state that all that your bird needs to be healthy is a pelleted diet because pellets are supplemented with vitamins and minerals...Unfortunately, these vitamins and minerals are added before the heating process and can be destroyed by the heat.

METHODS OF PROCESSING PELLETS

Pellets are processed by Compression or Extrusion:

In the Compression Method, the ingredients are finely ground and vitamins and minerals added…..This mixture is heated by steam to about 180 degrees…..This mix is then forced through a die and compressed into pellets….Starch and protein in the ground up material becomes sticky when heated by the steam and will hold the dried mix together into the pellet shape.

The nutritional loss is minimal due to the low temperature…..some bacteria will remain even though the majority is killed in the heating process but doesn’t seem to be a concern.

Pellets have less fat and lower caloric densities…..this means your bird may eat more of the pellets than the extruded.

In the Extruded Method, the ingredients are finely ground and vitamins and minerals are added…..Water is mixed with the ingredients and cooked under pressure at temperatures exceeding 300 degrees…..From this, a gruel is made and then forced through a die……when the gruel comes into contact with the air, it expands to form pellets which are less dense and lighter than the compressed method. Because it is processed at a higher temperature, it kills almost all bacteria but unfortunately can also destroy some of the vitamins and minerals.

Manufacturers of this form of pellets feel that processing at a higher temp will cause the fiber to be more digestible …..They also think the extruded diet is more concentrated so your bird will eat less causing you to spend less on the diet.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS:

• THE DENSER THE PELLET THE LESS IT CRUMBLES WHEN YOUR BIRD BITES INTO IT
• AVOID PELLETS THAT CONTAIN ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS…THESE CAN SPOIL AND CONTAIN GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA
• SMELL PELLETS TO MAKE SURE THEY SMELL FRESH….SHOULD NOT SMELL RANCID
• STORE IN A COOL DARK PLACE…YOUR FRIDGE IS FINE
• DO NOT FEED SUPPLEMENTAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS ….THIS INCLUDES CUTTLEBONES, MINERAL BLOCKS AND OYSTER SHELL….
• YOU NEED TO RESTRICT MEAT PRODUCTS, EGGS, CHEESE AND NUTS ALSO (this info came from a pellet manufacturer)

AS ALWAYS, ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR VETERNARIAN ON ALL MATTERS CONCERNING YOUR BIRD….

anne