why not sunflower seeds ?

incognito

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4 Pairs of CAG, Blue Fronted Amazon breeder, Vosmaeri Eclectus pair breeder, 20 Cockatiels & chicks, 3 breeder pair of INR, 2 Breeder Pair of Lorries, 2 Monk Parrot Pairs, 2 Rump Pairs, 50 love birds
i wonder we all try to give our parrot the best nutrition we can and i hope everyone agrees...


as dumb question this is but if they love to eat sunflower seed and always prefer to eat it over most food offered. why they choose sunflower how they get this instinct that sunflower is love of their life. it is not so good rather in bad category of food to be offered. if it is bad how they cant judge it not good for their health. today i was having a bad time and momo was showing a bit rudeness i offer her like 20 sunflower seeds and she was all good. if sunflower is bad then for me right now it made my day with my bird.

as high i am right now, dont even know my sentence making any sense or not. one question to all of parrot forum.com


if sunflower seed is bad why they love to eat it. regardless their natural instinct.

i would love to hear from all of you.
 

MonicaMc

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Sep 12, 2012
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It's because sunflower seeds are pretty fatty/oily, and if birds eat too much of them, it can make the sick.

As a treat or sprouted, it's fine, but they should not make up a large part of the diet. Some people have noticed adverse effects when feeding sunflower seeds, so it can vary depending on the bird.


Birds require a variety of foods. A large variety with everything fed in small increments is far healthier than a small variety of foods with certain foods fed in large increments.
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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I give both my birds sunflower seed along with a mixture of other seeds and nuts. I see nothing wrong with sunflower seeds in moderation. But they are a really fatty seed.
 

Riio

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Apr 19, 2011
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'Rio'~RIP baby girl 'Sunshine'~Yellow Side Green Cheek Conure
I compare it to junk food for us, Yup we know its bad, and yet oh so tasty sometimes we just can't say no even when we know its not the best choice. Everything in moderation!
 

Erinsmom

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Sep 27, 2012
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Right now I have 2 adult tiels Annie and Frosty and their two off spring Penelope and riley
I agree with Riilo its like junk food... well maybe a bit better but so high in fat and calories....moderation is best.
 

MollyGreenCheeks

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Jan 16, 2012
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I Agree that in moderation or sprouted they are fine but not as a major part of their diet.

BTW, as high as you were, I hope you weren't getting high near your birds. That is unless you were simply high on life!!!
 

Mike

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Sunflower seeds are an entry drug for what Macaws really love--pistachios.

Give your Macaw an unsalted pistachio (in the shell) and you've got a friend for life.

I do not include pistachios in Mardy's dish. I carry them around in my pocket and give them one at a time as a reward.

Sometimes I feel like a dope dealer hanging around a school yard.
 

Eloy

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Sep 4, 2012
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It's not like junk food. But yes it's fat but good oil.
To say junk food just because they have to much fat it's wrong.
They have a lot of protein, minerals and vitamins, and good fatty acid.
But to much Omega 6 and for that reason you should not give to much of them.

I give them too, but not free access.
 

Riio

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Apr 19, 2011
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San Diego California
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'Rio'~RIP baby girl 'Sunshine'~Yellow Side Green Cheek Conure
It's not like junk food. But yes it's fat but good oil.
To say junk food just because they have to much fat it's wrong.
They have a lot of protein, minerals and vitamins, and good fatty acid.
But to much Omega 6 and for that reason you should not give to much of them.

I give them too, but not free access.

Sorry, I didnt actually mean that sunflower seeds themselves are 'junk' food, I was just saying that even if a bird knew somehow that they weren't the best thing for them, they are so tasty it would be hard to say no. Kind of like how 'junk' food is for humans. :D
 

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