Harrison's Bird Foods

04/02/2025

Simple and effective home remedies for common bird ailments ✨ Keep your feathered friends healthy with these natural solutions! Remember, these remedies are not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Always consult your vet for serious concerns

04/02/2025

Harrison's Bird Foods sponsors educational events for veterinary students -

"I wanted to provide a huge thank you for the support everyone at Harrison's has provided us at Illinois CVM this year. In addition to the Harrison's sponsored educational events we've held, they also have provided a significant sponsorship for our annual Wildlife University student-run symposium and made a donation to support the IL Wildlife Medical Clinic's Wild Night Out fundraiser. Having these funds ensures we are able to continue educating upcoming veterinarians on zoological medicine and supporting our local wildlife in the WMC.

Attached is an article published in our Non-Traditional Species Club Newsletter about Wildlife University 2025. Please take a look if you are interested! The event is held annually, so I'd love to see more of our veterinary student subscribers in attendance next year.

Thank you. Toni Kim"

03/30/2025

🦜 What Your Bird’s Appearance Says About Its Overall Health 🦜

Nails and beaks that are in a state of abnormally fast growth require constant trimming. This condition is usually related to liver disease, and malnutrition is a primary cause. The nails and beak (as well as skin and feathers) reflect metabolic disorders early in the disease process. The outer layer of normal nails and beak is shed as the tips wear off; with malnutrition, the outer layer is retained leaving a rough, jagged look to the surface. This is a form of hyperkeratosis.

Skin
Use the fingernail to evaluate the peeling (flaking) of the skin covering the feet and legs. The skin is a critical area to note some first signs of impending disease. The bottom of the feet is the most important skin surface to evaluate for pattern breaks and balding areas (pre-bumblefoot). Flaking, hyperkeratotic skin is less able to absorb pressure on the weight-bearing surface and tends to rip, tear, or wear thin. On the undersurface of the feet, this begins as pattern loss, then develops into balding and then ulceration (bumblefoot). Malnourished birds tend to develop slow-healing sores in areas of flexion and stretching. These areas are painful and lead to reluctance to move while the area itself may get over-preened, resulting in cannibalization.

Limbs
Many malnourished birds have weak tendons and sit on their hocks. Resulting bald spots are early signs of dietary imbalance. The wings are held in normal positions and appear to be painful due to the fragile nature of the ligaments and tendons. Such pain can lead to failure to stretch and preen, leaving long tail feathers bound in their sheaths.

This issues can be avoided and corrected in most cases by feeding a balanced diet.

*photos used with permission from actual customers

03/28/2025

🌿🐦 Conservation in Action! 🐦🌿

We’re thrilled to share this incredible video from our partnership with The Macaw Society! Together, we’re working to protect and preserve these beautiful, vibrant creatures and their habitats. 🌍

Watch as we dive into the ongoing conservation efforts to protect macaws in the wild, ensuring future generations can witness their stunning beauty. From habitat restoration to anti-poaching initiatives, every step we take brings us closer to a brighter future for these magnificent birds.

💚 Let’s keep the momentum going – your support makes all the difference! 💚

03/27/2025

Even the big kids like Nuggies!!

03/26/2025

A must read!!

What is that hole at the back of this hawk’s tongue? It is an opening at the end of their trachea, or airway, called the glottis. While it is easiest to see on a bird this size, all birds have this hole, even as itty bitty babies!

An up-close look at the glottis shows you exactly why you should NEVER drip water into a bird’s open mouth — that hole transports air directly to the bird’s lungs. When birds willingly drink water on their own, they close the glottis to swallow. However, when water is dripped, poured, or forced into the bird’s mouth, the water goes right into the glottis, then into their lungs.

Unlike mammals, birds can't cough hard enough to expel water from their lungs. When water fills their lungs, it simply sits there, slowly suffocating them with each breath, and causes their lungs to develop a bacterial infection called aspiration pneumonia, which will eventually kill the bird without quick medical intervention. It takes a trained and licensed avian rehabilitator or veterinarian to correctly hydrate a bird without causing damage.

As we are now in baby season, it is crucial to remember that most species of baby birds don't drink water for the first few weeks of their lives. Babies receive the majority of their hydration from the moisture of the food their parents bring. Even if a baby is gaping (opening their mouths) — which is an automated response with multiple meanings — do NOT drip water into their open mouth. Warmth is the MOST urgent thing that a baby needs, and more warmth than you may think. No matter how hungry a baby is, we do not begin feeding or hydrating them until their body is at the appropriate temperature, or they will die.

If you find a bird that you believe is orphaned or injured, always call SkyWatch at 1-855-40-RESCU (73728) or your closest licensed avian rehabilitator right away! Leave us a detailed message and our trained hotline operator will return your call to provide correct advice. While you wait, the ONLY thing you need to do is contain and confine the bird to a warm (90° for naked babies), dark, and quiet space. Do not attempt to feed or water the bird, it is not only the law, but the right thing to do if you truly want to give them the best chances of survival.

Please share and spread the word!

03/26/2025

🌿🌍 Reviving Populations, One Step at a Time! 🌍🌿

Thanks to YOU, our incredible customers, we’re not just offering the best certified organic foods but our High Potency Coarse (HPC) – we’re helping to make a real difference in conservation efforts. Every purchase directly supports vital initiatives like Kākāpō Recovery, where our HPC nuggets provide year-round food support for these critically endangered birds.

Beyond breeding season, our HPC is used to support Kākāpō in a variety of ways –

Together, we’re restoring balance and protecting precious wildlife. Your support makes all of this possible. Let’s continue this journey of conservation and create a thriving, sustainable future. 💚✨

Thank you for being part of the change!

03/23/2025

Every couple months we like to post this since we have so many new followers.

03/22/2025

Look what is coming next week!

NUGGIES!

Nuggies, a revolutionary new treat designed to support bird health and diet transitions. Made with organic ingredients and free from corn syrup. Nuggies are the ultimate treat to complement our certified organic diet range, providing a healthy, tasty snack for your feathered companions.

Nuggies are the first-ever organic seed-formulated diet treat that is designed with your bird's well-being in mind. Whether you're transitioning you bird to a new diet or simply looking to offer a nutritious reward, Nuggies is formulated to be the perfect solution.

03/21/2025

:
🦜🌿 Fun & Safe Enrichment Idea for Your Feathered Friends! 🌿🦜

Did you know the produce section at most grocery stores often has potted organic herbs? 🥬🌱 These make perfect, natural foraging toys for your small or medium birds!

Just a quick tip: Be sure your bird isn’t nibbling on the plastic pot! If they show interest in it, simply remove the plant and toss the pot for a safe and enriching experience. 🪴💚

Your birds will love this fun, healthy, and safe way to explore new textures and tastes!

Have you tried this with your bird? Share your pics or tag us in your foraging fun! ✨

03/20/2025

🌱✨ We’re seeing the sprout trend make a comeback, and we wanted to share a quick memo from 2 of our PhD nutritionists. Here’s what they had to say about the benefits and potential downsides of incorporating sprouts into your birds diet.

03/19/2025

03/19/2025

✨ Many bird owners ask why their birds' feathers look tattered and torn. If you're wondering the same, this is a must-read for all bird lovers! 💡 Get the inside scoop on what could be causing those feather issues and how to help your feathered friend thrive. 🪶👇

What Your Bird’s Appearance Says About Its Overall Health:

Feathers show the critical first signs of impending disease, especially if due to malnutrition. Birds in very early stages of illness include the following characteristics:

Feathers fail to zip (i.e., they have saw-toothed edges).

Feathers are constantly in the developing (pin feather) stage. This is a form of hyperkeratosis, which is an accumulation or over-production of keratin in the surface layers of simple, squamous epithelium or structures derived from this skin layer.

The bird experiences abnormal molts. This is usually only a partial molt and occurs with abnormal frequency. Birds may lose
small powder feathers periodically throughout the year. Major feathers (tail, wing) should be molted (lost and replaced with pin
feathers) once a year. Many malnourished birds partially molt several times a year and retain most of the large tail and wing feathers as well as rump, breast and neck feathers, which develop the signs that are outlined. A normal molt occurs when a bird is fed a proper diet. It may take up to (and occasionally over) one year to completely replace abnormal feathers. Abnormal feathers retained a second year following a diet change indicate further evaluation procedures including organ function tests and perhaps biopsy.

Feathers are broken, bent, or missing.

Feathers are dirty or stained (may be green stained around the vent from bile-stained urine).

Feathers are inappropriately colored for the species (pink feathers instead of red; yellow instead of blue; black in green feathers; or yellow in white feathers). The color patterns of feathers should be vivid, intense and symmetrical.

Affected feathers fail to snap back when bent or creased; they remain bent or are damaged; These imperfections may encourage the bird to over-preen, resulting in feather “chewing” or splitting.

Feathers in malnourished birds are thin and translucent. When an unhealthy feather is held up to a light, one may be able to readily see through it.

Most of these problems are related to liver disorders, and the common cause is malnutrition. (The presence of yellow feathers in normal white feathered areas of cockatiels is a sign of liver disease and is just as serious as yellow skin is in mammals).

Birds that are constantly fluffed up with drooped wings are often in the latter stages of illness or starvation.

Feathers that are frequently misted with water are cleaner, stronger and exhibit less dust.

03/18/2025

Woohoo! Much better pricing than UPS and in many cases beats USPS too.

03/17/2025

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Save some green at www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com use promo code 5 off and take $5 off any order till April 1, 2025.

03/16/2025

Happy Buzzards Day! Did you know that the common buzzard has exceptional vision and can see about 3 to 5 times farther than humans?

Check out more fun facts about buzzards at https://birdofpreyproject.org/common-buzzard-fun-facts/

03/14/2025

NATIONAL LEARN ABOUT BUTTERFLIES DAY
On March 14th, National Learn About Butterflies Day encourages us to look for a blur of color as butterflies begin migrating across the country. Each year the celebration brings with it an awareness of the varieties of butterflies and their importance to our survival. Spring and summer are just right around the corner, so it is an excellent time to take a few minutes and learn something new about butterflies and appreciate their beauty.🦋✨

Did you know that butterflies and birds share a vital role in our ecosystem? Both are essential pollinators, helping plants and flowers thrive! 🌿🌸

At Harrison’s Bird Foods, we believe in keeping our planet and our feathered friends healthy with certified organic nutrition—free from harmful pesticides, just like the flowers butterflies love! 🌍💚

Celebrate today by learning more about these beautiful creatures and choosing organic options for you, your pets, and your lawns for a healthier planet! 🌱