If you want the best health for your parrot, you need to understand a lot about their diet. Many people make the mistake of simply feeding their beloved pet a seed diet.
Easy in every sense of the word and very often cheap. Misinformed parrot owners believe that it is adequate to keep their companion happy and healthy. This couldn’t be more wrong.
Think of their readily available, manufactured seed-based diets as the parrot equivalent of humans eating fast food every day.
We are aware of the many health problems associated with this type of food, it should be no different for your parrot.
A little thought and interest in the benefits of a varied diet for parrots will do them a lot of good.
A great start is to find out what they are eating in the wild. These are foods like fruits, vegetables, flowers, seeds, grasses, and insects to name a few. It might also be an idea to ask your veterinary practice for any advice they might have.
However, there are some benefits to having a supply of a commercially formulated parrot diet, but still try to offer your bird fresh alternatives.
Recent developments in organic pelleted diets have caused most parrot owners to breathe a sigh of relief. The organic option is a bit more difficult to find, but is generally a better choice for the foundation of your parrot’s diet.
Organic pellets that are made up of grains, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and fortified with vitamins and minerals are a good choice for the foundation of a parrot’s diet. About 50-60% of the food consumed is acceptable in the form of pellets.
Fresh vegetables are a great accompaniment to a parrot’s diet. You must remember, as with all fresh foods, that they should be removed from the cage after a few hours if not eaten, as they will lose their freshness and quality.
The best varieties are those with a dark yellow or green leaf. Try a variety of the following: broccoli, bell peppers, leafy greens, parsley, carrots, green beans, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower.
In addition to vegetables, fresh fruits such as mango, kiwi, berries, cantaloupe, papaya, bananas, and oranges will be a good alternative to a seed-only parrot diet.
Parrots will love fresh fruits, especially exotic fruits that they normally forage for in their natural habitat. You should not overdo it with the fruit, but once or twice a day is enough.
Other foods you may want to give your pet are grains, such as cooked brown rice, quinoa, oats, and barley. Vegetables, after being cooked; beans, lentils and peas. Small amounts of cooked lean meat or boiled eggs are also beneficial.
Some parrot owners also feed edible flowers such as pansies, nasturtiums, hibiscus, marigolds, and dandelions.
One of the best foods you can give your parrot is sprouted seeds. They are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants.
You may have heard of some parrot owners giving a vitamin or mineral supplement. However, if you are already feeding your bird a wide variety of foods, a supplement should not normally be required. An exception is a calcium supplement, but always talk to your vet before making such decisions.
Just as it is important to know what foods to give your parrot, there are things you should avoid at all costs. They are as follows: chocolate, avocado, rhubarb, fruit pips, caffeine, alcohol, apple seeds, processed meat, onions, dairy products, and anything that has started to grow mold.
