Looking for a balanced daily diet for your cockatiel, conure, or lovebird? ZuPreem Smart Selects Pellets & Seed Blend promises to deliver complete nutrition by combining the convenience of fortified pellets with the natural appeal of seeds that medium birds crave.
This 2.5-pound bag targets popular medium-sized bird species including cockatiels, lovebirds, Quakers, conures, and lorikeets. The colorful packaging showcases various bird illustrations, clearly communicating the intended audience while the dual-texture approach aims to satisfy both nutritional needs and natural foraging instincts.
Ingredients & Nutrition
ZuPreem Smart Selects combines extruded pellets with whole seeds, creating what the company calls a "smart" feeding approach. The pellets contain essential vitamins and minerals that birds need daily, while the seed component includes millet, safflower, and sunflower seeds.
The pellets provide
complete and balanced nutrition according to
AAFCO standards, ensuring your bird gets consistent nutrient intake even if they're picky eaters. Unlike all-seed diets that can lead to nutritional imbalances, this blend forces birds to consume fortified pellets alongside their preferred seeds.
Key nutrients include vitamin A for immune support, vitamin D3 for calcium absorption, and omega fatty acids for feather health. The pellets are artificially colored to appeal to birds' visual preferences, though some owners prefer natural coloring options.
Who It's Best For
Perfect for bird owners transitioning from seed-only diets, this blend works particularly well for cockatiels and conures who resist pure pellet foods. The familiar seeds encourage eating while gradually introducing nutritionally complete pellets.
This food suits households with multiple medium birds, as the 2.5-pound size provides good value without excessive waste. Birds weighing 2-5 ounces typically thrive on this formulation, making it ideal for most cockatiels, lovebirds, and smaller conures.
Not recommended for large parrots like African Greys or macaws, who need larger pellet sizes and different nutritional profiles. Very small birds like finches or canaries should stick to species-specific foods with appropriately sized components.
Birds with specific dietary restrictions or health conditions may need veterinary-prescribed diets instead of this general-purpose blend.
Feeding Guidelines
Offer approximately 1-2 tablespoons per day for most medium birds, adjusting based on your bird's size and activity level. Fresh food should replace old portions daily to prevent spoilage and bacterial growth.
Provide the food in a clean bowl, removing uneaten portions after 24 hours. Many birds eat selectively, so monitor consumption to ensure they're getting both pellets and seeds rather than just picking favorites.
Supplement with fresh vegetables, fruits, and occasional treats, but keep this blend as the foundation representing 75-80% of their diet. Clean, fresh water should always be available.
*Transition gradually if switching from a seed-only diet, mixing increasing amounts of Smart Selects with their current food over 2-3 weeks.
The Bottom Line
ZuPreem Smart Selects delivers solid everyday nutrition for medium birds at a reasonable price point. The pellet-seed combination makes dietary transitions easier while ensuring complete nutrition, and the 2.5-pound size suits most household needs.
However, the artificial coloring may concern some owners, and purely pellet-based diets often provide superior nutritional consistency. The bottom line: this is an excellent stepping stone for birds transitioning from seed diets, though dedicated pellet foods may be preferable long-term.
As with any dietary change, consult your avian veterinarian before switching foods, especially if your bird has health concerns or specific nutritional needs.