Parrot Diet
When it comes to parrots there are many different shapes and sizes, but the parrot diet usually remains the same. A healthy diet is critical to the overall health and longevity of your bird.
Parrots have not been studied enough in the wild to know exactly what their diet is in all stages of their lives and currently the “experts” cannot agree on an ideal diet for pet parrots. However, they all agree that for most parrots, feeding them only seeds is not healthy, even if the seeds are high quality. Some parrots do well on a strictly seed diet, but that does not mean that their diet is balanced. It just means that parrots are very hardy and can survive on the minimum if they have to. To support this conclusion, you will find that seeds are too high fat and deficient in Calcium and Vitamin A. In the wild, parrots do not eat seeds exclusively and seeds should only make up about 10% of your parrots diet. If you have a Cockatiel or Budgie, both eat a lot of seeds in the wild, you should make sure that seeds do not make up more than 25% of their diet.
Parrot pellets are a good option, but can quickly bore your parrot. These birds are smart and they crave stimulation from everything, even their food, which can make parrot feeding a challenge for you. Pellets are nutritious and balanced. They contain seeds, grains, minerals, and vitamins. Pellet food can be used as the base diet for your parrot, but pellets should not make up more than 50-60% of their diet.
Don’t be afraid to offer your parrot fresh vegetables and fruits. You can chop veggies and fruits up for smaller birds or serve them in large chunks for large birds to hold and chew on. A simple trick to stimulate your parrot and make foods a little more exciting is to hang pieces of fruit and vegetable from the side of the cage. That way they have to do a little work to get their food and it keeps them from getting bored. The best way to make sure your parrot is healthy is to provide a well-rounded diet of seeds, pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Some vegetables that make up a healthy parrot diet are green beans, cucumber, eggplant, carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet peppers and cauliflower. They like a lot of other vegetables, so that’s a good start. As for the fruit, do a little research and find out what types of fruit are found in their natural habitat and try to buy those fruits for them. The fruits you find your research will probably include melons, kiwi, papaya, mangos and pomegranates. Make sure that your parrot does not eat the pits or seeds of the fruits because those can be toxic to your feathered friend.
Other foods that are toxic to parrots include cocoa or chocolate, guacamole, avocado, mushrooms, caffeine and alcohol. Also avoid feeding them foods that are high in sugar, salt, grease, food coloring, preservatives and other additives.
If you want to incorporate more grains into your parrot diet you can try oats, wheat, barley, cooked brown rice and pasta. Those are all great sources of nutrients. Some parrots also like unsweetened whole wheat cereals and whole wheat breads.
Parrot owners have to assess their parrot diet very critically because these birds are very sensitive to the foods they eat. The majority of problems in parrots can be traced back to malnutrition; for example, an African parrot may start plucking its own feathers. An experienced parrot owner will tell you their bird’s diet is paramount and that a parrot’s nutritional needs must be met at all times.
Ryan Benson is the author of The Ultimate Parrot Training Secrets. In it you will discover the best foods for your parrot and how to make sure they are happy and healthy – required reading for anyone that is considering a parrot.
YES, Ryan! I Absolutley Want To Learn The Secrets Of Raising And Keeping A Vibrant, Happy And Healthy Parrot For Life!
Send Me My 100% Free Parrot Training & Care
Mini-Course Today!
