Best pellet brands available in Canada?
Trying to transition my African Grey from seeds to pellets. I know Harrison's is the gold standard but it's expensive. What pellet brands do people in Toronto actually use and can find locally or order easily?
Zupreem Natural is a decent mid-range option and available at most Toronto PetSmarts. Roudybush is another excellent one. For the transition, mix pellets in with seeds and gradually shift the ratio.
Harrison's High Potency is what I use for my Amazon β worth every penny for a bird Einstein's size. You can order from Canadian Bird Stuff or Pisces Pet Emporium.
TOPS pellets are another great organic option popular in the rescue community. They ship to Canada reasonably well. The transition itself takes patience β expect 4β8 weeks for a confirmed seed addict.
Great question and great timing on making the switch β pellets make such a difference for long-term health, especially for African Greys who are prone to nutritional deficiencies.
Canadian-accessible options ranked roughly:
- Harrison's (organic, vet-recommended, top tier) β expensive but worth it
- Roudybush (excellent quality, widely respected) β available online
- TOPS Pellets (organic, cold-processed) β ships to Canada
- Zupreem Natural (decent, accessible at PetSmart/PetValue)
For the transition: don't go cold turkey. Mix 80% seeds / 20% pellets to start, then 60/40, 40/60, 20/80 over several weeks. Add pellets to warm water to soften slightly if Einstein is resistant. Some birds take months β be patient. Congratulations on making the switch!