Vitapol Karmeo for parrots, 500 g is a premium complete food. The product card's specifications class it as food for budgerigars and small birds of all ages. According to the manufacturer, the mix contains extruded ingredients based on fruit and alfalfa, and the number of high-fat ingredients has been significantly reduced to keep caged birds in good shape. The seed mix is enriched with crushed oyster shell, a natural source of calcium for feathers, bones and claws. The new ingredient in Karmeo is dried eucalyptus leaves.
Ingredients
Yellow millet, white millet, red millet, canary seed, oats, linseed, shelled nuts, niger seed, white sorghum, red sorghum, oyster shell grit, hulled sunflower seeds, soya flour, maize flour, dried eucalyptus leaves, wheat flour, alfalfa, papaya powder, linseed oil, calcium carbonate and dicalcium phosphate.
The basis is three kinds of millet and canary seed, familiar to budgies. Oats, sorghum and linseed add variety. Calcium comes from oyster shell, calcium carbonate and dicalcium phosphate. The flours (soya, maize and wheat), alfalfa and papaya are probably part of the extruded pieces the manufacturer mentions.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | complete seed mix |
| For | parrots; specifications say budgies |
| Age | all ages |
| Basis | three kinds of millet, canary seed |
| Calcium | oyster shell, calcium carbonate |
| Extras | alfalfa, papaya, eucalyptus leaves |
| Weight | 500 g |
Pros
- Varied mix. 20 ingredients, three kinds of millet.
- Calcium included. Oyster shell and mineral additives.
- Alfalfa and papaya. Plant ingredients beyond seed.
- Complete food. Suitable as the basis of the diet.
- For all ages.
- Handy size. 500 g for one or two birds.
Cons and what to watch
- Fatty seeds are still present. Niger, sunflower and nuts, despite the promise of fewer fatty ingredients.
- No percentages or analysis. The share of each ingredient, protein and fat is unknown.
- "Shelled nuts" unspecified. Which nut is not stated.
- No vitamins listed. There is no vitamin premix in the ingredients.
- Name and specifications differ. The name says "for parrots", the specifications say budgies.
How to feed
A budgie usually needs 1–2 teaspoons of seed mix a day. Fill a clean feeder daily and blow off the husks or replace the food entirely: budgies eat the seed and leave the husks on top, so a feeder can look full when it is empty. Fresh water is needed every day. The diet is covered in budgie food and care.
What to add to the diet
Seed is the basis, but a parrot also needs fresh food: greens, vegetables and bits of fruit. A mineral block helps wear down the beak and gives extra calcium, for example Zernyatko Lemon. During moulting you can add vitamins such as Beaphar Paganol. Give treats such as Vitakraft crackers sparingly.
Fatty seeds and weight
Caged birds move less than wild ones, so too many fatty seeds — sunflower, niger, nuts — can lead to weight gain. Karmeo contains such seeds, but they are not at the top of the list. If your budgie picks out only sunflower and nuts, do not top up the food until it has eaten the millet.
Other budgie foods
For comparison see the reviews of Versele-Laga Prestige Premium Budgies and the simpler Vitapol Economic. For cockatiels the brand has a separate Karmeo for cockatiels.
Switching foods
Parrots are conservative eaters. Mix the new food with the old and increase the share of the new one over 1–2 weeks. Make sure the bird is eating: if it will not touch the new food, go back to the familiar one and try again later.
Storage
Keep the food in a closed bag or container in a cool, dry place. Seed can spoil and attract moths, so do not buy many months' worth at once, and check it for smell and insects.
Who it suits
Vitapol Karmeo suits budgies and other small birds of all ages as a staple seed mix alongside greens, vegetables and a mineral block. Other foods are in the bird food section.
Verdict
Vitapol Karmeo for parrots is a complete 20-ingredient mix based on three kinds of millet and canary seed, with oyster shell, alfalfa, papaya and eucalyptus leaves. The downsides are that it still contains fatty seeds (niger, sunflower, nuts) despite the claim, no percentages or analysis are given, there are no vitamins in the formula, and the card's name and specifications do not match.
FAQ
Which parrots is it for?
The specifications say budgies and other small parrots.
What is the basis of the mix?
Three kinds of millet and canary seed.
Does it contain calcium?
Yes, from oyster shell, calcium carbonate and dicalcium phosphate.
Are there fatty seeds?
Yes: niger, sunflower and nuts.
How much should I give?
Usually 1–2 teaspoons a day per budgie.
Are extras needed?
Yes: greens, vegetables and a mineral block.
What does it weigh?
500 g.
