Lafeber Nutriberries Review

When I adopted my first parrot two years ago, her foster mom gave me a container of Lafeber Nutriberries.  She had purchased them for her bird and it turned out that he didn't like them.  She told me that Lafeber products are excellent and that these Nutriberries could be fed as the main diet rather than just an occasional treat.  I've sinced learned that her advice was not the best but I do still continue to purchase this product as an occasional treat.

 Nutriberries are round, solid balls of corn, seed, nuts, egg, oats, etc.  They come in different sizes for parakeets, cockatiels, parrots, and macaws/cockatoos.  Lafeber used to claim that the shape reduced the amount of wasted product but that statement seems to have disappeared from the packaging and company web site... probably because birds drop just as much Nutriberry onto the bottom of their cage as they do with any other kind of food.  Nutriberries are fortified with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids and, in theory, could be fed as your bird's sole diet.  I feed my birds mostly fresh foods like vegetables, beans/rice, fruit, eggs, sprouts, and chicken so I don't use them as a main component in their diet.  They get just a few Lafeber Nutriberries each week as treats.    I also use this product as their breakfast/dinner when we are away overnight or for the weekend.  I can't leave their usual fresh foods in their bowls because it will spoil and quickly become a bacterial breeding ground.  If I am going to be away for just a night or two, I fill up their "fresh food" bowl with Nutriberries  and they think that they've hit the jackpot.  I don't think they even notice or care that we aren't around when they find their bowl filled with this product.

 I own an Eclectus and a Blue and Gold Macaw.  I alternate between purchasing the parrot and macaw-sized Nutriberries.  Both birds do fine with the two different sizes so it really just depends on what mood I'm in when I hit the pet store.  As soon as they see me grab the plastic tub that holds these little nuggets, they become perfect little angels in an attempt to convince me that, yes, I really should give them one.  The ekkie wolf-whistles and starts dancing while the macaw looks me right in the eye and says "Hello! How are you?"  I am powerless against their manipulative little routine and immediately offer them a Nutriberry.  They grab it with their beak and transfer it to one of their feet so they can hold onto it as they chow down.   I always hear many sounds of approval as they eat their treat--"hel-looooooo", "mmmmmmm!", and my personal favorite: "wow!"  Both birds really enjoy eating these "berries" and will do just about anything so I will give them one.

 I wouldn't recommend Lafeber Nutriberries as a core diet for any kind of bird but I do think that they are wonderful for treats and occasional emergency meals.  They are reasonably priced, easy to find, and birds love them.  I am always amazed at the things my parrots will do for a Nutriberry.