Zupreem

[ac12]

My Zupreem Natural order came in and I am NOT happy.
The size SMALL (labeled for finches) is many times larger than the size XtraSmall (XS) that (used to be sold for finches). Based on what I am looking at, you were sent size SMALL rather than XS. I just sent Zupreem a nastygram telling them that the Zupreem Natural currently labeled finch size (SMALL) is too large for finches. Problem is I have a 20 pound bag of the stuff. That is way to heavy to ship back to them for a refund.

So I am now forced to get the fruit flavored pellets which does come in XS, or look for another pellet.

DANG those guys.

[cindy]

Gary...who did you get the order from, just curious.

[ac12]

I had a local bird shop order it for me.
This is not a repackage, it is a Zupreem bag.
The store owner told me that Zupreem discontinued the XS size in the natural, but kept it in the fruit flavored. He thinks they were not selling enough of the Natural XS to keep it a stock item.
But then they labeled the Natural Small for finches, canaries and parakeets.

This is off the Zupreem site:

Fruit Flavored
XS - Recommended for Canaries, Finches and other very small softbills
S - Recommended for Parakeets, Budgerigars, Parrotlets and other small parrots.

Natural
Small - Recommended for Canaries, Finches, Parakeets, Budgerigars, Parrotlets and other small parrots.

I'm thinking of switching to Roudybush nibbles. It is not as big as the Zupreem SMALL. My gouldians already eat that, but I have not tried w the zebras and societies.

[cindy]

Gary, you can order Roudybush direct/online I believe....call them or go to their website and check. I can't remeber the delivery terms.

I am thinking of switching some of birds over to Roudybush, I offer it from time to time all eat it. I used it when raising parrotles and lovebirds. It is a very good food.

[cindy]

I was in PetSmart today....the canary/finch size is now definately a ltiny bit bigger than before, there are two different size bags available but not the 10 lb. The canary/finch size is still smaller than the next size up, the parakeet size. It is still a manageable for the finches.

Canary finch size

Parakeet size

[ac12]

Cindy
The fruit flavored is still available in XS, finch size.
I am "thinking" about which way to go.
- Zupreem - fruit flavored
- something else.

I had my expected shock today.
Saw red in the cage and thought OH NO, BLOOD !!!!
Then I remembered I started feeding some fruit flavored pellets and it was some of the poop that was red, probably from the colored pellets.

I'm almost out of XS Natural, about a pound left. So I started feeding a mix with fruit flavored pellets, to get them ready to change over, if that is the way I will go.

Also giving them some Roudybush nibble size to see if they will eat that.

[cindy]

I mix things up some and did this with my hookbills. Birds get tired of things just as people do. I will buy roudybush and I just bought Laferbers.

I mix my seed with Zupreem. Once in a while I will add ontop the seed as I feed a scoop of zupreem or roudybush....today it was Lafebers. I do this 2 ro 3 times a week.

Tonight the owls jumped right in and tried the Lafebers as did most the zebras. The Green singers were eating it and the Lavenders were discussing it! The younger zebras seem to go right to it!

I don't have issues with most birds with colored poo, some have a bit of yellow and orange. I don't know if it is the pellets but I do use a yellow or orange mineral block grated and mixed in with the calcium mix. I am switching back to white. I don't have any staining on the perches from the pellets and their droppings look normal when I use the white mineral blocks.

[ac12]

Cindy
I talked to the local bird shop owner, and he recommended that I use at least 2 different brands of pellets and give it to the birds in a mix. His reason was sometimes the company may discontinue a products (like the Zupreem Natural in XS), or the distributors may stop carrying a product. So I am going to go with both Zupreem fruit flavored XS and Roudybush Maintenance Nibbles.

The Zupreem fruit XS is not available in 20 pound bags anymore, max is 10 pound bags. Makes it more expensive. I knew I should have picked up the 10 pound bags at the Bird Mart, but I was looking for the 20 pound bags.

I'm getting them used to the Zupreem fruit flavored pellets, and what we discussed before I am seeing again. Some birds will eat the red pellets leaving the other colors, in another cage they will eat the green pellets leaving the other colors. I don't know if it is the color or the taste that causes them to pick one color over the other.

[MicheleTx]

Yikes I pay $42 for a 17 pound of Zupreem....for my African greys....but they love it

[cindy]

Gary, i went to Petsmart and bought a bag of the 2 lb size to compare to the 10lb a friend ordered for me though his store....the Petsmart bag pellets are a tiny bit bigger but slightly smaller thena the Nibbles by Roudybush.

I have not had issues with staining, some pick out certain colors others down it all.