Harrison’s Guide to Additional Foods
In their natural habitat, birds spend a considerable amount of time foraging and searching for food. To add interest and variety to your bird’s diet, you can incorporate organic low sugar fruits and vegetables. However, it is important to follow the feeding guidelines for Harrison’s Bird Foods family of certified organic, non-GMO-verified, formulated diets to ensure their effectiveness. Over-feeding other foods may dilute the nutrients provided in Harrison’s formulas. (Remember portion sizes – a single grape to a cockatiel is the same as a 150 lb person eating 450 grapes.)
Follow these feeding guidelines for Harrison’s Bird Foods to be fully effective.
Add:
15-20% Organic Vegetables and Fruits with Low Sugar Content*
These should make up only 20% of the overall consumed diet. Opt for dark-yellow meaty or dark-green leafy items like sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, winter squash, broccoli, parsley, spinach, mango, or papaya.
With:
75 -80% Harrison’s Bird Foods
Harrison’s Bird Foods formula should constitute the remaining percentage of the diet.
For a Total of:
100%. This combination completes a balanced diet and provides enrichment for your bird.
Please note: DO NOT add vitamins, minerals, or feed other bird or animal food products to birds eating Harrison’s. It is important to remember that more is not better for our feathered friends. If given a choice birds will selectively eat and that will lead to malnutrition.
For bird species prone to iron-storage disease:
(e.g., toucans, toucanettes, and aracari, mynahs, etc.)
Avoid citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, strawberries, and other foods containing vitamin C. Similarly, avoid grapes, currants, raisins, liver, red meat, egg yolk, or dark green vegetables like spinach, as they may contain high levels of iron.
For breeding birds:
The amount of certified organic vegetables and fruits fed to the parents may be increased until the chicks are weaned. Harrison’s Bird Bread is an excellent item to feed to the parents and the chicks when they are ready to wean.
Special note:
Do not offer Brazil nuts as they can be toxic to birds.
