OUR BIGGEST FANS!

A special feature of the soon-to-be-unleashed Harrison's Bird Foods website is a feature that shares photos of Harrison's "Biggest Fans".

Needless to say, if your bird is a Harrison's Fan we want to share his or her photo too!

Just join us on Facebook and share a pic on our feed designated as "Biggest Fan" or email Jean@HarrisonsBirdFoods.com
Check out a few that are already included!

THE HARRISON'S BAG

Many of the top questions we get in the Harrison's Technical Dept. have to do with the infamous brown Harrison's bag. Should the food be repackaged into plastic bags or Tupperware? Should the food be frozen in the bag, etc.?

The current Harrison's Bird Foods bag

As Harrison's Bird Foods are a certified organic product and do not contain artificial preservatives we asked bag-makers to develope a bag that works to preserve freshness. The "bag" itself is indeed the preservative.

It should be noted that a lot of work went into developing this bag. When the Harrison's triple-layered plastic/foil/paper barrier bag was introduced in the 90's this type of packaging really had yet to be seen elsewhere. We worked closely with bag manufacturers to create a very specific type of bag. The plastic liner is an excellent moisture barrier, so why not just use a plastic zip-lock baggie (Harrison's actually used to ship in a plastic baggie, inside a cloth bag. Remember those - see pic below?). The two main problems with a typical zip baggie is that they do not block light, nor do they stop the permiation of oxygen, which are two of main causes of foods going stale (rancidity).

Where plastic fails, foil excells. The second layer of the Harrison's bag is made of foil which really does the trick in keeping foods fresh. Foil blocks light and keeps oxygen out.
In recent years we did away with the paper outer layer.  Now bag companies are able to print faux-kraft paper look right on to the bag itself without having to waste paper.

So what about all the other popular (re)packaging option?
- Zip Lock baggie: plastic does not block light or oxygen.
- Tupperware: only partially blocks light, does not block oxygen and a half-empty container is also half full of oxygen.
- Glass jar: does not block light. Glass does block oxygen but again a half-empty container is also half-full of oxygen.

Original Harrison's cloth bag - seen here feeding
wild macaws in Tambopata

The bag that the food comes in really is the best option for storing Harrison's certified organic foods.
As there are no artificial preseveratives in Harrison's, the manner in which you purchase and store the foods is very important in regard to keeping fresh foods.
Some simple recommendations can be helpful...
- Don't buy bags that hold more food than you can feed in 6 weeks (after opening). A 5lb bag of food is far too much for a parakeet. At some point you will either be feeding stale food or tossing several pounds of food. For small birds purchase small packages.
- Store bags in cool dry place that is free of rodents who can chew through bags.
- Once bag is opened squeeze air out, zip shut and store in the freezer or refrigerator. Cold temperatures slow the natural breakdown processes of all foods.

If the zipper is accidentally removed or damaged you can simply squeeze out the air, roll down and "chip clip" the bag shut. Oxygen will not force it's way in through the roll-down.

Pay attention to the "use-before" date on all Harrison's bags. Do not feed expired foods regardless of how they are stored. Do not purchase food that is not in the original packaging. Please report any instances of this practice (800-346-0269 or customerservice@harrisonsbirdfoods.com)

As you can see, the bag has come a long way over the years. In its current form it really does work wonders in keeping bird food fresh!

Letting Your Parrot Choose its Own Diet?

"My bird is my child..." and other similar comments are repeated time and time again in pet bird circles and for dedicated bird owners this really is the case. So considering that your bird is your "child" would you then allow him or her free-choice in selecting their own diet?

It's a nonsensical scenario  for a child and it is the same for a pet bird. Birds need the responsible, guiding hand of their "parent" just as a child would along with the understanding that a bounty of "stuff" fed to a pet bird based merely on what the bird likes to eat is not doing the bird any favors.

Does the following sound like your bird? "My bird eats a seed buffet but picks out the little red things and he won't eat the green things.  He gets plenty of fruits, veggies, pasta, nuts, seedy treats and a plate of whatever I'm having for dinner - but just kicks the food my veterinarian recommends out of the cage."
What child wouldn't deny Grape-nuts or spinach if they had access to a bounty of candy bars and pizza all day long?

Unfortunately, the signs of typical bird on a poor free-choice diet are not quite as blatant as an obese child with chocolate all over his face. Often there are no signs, but as time goes on they will assuredly manifest themselves in more subtle ways like poor feather and beak quality. Beaks should not have to be trimmed and feathers should not be discolored, muted or frayed. The bird should not have dander or peeling feet. Molts should be seasonal and thorough. A bird that cannot complete a molt or only achieves partial molts most assuredly needs help in the diet department. Often birds seem to get "stuck" in an ongoing molt. This is dietary.
Harrison's is essentially a line of premium, certified organic "health" foods for pet birds and has decades of tried and true results when fed in a manner as suggested via feeding directions on the back of every bag. This means discontinuing the smorgasboard of "stuff" and providing a stricter, loving supportive hand. Your bird will thank you for this with a long, healthy life with fewer illnesses and emergency visits to the vet.

While acceptance of Harrison's by most birds is typical, certain birds (especially those with bounty of "stuff" to eat) will be picky and hesitant to eat nutritious formulated diets know that ANY bird can and will eat Harrison's so long as the owner is committed to the bird's dietary health. We offer a number of online tips and we have a live, friendly staff available during business hours (toll-free: 800-346-0269) should you have any questions about your bird's diet. Harrison's recommends any diet change be preceeded and overseen by your avian veterinarian.

Letters From Our Clients - Digby the Timneh Overcomes Calcium Deficiency

We at Harrison's love to hear from the folks who use our products. We get comments, questions and all sorts of interesting inquiries. Our favorites though are always the special updates that talk about birds who are doing well. This week we received this lovely letter from Irena, who shares her Timeh's story of overcoming a calcium deficiency using various Harrison's products as well the successful usage of Booster and Soother Plus Cream.

We would like to extend a very special thank you to Irena for sharing Digby's story with us.

"Dear Harrisons Team, 

I am your biggest fan and emailing you to thank you for all the wonderful products you make. My timneh african grey Digby was diagnosed with calcium deficiency last year, it was quite bad and accompanied by a bacterial infection and a very enlarged liver. He was a rescue grey so inherited quite a few health problems from the old times. At that time he was already getting Harrisons but he didn't eat nearly enough of it and I have to admit I didn't try hard enough to get him to eat more of it. But after the diagnosis our vet advised us to feed him mainly pellets, along with a liver and calcium supplement. Since then Digby's been eating a lot more Harrisons in the form of fine nuggets as that is the size he prefers, birdie bread and Power Treats. I stopped the calcium supplement after a couple of months when his ionised calcium levels became normal, his liver has got reduced in size too, but of course kept up the Harrisons regime. Two days I had the biggest shock of my life when my Digby has laid an egg! Not a boy anymore then! The next day we went to the vet to check up his (her!) calcium levels and it came back perfect, even after laying the egg! I am so so grateful for your products which allowed my girl to lay the egg without complications.

We are also big fans of Avix Booster and Avix Soother cream and spray. Ever since I got him he keeps getting cracks on his feet once in a while, despite all the possible husbandry changes I've made over the last 3 years I've had him. The last time he got them they got quite bad, it coincided with the egg laying period and must have worsened the condition, according to the vet. But with regular dose of Booster and Avix Soother on his feet they are almost fully healed now. While laying the egg, as it was her first egg, there was a little tear and bleeding. Our vet said it was nothing to worry about, but Soother came to the rescue once again and only two days later and her bum is looking a lot better, there is no blood and it is all coming back to normal in that area.

So as you can see we use your products extensively and can't thank you enough for such brilliant, safe products!

Here is Digby, posing with his goodies,

Kindest regards,
Irina"

For further reading discussing ionised calcium metabolism in African Greys (research article) please visit The Measurement of Ionised Calcium in Grey Parrots (Stanford)

Introducing Omega-3 Sunshine Factor

Animal nutritionists have found that most commercial diets for animals (from birds to elephants) contain a ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids that is too high for sustained health. This might be as much as 10 to 30 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3s, leading to a deficiency of omega-3. It is important to have the proper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 in an animal's diet.Current research in humans is showing that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, help lower risk of disorders, such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis, and improve cognitive and behavioral function.

Buy OMEGA-3 SUNSHINE FACTOR

With this in mind, Harrisons’ Pet Products has been consulting with nutritionists and testing formula changes for palatability in order to increase the omega-3 levels in their Sunshine Factor supplement for use in all animals.

HEALx Omega 3 Sunshine Factor contains a proprietary blend of red palm fruit and perilla oils resulting in higher omega-3 levels (minimum of 16%) to help balance your pet’s diet.

See also SUNSHINE FACTOR – HERE ARE THE FACTS

BENEFITS:
• Contains omega-3 fatty acids to help balance the abundance of omega-6s found in many commercial animal diets

• May help lower the risk of certain disorders, such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis

• May improve cognitive and behavioral functions

• May help improve circulation, reduce inflammation and improve the effectiveness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

• Is a whole food source of carotenoids (precursors to natural vitamin A, including alpha-carotenes, beta-carotenes, lycopene and at least 20 other carotenes)

• Is a non-synthetic source of vitamin E. In addition to 2 forms of tocopherols, Omega-3 Sunshine Factor contains all 4 of the tocotrienols (super potent vitamin E), which have 60 times the antioxidant activity of the tocopherols.• Is a natural, rich source of coenzyme Q (CoQ vitamin K, squalene, phytosterols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, glycolipids and phytonutrients

• May benefit the animal’s eyes and heart

• May improve the animal’s energy level, particularly in geriatric, pediatric or weak patients

• Is beneficial for all aspects of the skin, coat or plumage, including dry skin, dull hair or brittle feathers


• Is easy to administer because animals like the taste

Vitamin precursors from natural whole food sources have more potent positive health benefits and fewer side effects than those from synthetic sources.

SUNSHINE FACTOR – HERE ARE THE FACTS

Recently we received inquiries from concerned pet owners who were shaken up by various unsubstantiated internet claims/inferences about RED PALM FRUIT OIL, i.e. Sunshine Factor.
Considering the current high interest in these details, we wanted to prepare an official entry that clarifies concerns.


CLAIM 1: Sunshine Factor is simple palm oil.
FACT-CHECK: Incorrect.
Sunshine Factor is made from red palm FRUIT oil. There is a very significant difference, and there are many commercially available sources of simple palm oil, but few of red palm fruit oil.
Palm fruit oil is a cholesterol-free member of the vegetable oil family. It has been erroneously grouped together with coconut oil and palm kernel oil under the "tropical oil family," which are known as high-cholesterol or trans-fat oils. Palm fruit oil is one of the most nutritionally filled vegetable oils currently on the market.
Red palm fruit oil originates from the flesh of the fruit from the palm tree Elaeis guineensis. This oil is not hydrogenated or processed and contains no trans-fats. It has a dark orange to red color.
Palm fruit oil is naturally semi-solid at room temperature and does not require hydrogenation. It is an excellent replacement for partially hydrogenated fats for many reasons. Like other edible fats and oils, palm fruit oil is easily digested, absorbed and used to maintain a healthy metabolism.
http://www.trustedpartner.com/docs/library/000087/RedPalmOilweb.pdf

CLAIM 2: Use of Sunshine Factor results in high LDL cholesterol, clogs arteries, causes heart disease due to high levels of saturated fats and varying other negative claims.  
FACT-CHECK: Incorrect.
In human studies, the general properties of red palm fruit oil include the following: decreased incidence of arteriosclerosis, lowered blood cholesterol, decreased occurrence of blood clots by increasing vasodilatation, lowered incidence of strokes and heart attacks and improved immune function. Red palm fruit oil has also been reported as a “chemopreventative drug,” because it has been shown to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells and improve the effectiveness of tamoxifen therapy.

Red palm fruit oil is considered to be one of the richest natural sources of carotenoids. The benefits of carotenoids in humans include their antioxidant and anticancer effects. These antioxidants scavenge free radicals. The accumulation of free radicals in human medicine has been associated with heart disease, cellular aging, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Carotenoids are needed for the growth and repair of body tissues, the formation of bones and teeth, the resistance to infection, the development of healthy eye tissues and proper cellular function and differentiation. Red palm fruit oil contains beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene and phytoene. Beta-carotene can be converted to vitamin A as required by the body. Alpha-carotene may also be converted to vitamin A and has been found in human medicine to be superior in the inhibition of some forms of cancer in cell-culture studies.

Red palm fruit oil is rich in multiple forms of vitamin E. Although it is often assumed that there is only one type of vitamin E, there are actually eight different forms. These include four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Most diets only contain alpha-tocopherol; however, the tocotrienols are considered to be far superior in their antioxidant effects. The general properties of the tocopherols and tocotrienols in human medicine include the following: inhibit the enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol synthesis, decrease LDL and triglycerides, raise HDL, increase immune function, have anticancerogenic properties, lower risk of cataract formation and modulate the formation of prostaglandins controlling a component of the inflammatory cascade. Palm fruit oils are the richest natural source of antioxidants, such as tocotrienols, which may exhibit activity against tumor promotion and, in turn, inhibit certain types of cancer. Tocotrienols may also have the ability to reverse blockage of the carotid artery and platelet aggregation, which reduces the risk of stroke, arteriosclerosis and heart disease.

In one human study, 31 subjects took a palm fruit oil supplement every day for 30 days. No other changes were made to their diets. They continued to eat whatever they desired. The results showed that palm fruit oil supplementation lowered both total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in all volunteers. The magnitude of reduction of total cholesterol ranged from 5 to 35.9 percent and the reduction of LDL cholesterol ranged from 0.9 to 37 percent. What was even more important was the effect the palm fruit oil had on the cholesterol ratio. The cholesterol ratio was reduced in 78 percent of the subjects, demonstrating a highly significant and favorable response to supplementation (Tan, 1991).

CLAIM 3: Sunshine Factor is associated with deforestation and the devastating loss of natural orangutan environments in Malaysia and other areas in the South Pacific.
FACT-CHECK: Incorrect.
Sunshine Factor is made using Brazilian farmed red palm fruit oil. Sunshine Factor is a sustainable agricultural product grown on long established farms. It is not harvested from tropical rainforests in locations where burning for new plantations continues to add to the destruction of tropical rainforests and threaten endangered wildlife. Our farms are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Changes of note seen in usage of Sunshine Factor in birds, reptiles, dogs, cats, and other small mammals.
- Improvement in coats/plumage
- Improvement in skin quality
- Increased and more consistent energy levels particularly in senior patients
- Decreased usage of arthritis medications
- Lowered blood cholesterol levels
- Improved weight gain and health in pediatric patients
- Increased the effectiveness of antihistamines for allergy patients

We are proud to announce the all new OMEGA 3 SUNSHINE FACTOR.

What the Wild Bird Feeding Industry Doesn't Want You to Know.

672 Million Bird Deaths Annually Due to Pesticide Use

Today an email came across my inbox that featured a link the following article: The Bird-Killing Company. The article explains how a popular wild bird food company knowingly sold tons of pesticide laced bird food to the backyard bird-feeding public. Many birds died.
Several of the people who were also recipients of this email replied in shock that something so profoundly wrong as bird seed companies poisoning the very birds they were intending to feed.

I too should have been shocked, but I wasn't. I've seen too many instances of the same. Years ago we (Wild Wings Organic Wild Bird Foods - Harrison's wild bird division) had shared the disturbing report of 672 million bird deaths annually due to agricultural pesticide use (US Migratory Bird Council). 672 Million is a lot of birds. I can't imagine how many birds might reside here in the entire state of Tennessee at any given time but I would guess that number close to 672 Million. Probably less. An entire state’s worth of birds, killed annually. Do the math and wonder why we rarely see red-winged blackbirds and other dramatically reduced species that once thrived.

It was around this time that we were attempting to present the Wild Wings line as a viable organic alternative to traditional, pesticide laden wild bird seed. We attended a number of industry trade shows, thinking naively - that we might be seen as the new heroes of the "progressive" wild bird marketplace. Boy were we wrong. On the first day of one such meeting I personally happened to overhear the president and other members of the then current, attending bigwig industry council formulating a plan to make sure the attendees did not get shammed by the unfounded rhetoric purveyed by these “bogus organic bird seed vendors”.
It just so happened that we were indeed shunned by just about every attending member.

The following year we were invited to purchase a booth at the annual vendor meeting of a national backyard hobbyist retailer. On the first evening of the show we were visited by the company's director and instructed that in no way were we allowed to discuss the difference between a certified organic seed and traditional seed grown using chemical pesticides, etc. nor were we to discuss the potential health concerns to birds that lie in exposing them to chemical pesticides. "Keep the buyers in the dark" was our forced protocol of the meeting.

Numerous other times "the industry" would rebuke our attempts to share with the backyard hobbyist the harmful nature of pesticides used in the growing and storage of traditional wild bird seed. I was once interviewed by an online environmental magazine where I shared some thoughts on the dangers of pesticide use in bird seed. In the same article my comments are followed by this quote from an industry spokesman: "It isn't the birdseed that is affecting the birds. Even if the crops get sprayed, by the time the seeds are harvested and packaged, they aren't dangerous to birds."
How could they possibly know this? Baffling..

Awareness of pesticide dangers both environmentally (contamination of land/water sources where the crops are grown) and to the actual seed-eating backyard bird itself continues to be mired in cluelessness, and apathy by industry retailers. You can walk into any national home improvement center and you will find the bird seed stock piled up right next to lawn care pesticides. How hard would it be to keep them separated? Even the big natural food retailers show little interest in organic bird seed. They carry essentially the same stuff as the local hardware store.

So upon seeing today's report that a company has allowed contaminated seed to be dispersed the retail marketplace I respond with less of a surprised reaction, knowing that very similar events have been transpiring in this industry all along. I wonder that their take is on the article.

What can you do? There are a few things...
- Feed certified organic seeds in your backyard. Premium certified organic backyard bird seeds and many fun organic blends are easily purchased @ WildWingsOrganic.com.
- Ask your local backyard hobby shop / natural food store to carry certified organic seeds and blends.
- Ask your hardware store to keep the seed far away from the poisons.
- Support the efforts of organic farmers worldwide to retain a healthy uncontaminated environment.


Or simply don't panic. Go organic!
Jean Coffinberry
Project Manager