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KAYTEE exact® HAND-FEEDING FORMULAS
QUALITY AND MIXING INFORMATION
During the hand-feeding season when more people are feeding babies, questions are asked about the color of the formula, the mixing consistency, and whether or not something with the formula may be causing a health concern. The following information about the Kaytee exact® Hand-Feeding Formulas (HFF) will answer some of the questions you may have.
Manufacturing & Quality
• HFF is manufactured with the highest level of quality and attention. When the product is being manufactured, both Quality Control and Research/Development representatives are present to monitor the manufacturing process. All equipment is sanitized prior to manufacturing the HFF. Samples are regularly taken during manufacturing, mixed for consistency and evaluated to make sure the product is within QC specifications. Samples of each lot are subjected to bacterial and mycotoxin testing, and retained for 18 months should there be additional need for testing.
• When manufacturing a product that contains grains such as corn, the color of the product will vary from batch to batch depending on the harvested grains. We do not artificially color the HFF but there can be a color difference from purchase to purchase even though formulation is identical.
• The HFF produced is fed to babies at the Kaytee Avian Research Center, along with other large breeding facilities that act as field testing locations. We are in constant contact with them as they provide us "real-life" feedback.
Consistency/Grind
• A primary concern of the HFF is the actual cook level of the product, as this will effect how the product mixes and, therefore, baby hydration. This is tightly controlled during manufacturing and is verified in the event of a complaint. There is a range of specifications for the grinding of the product that is checked throughout the run (i.e. particle size). These specifications are closely monitored so there is less variability in texture that might be noticed when mixing. This helps with the initial mixing of the product, but will not affect the chick's hydration.
The grind or particle sizes of the product are very minute compared to the food stuffs that parents naturally feed their babies. These small particles of HFF do not cause crop slow down or health concerns. As is common knowledge, an individual baby's crop motility, the environmental conditions, or other health issues can initiate crop slowdown or other health related problems. (See Kaytee's Technical Focus, Diseases and Disorders of the Avian Crop, for more information on this subject.)
Mixing
There are dramatic differences in how people mix the HFF. Different mixing techniques will affect how well the formula performs. It is important to use hot tap water or water that is approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit (F.) when mixing the formula, and then to mix it vigorously. This helps break down the particles and activates the enzymes in the product. The mixed product (if mixed with room temperature formula) will then be in the feeding temperature range of 105 to 110 degrees F. If microwaving the water, be sure to mix thoroughly and cool the formula to below 110 degrees F. (If the HFF is too cool, less than 100 degrees F., many babies will not accept the formula and it can affect the baby's crop function. If the HFF is over 110 degrees F., there is increased risk of damaging the crop tissue or even burning the baby's crop.) Note: If you are boiling water to purify it, cool it down to about 120 degrees F. before adding to the formula. Adding boiling water when mixing the formula will alter the consistency and will affect the intended nutrients and enzyme activity.
Depending on a person's mixing techniques, it is easy to add too much water to the product. Most people do not measure the HFF and water, but rather mix the formula by adding the water until it is the consistency they want to feed. We understand this is the most commonly used technique. If someone has a concern about the consistency of the product, we recommend a mixing test to help visualize the consistency of the formula being fed, and to determine if the mixing technique needs adjustment.
The HFF is intended to absorb a certain amount of water, and once it reaches that point, any additional water will be free to "separate". This is similar to a sponge that can only absorb so much water. When mixing the HFF by consistency or "feel", it is possible to be adding too much water unintentionally. One extra cc/ml of water can be enough to cause some separation once it has reached its absorption point. To help understand how the formula is being mixed, the following test is recommended:
Mixing Test
- Using a cup (clear glass helps to see if everything is mixed well and to check it later for separation), tare the gram scale to zero/0 and weigh out 30 grams of HFF.
- Add 70 grams of hot tap water (or if using microwaved or boiled water, cool it down to about 120 degrees F.) to a total of 100 grams.
- Mix the formula vigorously, making sure all the dry formula on the sides of the container has been mixed in.
- Observe how this mixture works for you as you are stirring it. Document/write down how it mixes compared to your normal mixing consistency, noting any differences.
- Set this cup to the side.
- Take a second cup; tare the scale and weight out 25 grams of HFF.
- Add 75 grams of hot tap water.
- Repeat steps #3 and #4.
- Let samples stand for 3-5 minutes. Note if there is any measurable water on top of the cups, checking for separation and describing the consistency, noting which mixture is closest to the consistency you normally feed.
The 30g/HFF to 70g/water method is similar to mixing one part HFF to 1-1/2 parts water. This mixture is intended to be like creamy pudding, will hold peaks when it is mixed, and will flow like creamy pudding. It will not freely pour off the spoon. (To see how the mixed formula will look, click here to view the exact Hand-Feeding Program video.)
The 25g/HFF to 75g/water method is similar to one part HFF to 2 parts water. More than 2 parts water will begin the separating process and thins out the formula. The formula mixed at this ratio will run off the spoon more so then the previously described mixture. When the babies reach the age of 5 days old and older, we do not recommend the HFF be mixed with any more water than 2 parts, as this would be considered too thin, diluting the nutrient intake of the chick, and resulting in poor weight gains and slower growth development.
For a dependable formula consistency, it is always advisable to mix the HFF by weight instead of volume. When a spoon or cup is used to measure the dry food, the actual amount measured out (by weight) will vary from time to time. If water is added from the faucet, poured in from another container, or mixed by consistency, it is likely there will be a slight difference in the amount of water being added. Any excess water being added will cause a difference in how the food mixes and whether or not it separates.
If the test shows the product is mixing different then the mixture you were questioning, make a notation. If the consistency you normally mix is thinner then the 25/75 mixture this would indicate too much water has been added. If the mixed formula is too thin, cut back slightly on the amount of water being added to adjust the consistency. If it is too thick, add a bit more water, such as 1 gm or 1 cc at a time, to reach the appropriate consistency.
Note: Due to the higher fat content in the exact® Hand-Feeding Formula for Macaws, there may be a residue of fat left behind in the mixing cup or on the syringe.
We understand the emotional and financial difficulties when babies become ill or die without a clear understanding of why. In an attempt to determine the cause of morbidity or mortality, a thorough investigation of all conditions is required. Although most problems can be traced to medical or management issues, it is prudent to question the food quality as well. When someone contacts Kaytee with a concern, we do not automatically presume that there is nothing wrong with the HFF.
We are always interested in information and treat each contact as an individual case, learning about the concern and checking into it. Each contact is taken very seriously, because if there was a legitimate problem with the product, this could help us minimize potentially devastating losses that could occur from a "bad" batch of HFF.
Information will be required about how the product is being mixed, along with environmental and medical information. In the case of death, we encourage the owner to contact a veterinarian for a complete necropsy and histology to help find the true cause of death. Conducting a complete investigation of the cause of death is critical as a tool in the prevention of the spread of contagious diseases, if present. Regrettably, these are far more common in the nursery than many people believe. We will request copies of all medical information as there are various reasons why babies have digestive or health concerns.
We will request samples, mix the product and when appropriate, test the product or actually feed it to healthy babies in the Avian Research Center. Our goal in this process is to differentiate between the extremely large number of management, medical or genetic factors that could result in a problem and a problem created solely by the food. If bacterial tests of the food come back with no indication of a concern or the medical reports do not indicate the food is a factor, we will not have information to show the food is the cause of the problem. As stated before, there are many things that can affect a baby's health, digestion, individual food sensitivities and performance.
If we would have a sample that tests out to have unacceptable levels of bacteria or have information that shows the food is a direct cause of illness or death, we would react accordingly. Kaytee has full recall capabilities in place to remove any "unhealthy" product from the marketplace. We would never intentionally ignore a product concern.
We hope this information has assisted with answering questions you may have regarding the quality and use of the Kaytee exact® Hand-Feeding Formulas (Original for Baby Birds and Macaw). If you have any questions regarding this information or about any Kaytee product, we encourage you to call the Kaytee Customer Service Helpline at 1-800-KAYTEE-1 (1-800-529-8331) or email us at customerservice@kaytee.com, and we will be happy to assist you. If you contact us by email, please include your telephone number so we can appropriately service you.
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