Feeding

Feeding

Probably the first thing you are going to wonder about with your new bird is what to feed it.

If you got your bird from a pet store or even some breeders they have probably recommended a seed mix. (If not, hug that person right now and say “Thank you for knowing what is healthy for parrots!”) The sad truth is, a straight seed diet is not only unhealthy for parrots (and all cage birds really) it is potentially lethal.

Think about this logically for a moment. In nature, where your bird originated, however many generations back that was, how often do plants really produce seeds? Usually once per growing season. That leaves a lot of time (most of the year really) that your bird would have naturally had to fill the seed gap with other foods, namely fresh green foods and fruits. Sure, seeds are convenient for you, but they are high in fat and low in nutrients (sprouted seeds are another matter entirely, but we will get to those!).

So what do you feed your bird? For a bird that was weaned to a variety of foods, that is the easy part. Just keep feeding what the breeder recommended adding new healthy foods as you come across them. Unfortunately most birds you will find at a pet store were weaned to seeds or have picked up the seed addiction along the way.

What to Feed

Parrot Pellets, for ease of feeding (there are 100% natural diets that you can research, they are an incredible amount of work though!) should make up the bulk of your bird’s diet (40-50%). Pellets are specially formulated food designed to be as nutritionally complete as possible while offering maximum convenience for you. Pellet manufactures include: Zupreem, Harrison’s, Kaytee, Roudy Bush to name a few. Harrison’s comes highly touted as being the most nutritionally complete.

Fresh vegetables and fruits, grains, pasta and even bland chicken should make up another 30-40% of your birds diet.

The last 10% or so? That is where the seeds come in. Remember your bird would naturally eat seeds, just not that often. A small amount as a treat even daily will not hurt your bird provided the rest of its diet is packed full of healthy choices.

Some Food Suggestions:

Broccoli
Kale
Parsley
Spinach
Dandelion greens
Green peppers
Alfalfa
Hot peppers
Sweet potatoes
Yams
Carrots
Butternut squash
Red peppers
Corn on the cob
Bean sprouts
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
Leeks
Artichokes
Zucchini
Green beans
Asparagus
Potato (cooked)
Apples
Grapes
Banana
Berries
Pomegranates
Tangerines
Oranges
Figs
Kiwi fruit
Cooked beans
Tofu
Yogurt
Plain(bland) Chicken
Hard boiled eggs
Brown rice
Enriched pasta
Nuts
Whole grain bread
Unsweetened cereals
Whole grain pastas
Brown rice
Low fat granola
Wheat germ
Wild rice
Sprouted Seeds

Seed Addicts

So now that you know what to feed your bird, how in heck do you get your little seed addict to eat this stuff? Patience, Patience, and then some more patience.

First; Never attempt to starve your bird into eating a new food. Your bird can become very ill, it’s trust in you will be severely damaged, and in most cases the issue is the bird simply does not recognize this new food as “food”.

There is no quick sure-fire way to get your bird to eat what is good for him. The most important thing to remember is to keep at it. Offer only one or two new foods at a time EVERY DAY. For some brave adventurous birds it may only take a few hours, for others it may take months. 10-12 days seems to be the key for Pepper. I know of at least one bird (an African Gray) who takes years (his owner has been trying to get him to eat pellets every day for almost 2 years now). Patience and persistence are the keys.

That being said there are a few tips and tricks you can try:

- Offer new foods in a familiar dish to help the bird recognize that IS food.

- Give new foods first thing in the morning when your bird would naturally forage.

- Let your bird “steal” some of the new food from your plate. Often if they see you eating a new vegetable they will want to try it too.

- Try different forms of the same food, carrots for example can be served raw, diced, steamed, or even mashed.

- Try offering a new food mixed with one you already know your bird likes.

Above all don’t give up. All birds will eat fresh green food especially. It is only natural for them to do so, it will just take time.

Sprouted Seeds

I know I said don’t feed your bird seeds. These aren’t seeds, these are SPROUTED seeds.

Parrot Parrot has this to say about sprouted seeds: One of the best ways to get birds to try fresh foods is to sprout the seeds they normally eat. Sprouted seeds are much different from dry seeds. They are lower in fat, higher in amino acids and other nutrients. They are a live food and far superior to the “sleeping” seed. There are a number of inexpensive sprouting kits and trays on the market and they are well worth the investment. Basic sprouts can be grown in 3 days. After that, refrigerate the sprouts to preserve them. You should only refrigerate them for 3 days at most before tossing them out, however. If you are worried about the sprouts and bacteria, I suggest soaking the sprouts in a solution of water and grapefruit seed extract (available at most health food stores) for a few minutes, then rinsing them thoroughly.

Good for your bird food and it looks familiar too!

Things NOT to Feed

All this talk of what to feed your bird is important. Equally important though is what NOT to feed. The following is a list of potentially harmful or outright deadly things to keep your bird away from at all costs

Avocados

Egg Plant

Rhubarb

Chocolate

Alcohol

Caffeine

Raw kidney beans

Lima beans

 

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