Are Pellets really Healthy

[Iggy's here]

The salt in the ingredient list Himalayan salt which has heaps of minerals. This may be why it is included. It is very different from table salt.

Here is a relevant description:
"When you add salt to your diet, the type matters greatly. Today's table salt has practically nothing in common with natural salt. One is health damaging, and the other is healing. Natural salt is 84 percent sodium chloride, and processed salt is 98 percent. So, what comprises the rest?

The remaining 16 percent of natural salt consists of other naturally occurring minerals, including trace minerals like silicon, phosphorous and vanadium. But the remaining two percent of processed salt is comprised of man-made chemicals, such as moisture absorbents, and a little added iodine.

You might be tempted to think "salt is salt," but even the structure of processed salt has been radically altered in the refining process. Refined salt is dried above 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, and this excessive heat alone alters the natural chemical structure of the salt. What remains after ordinary table salt is chemically "cleaned" is sodium chloride.

The processed salt is not pure sodium chloride but is only 97.5 percent sodium chloride and anticaking and flow agents are added to compromise about 2.5 percent. These are dangerous chemicals like ferrocyanide and aluminosilicate"

Now I am sure no expert on parrot nutrition, and I know parrots process salt differently than humans, but maybe, like for humans, the type of salt is relevant.

I might write to the company and ask if they could explain the inclusion of salt in the diet. If I do and get a response I will update this thread.

[Jakrob4]

Hi Iggy
Thanks for your email. Current knowledge is that various parrots need about 0.2% of their diet being salt. There is only 1.5g (0.15%) of Himalayan trace mineral salt added per kg of ingredients in Freedom Organics Australia pellets. It is in their for dietary reasons as well as an attempt to slow bacterial growth, though its not really a large enough amount to do much preservation. I would recommend feeding harrisons and a "parrot chop" mix daily until our release, which unfortunately is still quite a while off.
Kind Regards
Jake

[KimberlyAnn]

Yes, I understand that it is a very mineral rich salt and I do use it at home, but I wonder if it's necessary to put salt in pellets when there will be a good amount of sodium in fresh foods already? Feeding pellets alone is very unhealthy so they should be getting nutrition from other places too. Other then that, it seems like a fine pellet. Most of what's in there, I feed on my own without a pellet so I feel it's a very good option if you do feed pellets.

[Pajarita]

I suspect it's because most people feed mostly pellets with just a little bit of the same old fruits they buy for themselves over and over (let's face it, if you have one or two parrots, from an expense point of view, how likely are you to buy 7 different fruits, 7 different vegetables and 7 different bundles of greens on a weekly basis?) so they are trying to make them as nutritionally complete as possible.

[KimberlyAnn]

(let's face it, if you have one or two parrots, from an expense point of view, how likely are you to buy 7 different fruits, 7 different vegetables and 7 different bundles of greens on a weekly basis?)

Me, because I'm neurotic. Lol But I bring interesting lunches to work! Mangos on salad is soooooo good! Berry salad with my yogurt, YUM! Yams with poppy seed dressing...very very good. I may not buy 7 of each kind weekly, but close to that. Plus her base food which has several kinds of everything.

I would still think with some fresh foods, that would be enough salt. With our own salt needs, I'm often surprised when I log my daily intake and I've eaten no processed foods or added salt to anything. It adds up so fast and I easily go over the new limit of 1500mg. Crazy! Lol

[Iggy's here]

Well who knew...the maker of the Australian pellets I mentioned is a member of this site . Thanks for replying. Shame it will still be a while before we can get our hands on these pellets.

[GreenWing]

Yes, I understand that it is a very mineral rich salt and I do use it at home, but I wonder if it's necessary to put salt in pellets when there will be a good amount of sodium in fresh foods already? Feeding pellets alone is very unhealthy so they should be getting nutrition from other places too. Other then that, it seems like a fine pellet. Moat of what's in there, I feed on my own without a pellet so I feel it's a very good option if you do feed pellets.

Yes, this is a good point. As Pajarita has noted in the past, parrots get enough natural, organic salt from fresh veggies like celery. The pellets sound good, but the sodium content bothers me, too.

I suspect it's because most people feed mostly pellets with just a little bit of the same old fruits they buy for themselves over and over (let's face it, if you have one or two parrots, from an expense point of view, how likely are you to buy 7 different fruits, 7 different vegetables and 7 different bundles of greens on a weekly basis?) so they are trying to make them as nutritionally complete as possible.

Gardening is teh answer! lol

Seriously, in my garden I have chard, and we'll have tons of peas, carrots, kale, lettuce, raspberries, salmonberries, lots of good stuff...

Gardening your own food is like putting money in your bank!

[Jakrob4]

Our pellets were only designed to achieve the best possible health for our birds. We were originally using sea salt but changed it to himalayan under Dr Ross Perry's advice.
They contain no hidden agendas or unneeded ingredients.
If there was ever any signs of the salt content being too high it would be immediately decreased.
If your bird is a constant flyer in a warm climate its needed salt intake should exceed what is in our pellet.
Kind Regards
Jake

[Jakrob4]

We also only recommend the pellet as 50% of the diet so unless your feeding processed foods high in salt, you won't have any problems.

[KimberlyAnn]

GreenWing, I totally agree! I miss having a garden and fresh produce. I will in the next few years when we decide where to buy.