PEGO's Freeze Dried Whole Food Pellets

[What is freeze-drying?]
Freeze-drying is a method in which food is first frozen and then dried under vacuum by sublimating the ice (turning it directly from solid to vapor). Foods made this way are called freeze-dried.

[Why do we recommend it?]
Pellets were once commonly recommended to make up about 70% of the diet, but that view has been shifting. Today, many recommend keeping pellets around 30% and making 70% or more of the diet from whole foods—vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, herbs, coconut, and mealworms.

A range of expert opinions and research in Europe and North America has fueled a growing movement among some bird keepers to reduce pellet ratios and favor whole foods.

Many people find it burdensome to buy several kinds of organic whole foods every day and prepare them (washing and chopping). In those cases, freeze-dried foods are a practical alternative.

[Nutritional value of freeze-drying]
Freeze-drying can retain about 95% of a food’s original nutrients. If fresh produce is considered 100%, only about 5% is lost. Recent advances also allow these foods to be made without additives, and because little heat is used, nutrient and flavor loss is minimal. Color, aroma, and nutritional value are well preserved, so you can feed with confidence.

Suitable for finches, as well as small, medium, and large parrots.
Not recommended for Eclectus parrots.
Not suitable for lories or lorikeets.

In bird nutrition, “whole foods” are ingredients that wild birds could obtain in nature—fresh vegetables and fruits, seeds, nuts, herbs, coconut, edible flowers, insects, and items that are soaked or sprouted. In short, foods you can recognize at a glance.

With the exception of processed products such as pellets, supplements, and bird cookies, most of these are considered whole foods. (Seeds count as whole foods, too.)

As with regular pellets, we recommend lightly misting the pellets with water before feeding. Feeding them completely dry is not recommended.

Because these pellets are freeze-dried and extremely low in moisture, moistening them before feeding helps prevent them from drawing moisture from your bird's body. It may also reduce the need for excessive water intake.

That said, eating is always the top priority. If your bird prefers them dry, it is acceptable to feed them that way. Just be sure your bird has access to fresh water and is drinking enough.

Whenever possible, offer fresh, moisture-rich foods in the morning.

Breakfast: Fresh whole foods
Evening: Our Whole Food Pellets

We recommend keeping pellets to 30% or less of your bird's overall diet. They can also be offered simply as a treat. Gradually introducing your bird to fresh vegetables is highly recommended.

Feeding Tips

Small birds, such as finches and budgies, may find the pellets difficult to eat at their original size. If needed, break them into smaller pieces by hand, crush them in a bag, or grind them into a more manageable size.

Our most recommended method is to rehydrate the freeze-dried pellets by soaking them in water before feeding.

Store at room temperature, away from heat and humidity. Once opened, use promptly; reseal the zipper tightly or transfer to an airtight container. For reference, our team keeps it in airtight jars from IKEA.

Made with pesticide-free, non-GMO whole food ingredients.

The fruits and vegetables are washed with apple cider vinegar or baking soda. All soaked and sprouted ingredients are treated with GSE. Every ingredient is freeze-dried and never heat-processed.

The ingredients are listed alphabetically from A to Z, not in descending order by weight. The package contains three pellet colors—light green, red, and yellow—in an equal 1:1:1 ratio.

【Light Green Pellets】
② Biodiversity Green Forage (10 herbs)
⑬ PHIT (12 herbs)
Butternut Squash
Celery
Collard Greens
Flax Seeds
Goji Berries
Green Apple
Green Banana
Green Beans
Radish
Soaked Chia Seeds
Soaked Quinoa
Sprouted Lentils
Sprouted Rolled Oats
Zucchini
36 ingredients total
Approximate ratio: 3 parts rolled oats, 4 parts vegetables, 2 parts fruit, and 1 part other ingredients

【Red Pellets】
Basil
Beetroot
Broccoli
Carrot
Green Apple
③ Plumage Perfection Tea (7 herbs)
Red Cabbage
Rolled Oats
Sprouted Mung Beans
Soaked Pecans
Soaked Walnuts
Sweet Potato
Tri-Color Bell Peppers
- Orange Bell Pepper
- Red Bell Pepper
- Yellow Bell Pepper
21 ingredients total
Approximate ratio: 4 parts rolled oats, 3 parts vegetables, 1 part fruit, and 2 parts other ingredients

【Yellow Pellets】
⑪ Green Biodiversity Supplement Powder (9 plant ingredients)
13-Ingredient Leaf Mix
Carrot (Raw & Steamed)
Red Bell Pepper
Red Palm Oil
Soaked & Sprouted Chia Seeds
Sprouted Lentils
Sprouted Rolled Oats
Sweet Potato (Raw & Steamed)
30 ingredients total
Approximate ratio: 4 parts rolled oats, 5 parts vegetables, and 1 part other ingredients

The pellets also contain our Freeze-Dried Vegetable Mix.

The light green pellets contain 36 ingredients, the red pellets contain 21, and the yellow pellets contain 30. After removing duplicates, each bag contains approximately 63 different whole food ingredients. For the nutritional benefits, the ingredient list speaks for itself.

Providing 63 different vegetables, fruits, seeds, legumes, sprouted foods, nuts, herbs, and plant-based oils every day may feel challenging for many bird owners. Because these ingredients are freeze-dried without heat processing, much of their natural nutritional value is retained.

June 2027

Please consume as soon as possible after opening, regardless of the best-by date.

Q: Can these pellets be fed as a meal rather than just as a treat?
A: Yes. However, nothing compares to fresh, raw whole foods, so we recommend keeping these pellets to no more than 30% of your bird’s overall diet. The remaining 70% should consist of a wide variety of fresh, raw whole foods.

Q: Can I feed them without adding water?
A: Because these pellets are extremely dry, we recommend moistening them whenever possible before feeding. If you choose to serve them dry, make sure your bird is drinking enough water.

Q: Can I use these pellets together with pellets from another brand? Can I switch completely to these pellets?
A: These pellets may be fed alongside other brands. However, we do not recommend any diet in which pellets, including these, make up 50% or more of the total food intake. Please do not switch to these pellets as your bird’s primary diet. We strongly recommend transitioning instead to a diet centered on fresh, raw whole foods.

Q: Should I add any supplements?
A: No. We do not recommend using synthetic supplements together with these pellets. While this depends on the purpose of the supplement, these pellets already contain a wide variety of whole food ingredients, so there is no supplement that needs to be added simply for the sake of providing more nutrients. For those who would still like additional support, we also carry whole food supplements.

Q: When will these pellets be available again, and how can I purchase them?
A: Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding future availability or purchasing methods.
In Japan, these pellets are generally not offered for retail sale. We occasionally give them away to followers or include them in special promotions, such as our Mystery box.
We have also received many inquiries from outside Japan, so it will likely be quite some time before these pellets are made widely available for purchase. For now, priority is given to longtime supporters of our store, including those who regularly share our posts, leave comments, interact with us on social media, or frequently shop with us. Thank you for your understanding.

There is no single food that can meet the nutritional needs of every bird species. Simply feeding one pellet and assuming it provides everything your bird needs is not the best approach. Always consider your bird's species, age, and overall health when choosing an appropriate diet.

50% of Health Begins with Mental Well-Being
A varied diet is about much more than nutrition alone. Birds thrive when they can forage, explore different textures, colors, and flavors, and engage in natural behaviors that provide mental enrichment.

Rather than relying solely on these pellets, we strongly encourage offering a wide variety of whole foods as part of your bird's daily diet.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets maximum “defect action levels” for incidental insect matter, and those limits vary by food type and manufacturing process. Because this product uses pesticide-free ingredients and contains no additives, incidental insects may occasionally be present. Insects associated with produce or herbs (i.e., whole foods) are a natural source of animal protein and are generally not harmful to birds; however, please remove them if you prefer. Returns or exchanges cannot be accepted for issues related to incidental insects.