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| The Lake’s Ingredients |
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The Lake’s diets were "originally" formulated to provide the "best" quality ingredients for our own birds, and for associate breeders. We compared monkey chow, human nutrition (life expectancy is similar), and research by our nutritionist as to what was known about Psittacine nutrition. We didn’t want a diet based solely (60+%) on corn, so we matched corn with wheat, wheat being more palatable, and a higher quality source of protein. We use whole grains only. To this base, we add isolated soy protein (a high quality ingredient... contained in milk replacement products, and high energy protein drinks), alfalfa, sunflower seed (not much), kelp, fish solubles, soybean oil, and our vitamin & mineral premix. All our ingredients are "Naturally More Complete"tm!
Our protein consists of bean, grain, and animal protein, to provide the best balance of amino acids. Birds in the wild get their animal protein from insects, and other small animals. We believe in small amounts (and the proper source), animal protein is necessary to provide a complete source of protein.
Isolated soy protein is an expensive 89-91% pure protein product, allowing us more room in our formulation for other ingredients. Consider if you will, the difference in the digestibility of bone meal (ground bones), eggs, etc. verses I.S.P., and then the quantity (% of diet) required to provide the same level of protein. Being I.SP. is derived from soy beans, it provides an excellent source of bean protein. Which proteins would you rather feed?
Fish solubles is manufactured in the first step of making fish meal, when the moisture in the fish is reduced from 90% to 50% using extremely high pressure and temperature. This liquid is sterilized three times, before carried by grain. Due to the strict quality control standards, this is the only animal product we felt comfortable with. Although more expensive, we eliminate contamination concerns found with fish meal, eggs, etc. (animal proteins).
Alfalfa and kelp are two of natures wonders, they provide "many" nutritional benefits, and probably some we haven’t even discovered yet. Alfalfa is a green wonder, and kelp contains 23+ minerals, including the only known source of natural, non-toxic iodine. We derive nearly all of our iodine from kelp.
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| Why is moisture shown in the "Guaranteed Analysis" section of pet food labels? |
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AAFCO Labeling requirements specify that all pet food product labels show the following information:
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Crude Protein minimum %
Crude Fat minimum %
Crude Fiber maximum %
Moisture maximum %
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The moisture remaining in Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets is a consequence of the pelleting process which "extrudes" the food at 180 degree temperature to form its shape.
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| What are the ingredients in Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets? |
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The Lake's diets contain natural ingredients and no chemical dyes or artificial sweeteners. The main ingredients in the Lake's diets are identical in that each diet contains:
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Ground Wheat
Ground Corn
Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal
Dehulled Sunflower Seed
Kelp
Fish Solubles
Soy Protein Isolate
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The moisture remaining in Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets is a consequence of the pelleting process which "extrudes" the food at 180 degree temperature to form its shape.
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| What base ingredients are used in Lake's Ultimate Avian diets and why? |
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It is common for some manufacturers to cut costs by formulating diets based on corn. Although wheat is more expensive than corn, Lake's is formulated with almost equal amounts of wheat and corn. Wheat is included because it provides a higher quality protein than is found in corn.
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| What base ingredients are used in Lake's Ultimate Avian diets and why? |
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It is common for some manufacturers to cut costs by formulating diets based on corn. Although wheat is more expensive than corn, Lake's is formulated with almost equal amounts of wheat and corn. Wheat is included because it provides a higher quality protein than is found in corn.
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| Why are corn and wheat used in Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets? |
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Carbohydrates from corn and wheat produce glucose which provides energy for organs, and to serve as a component of essential proteins in the body. We added wheat to our diets because the protein sources found in wheat are of higher quality and more palatable by both the adult birds and their babies.
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| Why do Lake's use Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal in their diets? |
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To provide birds with greens, Lake's formulated their diet with alfalfa, dubbed by many as "the great healer." This remarkable legume contains eight essential enzymes as well as lime, phosphorus, and vitamins A, B6, D, E, K, and U. Alfalfa meal is also used as a laxative and diuretic, treating stomach ailments and increasing appetite.
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| Why do Lake's use Dehulled Sunflower Seed? |
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The dehulled sunflower seeds are added to enhance flavor and to provide a good source of a polyunsaturated fat. Avian Nutritionists will agree that too many sunflower seeds can be harmful for birds. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Lake's limits the amount of sunflower seeds to an amount your birds will benefit from and enjoy!
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| Isn't Kelp seaweed? Why does The Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets contain kelp? |
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Kelp is an amazing seaweed which contains more vitamins and minerals than any other food. To be more specific, kelp has vitamin B2, niacin, choline, carotene, and alginic acid, as well as twenty-three minerals. Because of its natural iodine content, kelp has a normalizing effect on the thyroid gland. Kelp has been used for weight control, poor digestion, gas, and constipation.
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| Why do Lake's use Isolated Soy Protein and not soybean meal? |
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The Lake's formula contains isolated soy protein, which is used as a source of a concentrated (91%) soybean protein. Isolated soy protein is different from soybean meal which contains approximately 30-45% protein. Because manufacturers must use two to three times the amount of soy bean meal to achieve the equivalent protein levels found in isolated soy protein, there is less room for other quality ingredients. The result is an inexpensive filler.
In addition, all grains have what are called "inhibitors." These inhibitors prevent the seed or grain from germinating before its time. An inexpensive soybean meal which has not been properly treated will actually inhibit the body's use of the trypsin enzyme. The trypsin enzyme is necessary to break down protein for digestion.
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| What are Fish Solubles and are they good for my bird? |
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In the wild, birds have a different diet than in captivity. Fish solubles are an excellent source of a complete animal protein to replace the insects, carrion, and small animals consumed by wild birds. Fish solubles should not be confused with fish meal. Although fish meal contains a higher level of protein, it is a by-product left over from manufacturing fish solubles and other fish products. Quality control in the processing of fish meal is not strict enough to assure a quality animal protein. Therefore, it was Lake's opinion that fish meal did not meet their high standards of quality.
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| How do Lake's stabilize their Vitamin C? |
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The Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets contain an encapsulated form of Vitamin C, not only to stabilize and protect the vitamin during processing, but also to extend the quality and product shelf life.
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| What are polysaccharide Complexes of Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc? |
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As we do with our Vitamin C, we also encapsulate or protect these minerals to avoid complexing to improve bio-availability. In simpler to understand terms, these minerals are protected from other nutrients which can render them unavailable to the body. These complexes also extend the quality and product shelf life.
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| Why do Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets contain vegetable, bean and animal protein sources? |
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By blending these three main sources of protein, Lake's Ultimate Avian diets are able to provide a balance of amino acids. By balancing the amino acids in our diets, the protein is digested more effectively and completely. Because of an increase in the digestibility of the protein, less product is needed to meet the birds requirements. A diet which contains a higher level of protein may put extra strain on the birds kidneys, resulting in possible overworking of the kidneys or even kidney failure.
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| What is digestible protein and why is it so important to my bird? |
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Digestibility is a measurement of the amount of food that is actually absorbed and used by the body for nutrition. Digestibility can be calculated for the food or for individual nutrients such as protein or calories (energy). A higher digestibility indicates that more of a bird food is being metabolized by the body and less being "wasted" and passed into the feces and urine. Highly digestible protein, such as found in Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets, is easily assimilated by the bird.
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| Why do Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets come with different protein levels? |
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We formulate our diets with different levels of protein and fat. These different levels allow for varying stages of a bird's life. Lake's offers a 12% protein Maintenance Diet, which has 80% digestible protein. Lake's also offers a 17% protein Special Needs Diet, which has 85% digestible protein, for birds undergoing the healthy stress of breeding. To avoid overworking the kidneys with protein digestion, the Special Needs Diet is not recommended for more than six out of every twelve months. As a reference, the digestibility of the average dog and cat food is generally around 60-70%.
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| Why do some bird food diets contain higher levels of protein than Lakes Ultimate Avian Diets? |
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When a customer looks at the Guaranteed Analysis panel of a bird food, the first items listed is protein. However, if this protein is indigestible and cannot be used by the bird, the result of this protein is not much more than a filler. Your Bird requires less of a highly-digestible protein to meet nutritional requirements. Lake's utilizes highly digestible protein sources in it's formula, to achieve the same or better end results.
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| Do Lake's Ultimate Avian diets contain preservatives? |
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Yes, the Lake's Ultimate Avian diets contain preservatives known as antioxidants. Antioxidants assure that certain ingredients, such as fat and certain vitamins, don't lose their nutritional value after the bird food is manufactured. Unprotected fats and oils become rancid and vitamins lose their potency unless a preservative is used. Lake's Ultimate Avian diets uses a preservative called BHT. This is a preservative used in many human foods as well as pet foods. It has never been shown to produce harmful side effects and does not build up or accumulate in the animal's body. This is the same preservative that is used in many baked goods, particularly breads, that you may have consumed today
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| What is the ingredient "Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex" which is listed on the Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets ingredient panel? |
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To alleviate your concerns, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite complex is not a harmful chemical. It is however, a very good source of vitamin K. Vitamin K is very important to birds, because it is required for proper blood coagulation (clotting). Vitamin K is very essential for the healthy long life of your bird.
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| Do Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets contain artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners? |
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Lake's Ultimate Avian diets DO NOT have any artificial colors or sweeteners. The select ingredients used in Lake's Ultimate Avian diets supply all the flavor and palatability naturally.
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| Do Lake's Ultimate Avian Diets contain artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners? |
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Lake's Ultimate Avian diets DO NOT have any artificial colors or sweeteners. The select ingredients used in Lake's Ultimate Avian diets supply all the flavor and palatability naturally.
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