A: Both diets are the same nutritionally. Both have the same proper levels of vitamins, minerals and amino acids your bird needs for excellent health. Both diets have new and improved flavors. FruitBlend Flavor now has more bananas, oranges, apples and grapes ground from fresh fruit. Natural has carrots, celery, beets, watercress and spinach ground from fresh vegetables for a new veggie flavor. Natural does not have the fruity shapes or colors that FruitBlend Flavor has. It will appeal to you if you like feeding your bird a more natural diet.
2. Q: I have three birds. Two of them love your new and improved FruitBlend diet. My other bird doesn’t and wants the old formula. Can I still get it?
A: Your bird seems to be one of those birds with a more acute sense of smell and taste than other birds, and he has become very picky about his food. Unfortunately, we do not have any of the old formula. You may try switching him to ZuPreem Natural Diet. He may become interested in a different flavor and nugget shape, and begin eating it.
3. Q: Why do the shapes in the ZuPreem weaning diet look like Cheerios®?
A: The O's in AvianWeaning Diet look a lot like Cheerios®, but that's where the similarity ends. These O's have been carefully formulated for birds not people. For example, unlike Cheerios, AvianWeaning Diet has controlled levels of iron and zinc - better for birds. The formula supplies balanced protein and fat levels weaning birds need to maintain weight, making a smooth transition from a hand-feeding formula to an adult diet. We discovered many bird owners weaned their birds using Cheerios, because birds learning to feed themselves can easily grasp the O shape. Also, did you know, unlike Cheerios, the O's in AvianWeaning Diet keep their shape when soaked in liquid?
Cheerios® is a registered trademark of General Mills.
4. Q: Before I switched my birds to a pelleted diet from seeds, I added vitamin and mineral supplements. Do I need these now?
A: Because seeds are lacking in many essential vitamins and minerals birds need, bird owners commonly try to provide vitamins and minerals for their birds in the form of supplements or by feeding fortified seeds. Birds have dry tongues and often the vitamins and minerals are not swallowed, or the supplements are discarded along with the hulls of the seeds. You're never sure just how much of the vitamin and mineral supplements your bird is actually eating. However, ZuPreem Avian Diets are nutritionally balanced extruded diets and offer your bird everything he needs for a long and healthy life. ZuPreem diets have balanced vitamins, minerals, fat, carbohydrates and protein in every bite. You don't need to add supplements when feeding ZuPreem. As a matter of fact, you really should not add supplements, because your bird may actually consume too much of one vitamin or mineral, and there's no way to know how much he's getting. When selecting a pelleted diet, be sure to compare. Not all pelleted diets offer the same nutrition. Extruded pellets (or nuggets), like ZuPreem avian diets, offer the best quality nutrition.
5. Q: My African Grey seems to prefer the smaller FruitBlend Flavor nugget size - the one made for cockatiels. Is this okay, or should I try to get him to eat the size made for him?
A: ZuPreem offers FruitBlend Flavor and Natural Diets in five different nugget sizes for different species and sizes of birds. There's a nugget size for large parrots, parrots and conures, cockatiels, parakeets, and canaries and finches. Although most species enjoy the size recommended for them, occasionally a bird will prefer a larger or smaller size nugget. Cockatoos often prefer a smaller nugget. Since the same complete and balanced nutrition is in every nugget size, you can be assured your bird is getting adequate nutrition, no matter which size he prefers.
6. Q: I'd like to switch my 12-year old blue and gold macaw off seeds and onto a pelleted diet. I've heard it may be hard to switch him. Any hints?
A: There's no question that birds get pretty opinionated about their seeds, and it may be a challenge to switch him. You need to have patience and not give up, because the health benefits for your bird will be worth it. (601kb) here on this site for important information, including several step-by-step methods for converting your bird to a new diet. Then you and your avian veterinarian can decide which method may work best for your bird. You may get the actual brochure through your avian veterinarian.
7. Q: I have an orange-winged Amazon who has decided he only likes the banana shape in your FruitBlend diet. He picks the bananas out and throws the rest on the floor of his cage. Can I buy this diet in only the banana shape?
A: Although not common, you are not the first bird owner we've heard from whose bird prefers one shape or color nugget over the others in the AvianMaintenance FruitBlend Flavor Diet. Since the nuggets are uniform in flavoring, it must be the particular shape or color that your bird likes. We do not sell individual shapes or colors, but we do have a couple of suggestions. If you are feeding a lot of birds, you can pick out the particular shape or color this bird likes. The other birds will not be missing anything nutritionally since all the nuggets contain the same complete and balanced nutrient composition. The other suggestion is to try ZuPreem AvianMaintenance Natural, which has the same nutrient content as FruitBlend Flavor but contains all round-shaped, tan-colored nuggets. The same shape and natural color may satisfy your bird's preference for a consistently shaped and colored food.
8. Q: Can I call ZuPreem and get a sample of one of your diets? I'm not sure my bird will like it, but I'd like to try him out on it.
A: ZuPreem does not routinely give out samples and here's why. We feel a sample size is not a large enough quantity for a bird to become accustomed to a new diet. It may take a couple of weeks or longer for an adult bird to completely switch diets. A sample size would not adequately get the bird started on the new diet. With our 100% Guarantee policy, our products are like samples and all are refundable. If you try one of our products, and it doesn't meet your expectations, you may return the unused portion of the product for a complete refund. You may want to try one of our Convenience Pouches. These pouches are excellent for first-time trial, and the cost is minimal. Convenience Pouches are available in AvianMaintenance FruitBlend Flavor and come in five nugget sizes for different species. For a list of retail stores that stock ZuPreem products, go to the Retailer Locator on this site.
9. Q: Can I freeze ZuPreem diets to keep them fresh?
A: All ZuPreem avian diets are good for one year from the date of manufacture, so freezing them is not necessary, To find out what the expiration date is on your product. We recommend you store any ZuPreem diet in the packaging it came in. All of our Avian Diets, except the large 20 lb. bags, come in reclosable zippered bags. These bags are designed to protect flavor and nutrient freshness. Always reseal the package immediately after use. With the large AvianMaintenance 20 lb. bulking bags, or other dry diet bags, push the air from the bag and close with a "chip clip" or other device to keep the package closed and the food fresh. Always store in a cool, dry place, free of pests and insects.
10. Q: I've heard that too much sugar is bad for birds. Do your products contain sugar?
A: Sucrose is added to ZuPreem AvianMaintenance FruitBlend, AvianMaintenance Natural, AvianBreeder, and AvianWeaning Diets, as well as Parrot Crunch and Small Bird Crunch, in very small amounts. Sucrose mimics the simple sugars found in fruits that most birds eat and enjoy in the wild. All sugars such as sucrose, fructose or lactose, are carbohydrates and contain four calories per gram. After digestion, sugars travel through the bloodstream to body cells where they are used for energy to help metabolize fat, help form proteins, or to be stored for future use. Nutritionists and scientists at ZuPreem have added a small amount of sucrose to avian diets to make these nutritionally complete diets more palatable, while at the same time assuring the diets are healthy. Sucrose adds to the enjoyment of many foods. Human and animal health experts agree the addition of sugar can be a part of a healthy diet. The key is moderation to ensure the addition of the sugar does not crowd out the more important nutrients. Many experts warn against attempting to eliminate all sugar from diets, suggesting instead a small or moderate amount that can lead to increased enjoyment and satisfaction.
11. Q: My birds, two green conures and a Moluccan cockatoo, really enjoy their fruits and vegetables, and I enjoy preparing them. Lately, I've been reading that I should limit the amount I feed them. What do you recommend?
A: Most fruits and vegetables are considered healthy additions to a bird's diet, but they shouldn't make up more than 15% of your birds' daily diet. Most fruits lack sufficient protein to meet birds' requirements. Some are high in sugar and carbohydrates, some lack important nutrients, and because they add bulk and fiber, the bird will feel satisfied and not eat the more nutritious balanced diet. Go ahead and keep preparing and feeding them, but just make sure it's in moderation. Remember that comparatively, one small dice of an apple for your bird, depending on the species, is like two or more apples for you.
12. Q: I have friends who say that the coloring in some ZuPreem diets has had an effect on the bird's skin and feathers. Why do you put the coloring in some of your products?
A: Through research, ZuPreem scientists have confirmed that birds find a diet filled with a variety of flavors, shapes and colors more interesting and entertaining. This is why ZuPreem developed AvainMaintenance FruitBlend Flavor Diet. This diet contains five differently colored, individually shaped, fruit-flavored nuggets. It is scientifically formulated to contain the highest quality ingredients - complete and balanced nutrition for birds. Colorants are used in almost every processed food found on grocery store shelves today. They are added to make food more appealing or to mimic a color found in nature. Colorants used in ZuPreem avian diets are the same colorants that have been used for many years in making many human food products, including juices, cereals, cheese, ice cream, jello, margarine, pastries, candy, vitamins, pills, and cough syrup. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tested colorants through the years and has approved seven colorants to be used in food for human and animal consumption. These colorants have been found to be safe, not causing harm or disease. All of the colorants used in manufacturing ZuPreem Diets are approved for use by the FDA. Some colorants, particularly red or purple, may show up in your bird's feces, particularly if your bird decides to eat predominantly one color of nugget. But there's no evidence colorants used in ZuPreem avian diets have an effect on your bird's skin or feathers. In fact, properly balanced nutrition promotes healthy skin and feathers. If a pet owner has concerns about feeding food with colorants, they may choose AvianMaintenance Natural Diet, which is the identical nutritional formula as the FruitBlend Flavor Diet but without the added colorants, flavors and fruit-shaped nuggets.
13. Q: Which flavor of the ZuPreem Treats is the best one for my bird? I want to get the one he'll like the best.
A: Parrot Crunch and Small Bird Crunch come in three flavors and shapes: natural, chili pepper and peanut. There's no telling which one your bird will like best and it will depend on your bird's individual preference. These treats were developed to satisfy birds' cravings for different flavors and different shapes and to provide a healthy behavioral enrichment experience for you and your bird. The nutrients are the same in all three flavors and the ingredients are only different depending on the flavor. Dried chili pepper is added to the chili pepper flavor and peanut meal to the peanut flavor treat. No matter which flavor your bird chooses, you can be assured you're making a nutritious addition to your bird's existing diet.
14. Q: I don't want to feed my birds a diet that has artificial preservatives. What is in the ZuPreem bird diets?
A: All ZuPreem Avian products are naturally preserved. The diets contain rosemary extract, citric acid and natural mixed tocopherols (Vitamins E and C). These natural preservatives maintain product freshness without adding artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin. For years, scientists at ZuPreem have been carefully researching preservatives used in the manufacturing of animal diets, always with the consideration of preserving and protecting the nutrients but with a goal to use the best combination of the safest and most effective preservatives available. All preservatives used in ZuPreem products are approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). back
15. Q: The breeder where I got my two greys who I named Fuzzy and Dusty swears by ZuPreem products and says my birds had an advantage, because they were hand-fed with the ZuPreem hand-feeding formula. What did he mean and what's so good about it?
A: Breeders everywhere have been experiencing the tremendous benefits of Embrace Hand-Feeding Formulas. Read about what they have to say in Breeders Everywhere Are Singing the Praises of ZuPreem Embrace Hand-Feeding Formulas. We suspect your breeder was referring to some of the same things other breeders are saying - greater strength, faster weight gain and better all over good health. There are two formulas, one suitable for smaller species, and the other, Embrace Plus is suitable for larger species with higher energy requirements.
16. Q: How do I tell if the ZuPreem diet I have is out of date?
A: download Read the Date Code (61kb) on this site and you will get the information you need to find out if your product is still fresh as well as tips in how to store your ZuPreem diets.
17. Q: On the FruitBlend package, the feeding instructions say not to leave the food in the bowl for more than four hours. Why is this?
A: Notice the instructions say not to leave "moistened" food in the bowl for more than four hours. ZuPreem cautions bird owners to take care to practice good husbandry procedures by removing the moist food often, as well as changing the bird's water. If the environment is not clean, bacteria growth in the cage or surrounding areas could contaminate the food, particularly if the food is moist. ZuPreem stringent quality control standards ensure that the unopened ZuPreem products you purchase are clean and free from harmful bacteria.
18. Q: I am interested in getting two cockatiels. I want to make sure they have been raised with good care and that they are healthy. Where's the best place buy them?
A: There are many reputable cockatiel breeders, as well as quality pet stores that sell birds. Visit the Breeder Locator and the Retail Locator. Once you locate a breeder or pet store that sell cockatiels, ask the breeder or the store to give you the name of someone who has purchased a bird from them and who would be willing to share their experiences with you. It's very important to ask about the diet history of the birds. Were they hand fed with a quality hand-feeding formula like ZuPreem Embrace Hand-Feeding Formulas? Are they currently eating a high-quality diet like ZuPreem AvianMaintenance Diets? Make sure the birds you choose have had proper nutrition. It is the important foundation they need for long and healthy lives.
19. Q: I was reading an article about how these African Greys developed some very bad problems with their bones because they weren't getting enough calcium in their diet. How do I know if my birds are getting enough calcium? If they aren't, what should I do about it?
A: Most likely, these African Greys were on a diet high in seeds. Calcium levels in seeds are so low that after just a few years on a seed diet, birds may develop muscle and bone problems. Merely giving calcium supplements isn't the answer, because it is the ratio of calcium to phosphorus that is important. A 1:5 - 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus is desirable. This means there should be twice as much calcium as phosphorus in the diet. Most mineral supplements for birds contain this ratio, but when they are combined with the already high phosphorus levels in seeds, the ratio becomes unbalanced. You also don't know exactly how much of the vitamin and mineral supplement your bird is actually eating. The safest way to make sure your bird consumes the correct balance of these minerals is to feed a precisely balanced commercial diet like ZuPreem AvainMaintenance FruitBlend Flavor or Natural Diets. These diets have the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus, as well as precise amounts of other vitamins and minerals.