A dumbed down version of a conure diet.

It feels like a conure diet is a mine field. I'm reading so many contradicting things. For example, 8 found one Web site advocating a seed based diet (approx 75% seed, 15%pellet rest veg and fruit) but then on another the polar opposite (75 veg and fruit, 15 pellet rest seed)

Can any help me with a simplified diet for my new bird. I believe its on a seed based diet from what I can recall from my first discussion with the breeder (although it was info overload, I couldn't get a word in.)

When I say simplified, I don't mean the bare minimum diet, I mean a simplified way to meal plan his dinners so they are balanced and varied.

Does that make sense?

I struggle to get what my brain wants to say in the written word so it comes out really garbled and confused sometimes.

No easy subject!

When I was search for a healthy diet for our Amazon, I gave up on the internet search for companion parrots. As you found, everyone has an opinion and some are just way off in space.

Start a search for where the natural range is for your conure species. Look for what is naturally found in that range that conures would target. This will allow you to define the foundation for the diet... As you gain more knowledge you will begin seeing groups that provide for their health (chemicals, minerals, etc...).

The hard part is defining a percentage. It is important to understand that most ranges will vary during a year. Determining what is available year around helps to establish a base.

With in the Amazon subForum you will find a huge Thread at the top of that Forum with a Title: I Love Amazons - ... With in that huge Thread on page one, you will find a list of segments within the Thread. Look for a segment that speaks to An Amazon Diet... Within it you will find a chart that provides percentages for an Amazon. Yes, you do not have an Amazon, but it will give you a general idea of what each segment is founded around.

Enjoy.

I believe I have formulated one of the best diets for conures In My Opinion, as I do breed them and lots of them, with all in excellent health
I feed a Finch seed mix, as it is full of millets and other goodies, that may look small, but are 100x better for birds than parrot mixes, and conures do very well on them (does take time to convert your bird onto it), and feeding millets mainly in the diet as the seed part has shown to make birds live much longer
I feed a large fruit and vege mix every second day, so the risk of scours in the birds are minimised and it benefits the birds alot
I always have a supply of seed, pellets, cuttlebone, shell grit and baked eggshells in the cage, which keeps them all healthy

Do what you think is best, but as my results have shown (I bred 9 Conures in 3 Months, thats an awesome result for any breeder), I think everyone is entitled to their own 'Secret mix' for feeding their birds

Cheers
Noah Till

Your avian vet will probably suggest 50-60% pellets, 20-30% veggie, and 10-20% seed, but birds are pretty flexible. The reason that companion birds are recommended to have less seed is because captive birds are a LOT less active than their wild counterparts; overfeeding seed can put your bird at risk for fatty-liver disease, obesity, etc. long-term. Pellets are also specially formulated to have appropriate vitamins/minerals for your bird. I don't want to say they're perfect, because they're not and have been a work in progress for the last 30 years or so, but they can cover a lot of nutritional bases. Feeding fresh veggies also supplements some of the vitamins/minerals as well as providing interest to the bird. Feeding sprouted seeds is also really great for your bird if you're able to provide them.

IndySE said:

Your avian vet will probably suggest 50-60% pellets, 20-30% veggie, and 10-20% seed, but birds are pretty flexible. The reason that companion birds are recommended to have less seed is because captive birds are a LOT less active than their wild counterparts; overfeeding seed can put your bird at risk for fatty-liver disease, obesity, etc. long-term. Pellets are also specially formulated to have appropriate vitamins/minerals for your bird. I don't want to say they're perfect, because they're not and have been a work in progress for the last 30 years or so, but they can cover a lot of nutritional bases. Feeding fresh veggies also supplements some of the vitamins/minerals as well as providing interest to the bird. Feeding sprouted seeds is also really great for your bird if you're able to provide them.

Click to expand...

The SAD reality is the TERM: SEED. In far too many cases, SEED means: Sunflower Seed, which has a load of protein and for some specific Parrots that have a low tolerance for 'too much' protein it quickly becomes a serious health problem. The term seed actually covers a Huge list of naturally occurring seed in each species natural range...

I just want to make sure I keep my bird as healthy as possible by feeding him a good diet ��

When I bought Connie off a lady who could no longer give her time,she was being fed Parrot Mix from Wilko. How she managed to feed herself on that I dont know. It has much to big a pieces,plus a load of peanuts.
I got advice on feeding before I bought her.
And her diet is as follows.

70% Good quality pellets,with 30% Good quality Budgie/finch mix. Separate dishes.

A treat dish with chopped friut and veg



She wont eat anything Green,so it has to be carrot,peppers etc.
A millet spray.

Her favourite are Sunflower hearts,but she only gets one or two as a treat.
Also loves a tiny piece of toast or crumpet for brekkie!

Cagzo said:

When I bought Connie off a lady who could no longer give her time,she was being fed Parrot Mix from Wilko. How she managed to feed herself on that I dont know. It has much to big a pieces,plus a load of peanuts.
I got advice on feeding before I bought her.
And her diet is as follows.

70% Good quality pellets,with 30% Good quality Budgie/finch mix. Separate dishes.

A treat dish with chopped friut and veg



She wont eat anything Green,so it has to be carrot,peppers etc.
A millet spray.

Her favourite are Sunflower hearts,but she only gets one or two as a treat.
Also loves a tiny piece of toast or crumpet for brekkie!

Click to expand...

Where do you get your pellets and seed from?

We have a very good pet place not too far,and the guy there is very up on birds of all kinds.
So we get "Tropican" pellets by Hagen bird care. They smell very fruity! Oh and its the Lifetime formula.

Connie picks one out then dips it in the water to soften it.

SailBoat said:

...Start a search for where the natural range is for your conure species. Look for what is naturally found in that range that conures would target....

Click to expand...

I recommend the book "Pyrrhura Parakeets (Conures), Aviculture, Natural History, Conservation" by Rosemary Low if you want to find our more about GCC's natural habitat.

Thank you for your help

We are also pretty new to the Conure family with our little guy Rin. He gets pellets with a little bit of seeds, walnuts and other fruits mixed in daily. I also supplement his daily diet with at least 4 types of fresh veggies and 1 fresh fruit cut up into a chop. It is in his cage all day and he usually eats it all by the next morning. He has grown from 58grams to 63 grams since August, and is flying now with amazing looking feathers. It appears to be working really great for him. I feed Zupreem (Pasta pellets, veggie pellets and their pure fun seeds) this is all mixed into a storage container so that its mixed really well and lasts a few months. Good luck with your new feathered friend!

When in doubt, subscribe to the advice of certified Avian vets, long-experienced breeders (of conures), and those here whose conures are longest-lived presently (or have had conures with particularly long spans of life - at least 15+).

I asked my conures and they said 100% pizza 100% cheeseburgers 100% lasagna, 100% nacho and potato chips..... but I wouldn't trust them on nutrition, I think they were just telling me what they want.

If ever you need a good veterinary assessment of a dietary issue...



Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.
International contacts, too.
Or... sometimes I find a place to start just by Googling "avian veterinarian near ((your location))"