{"product_id":"lafeber-classic-nutri-berries","title":"Lafeber Classic Nutri-Berries Bird Food","description":"\u003cp\u003eHere is the problem Nutri-Berries were invented to solve. Coat a seed with vitamins and minerals, and the bird cracks the hull off and drops every bit of that coating on the cage floor. Grind everything into a pellet instead and the nutrition stays — but so does the boredom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLafeber's answer was to \u003cstrong\u003ehull the seed first\u003c\/strong\u003e, then coat the bare kernel with stabilised vitamins, chelated minerals and amino acids, then bind it into a round berry. Nothing gets thrown away, because there is no hull left to throw. As Lafeber put it, hulling keeps the nutrition \"right where it belongs — in each and every bite\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy the round shape matters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA berry has to be held in a foot and pulled apart. Lafeber's published claim is that the shape offers twice the foraging of a pellet, and a \u003cstrong\u003e2009 UC Davis cockatiel trial\u003c\/strong\u003e they cite found the birds on Nutri-Berries spent considerably longer eating than the birds on pellets, with no difference in body weight, blood values, immune response or physical examination. The pellet-fed birds also drank significantly more water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have ever watched a parrot finish a bowl of pellets in four minutes and then start screaming, that extra time is the point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eChoosing the right one\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eParakeet\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBudgies, lovebirds, parrotlets. 10% pellets.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCockatiel \u0026amp; Lovebird\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCockatiels and lovebirds. 8% pellets — the softest, seediest formula in the line.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConure\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConures, caiques, Senegals, Meyer's and other small-to-medium parrots.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eParrot\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmazons, African greys and similar. 16.5% pellets.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMacaw \u0026amp; Cockatoo\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMacaws and large cockatoos. 16.5% pellets, with corn and safflower leading the blend.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are genuinely different recipes, not one food in five bags — the seed base is re-weighted for each species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGuaranteed analysis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFormula\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProtein min\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFat min\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFibre max\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMoisture max\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOmega-3\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOmega-6\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eParakeet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12.5%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.21%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.37%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCockatiel \u0026amp; Lovebird\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12.8%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.8%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.23%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.90%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConure\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12.5%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.75%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.25%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eParrot\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12.5%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.49%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.66%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMacaw \u0026amp; Cockatoo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12.5%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.18%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.21%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIngredients\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blend is re-ordered per species. The Parrot formula runs: hulled white proso millet, corn, hulled oats, peanuts, hulled canary grass seed, red millet, safflower, maltodextrin, soybean meal, rapeseed, wheat flour, corn syrup, corn oil, glycerin, dicalcium phosphate, gelatin, ground limestone, ground rice, dried whole egg, iodised salt, L-lysine, canola oil, choline chloride, DL-methionine, chelated manganese and zinc, citric acid, natural colour, and a full stabilised vitamin pack (A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C, D3, E, K, beta-carotene), preserved with mixed tocopherols.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Parakeet and Cockatiel formulas lead on hulled millet and canary grass seed; Macaw leads on corn, oats and soybean meal. The full panel for the bag you order is printed on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow much to feed\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLafeber's published guidance is by handful rather than by weight: \u003cstrong\u003esmall parrots (Senegals, caiques) 10 berries at a time; medium parrots (African greys, Amazons) 15 at a time; large parrots (macaws, large cockatoos) 20 at a time.\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep fresh food and water available, and adjust to the individual bird — weigh weekly on a gram scale and let the number decide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhatever you feed as the base, Lafeber recommend greens, vegetables and some fruit at around \u003cstrong\u003e20% of the daily diet\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eNutri-Berries, Avi-Cakes or Pellet-Berries?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLafeber's own answer: all three are nutritionally balanced complete diets, and the difference is structural rather than nutritional — \"the ingredients in pellets are all ground up, and the ingredients in the other diets are whole\". Nutri-Berries are the loose round berry. Avi-Cakes are a pressed square you have to work at. Pellet-Berries are 81% pellet in a berry shape, which is why they are the usual bridge for a bird being moved onto pellets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWho makes it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr T.J. Lafeber was a veterinarian who qualified from Iowa State in 1949 and spent his career treating birds outside Chicago. Seeing malnutrition in his own patients, he developed the first commercial bird food pellet in the back room of his clinic, and founded the company in \u003cstrong\u003e1973\u003c\/strong\u003e on five acres of Illinois farmland bought from his father. It is still made on the family farm at Cornell, Illinois — mixed, formed and packaged under one roof. Lafeber publish non-GMO and human-grade ingredient claims, with no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get asked\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a complete diet or a treat?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA complete diet. Lafeber are explicit that Nutri-Berries, Avi-Cakes, Pellet-Berries and pellets are all nutritionally balanced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy bird eats the berry and leaves crumbs.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNormal — a berry is meant to come apart. Most birds go back for the crumbs. If a lot is left, try feeding fewer berries more often rather than a full bowl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I feed Nutri-Berries alongside pellets?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, and plenty of owners do — pellets in the morning, Nutri-Berries scattered through a foraging toy later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich size should I buy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 10 oz bag for one small bird, or to try a flavour. The tub for a large parrot or a multi-bird household. Buy a size your bird will finish inside a couple of months, and keep it sealed and cool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy bird is on a diet — are these too fatty?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt 6–8% fat they are considerably lighter than a sunflower-heavy seed mix, but portion still matters. Use Lafeber's berry counts and weigh your bird.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lafeber","offers":[{"title":"Parakeet \u0026 Budgie \/ 10 oz bag","offer_id":50522017661147,"sku":"LFB81730","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cockatiel \u0026 Lovebird \/ 10 oz bag","offer_id":50522017693915,"sku":"LFB81740","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Cockatiel \u0026 Lovebird \/ 4 lb tub","offer_id":50522017726683,"sku":"LFB81642","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Conure \/ 10 oz bag","offer_id":50522017759451,"sku":"LFB81745","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Parrot \/ 10 oz bag","offer_id":50522017792219,"sku":"LFB81750","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Parrot \/ 3.25 lb tub","offer_id":50522017824987,"sku":"LFB81652","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Macaw \u0026 Cockatoo \/ 10 oz bag","offer_id":50522017857755,"sku":"LFB81760","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Macaw \u0026 Cockatoo \/ 3.5 lb tub","offer_id":50522017890523,"sku":"LFB81662","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0058\/6733\/9846\/files\/81730-web-fnt-classic-nutri-berries-parakeet-10oz-may25.jpg?v=1790460762","url":"https:\/\/farooze.com\/products\/lafeber-classic-nutri-berries","provider":"FAROOZE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}