Birdie Pilaf

Just thought I'd share this loose recipe for something I make for my bird from time to time. Usually she just eats whatever I'm eating, along with her pellets. But I like to make batches of this and keep it in the freezer so I have food on hand for her if I go out to eat or leave her in someone else's care when I'm out of town. All measurements are approximate, and of course mix and match veggies as you and your bird prefer!

1/2 cup brown rice
1 Tbsp oats
1/4 cup frozen peas (could also use succotash, peas and carrots, or really any frozen veggie mix)
small crown of broccoli, finely chopped
1/2 carrot, chopped
1/4 bell pepper, chopped
sprinkle of cinnamon (makes your bird smell nice!)
1 to 1 and 1/4 cup water

Combine all ingredients and simmer, covered, on low heat for 35 minutes or until rice is cooked.

awww thanks for recipe

Sounds good. I make up batches of food I have cooked also. It is a great thing to do for those times when you are in a hurry. My new bird Cricket has not caught on to mashes yet.

Thanks for the recipe. I make something similar and freeze it in smaller batches. I add raisins but haven't thought of putting veggies in it....hmmmmmm....next batch.

Thanks for the recipe, I will have to make it for Kiwi!!!

I was searching thorough threads looking for ideas for food for my upcoming baby. I think food for me is the most intimidating thing to tackle for someone who has never owned a parrot before.

I have found lots of cookable type bird foods on the net from different sources and I have printed out the list of foods that would be dangerous for my bird so I know what to avoid but still knowing what to put in is a different story.

I understand the need for variety but not clear on combos yet. I have also found on this site some good recipes for birdie breads and such but from what I understand that isn't the main food a Parrot should get everyday, its like a side item or am I not getting that right?

So I am looking to see what would be the best way for my baby to get all her/his needs met while being the most reasonable for my pocketbook. I am guessing me making it at home would be cheaper than buying the made up foods but not certain yet cause I don't have a base recipe to use as my bird's main diet.

I was planning on getting the Zupreem brand pellets because I understand they are a good brand for Parrots. I am also going to offer fresh fruits and veggies daily.

Not clear yet on whether or not to cook beans for the bird, I am guessing yes and I was reading about sprouting them so I will try that also.

I am not even clear on whether or not I should use a mash with a Pionus or it would be better to have it more whole.

Anyway just looking for a jumping point and after going through several threads this looked easy enough to do. Thinking I could always add a few types of beans or whatever to it if it isn't enough on it's own.

Thoughts?

Cooked beans are good because they are a good protein source. You can also offer cooked chicken and turkey. I would avoid meats with a lot of marbling or fat though. And never offer hamburger. No matter how well it is cooked there are still trace amounts of E.Coli. That won't affect humans as we are pretty sizeable, but even large macaws only weigh about 3lbs.

Definitely offer fresh veggies and some fruit daily along with the pellets. They also tend to like multi grain pastas and breads and brown rice.

Just avoid sugar, salt, dairy and high fat foods. Also avocado, onions, caffeine and of course alcohol. Remove any seeds or pits from fresh fruit. Some of those contain arsenic and other toxins.

My birds all love pasta with tomato sauce.

AmazonServant, thanks for the recipe. I used to be able to offer my birds some of whatever I was eating each day. But, now that I have a digestive disease I can't eat veggies or a lot of other things. So I do have to cook specially for the birds.

roxynoodle said:

Cooked beans are good because they are a good protein source. You can also offer cooked chicken and turkey. I would avoid meats with a lot of marbling or fat though. And never offer hamburger. No matter how well it is cooked there are still trace amounts of E.Coli. That won't affect humans as we are pretty sizeable, but even large macaws only weigh about 3lbs.

Definitely offer fresh veggies and some fruit daily along with the pellets. They also tend to like multi grain pastas and breads and brown rice.

Just avoid sugar, salt, dairy and high fat foods. Also avocado, onions, caffeine and of course alcohol. Remove any seeds or pits from fresh fruit. Some of those contain arsenic and other toxins.

My birds all love pasta with tomato sauce.

AmazonServant, thanks for the recipe. I used to be able to offer my birds some of whatever I was eating each day. But, now that I have a digestive disease I can't eat veggies or a lot of other things. So I do have to cook specially for the birds.

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thanks for the response . Ok just so I am clear the multi grain pasta should also be cooked right? I think I was worried maybe the noodles would be to slippery for a beak but I wouldn't want to eat it uncooked myself so not quite sure.

At least I have a jump off point, can't thank you enough for that

I cook it, but I eat it as well, lol! I've heard though a lot of birds will eat it uncooked so I guess you could try. They manage just fine with slippery noodles. Now they end up with tomato sauce stains on the bottoms of their feet if they hold it, but it comes off. On the rare occasions I eat Spaghettii-Os, I give them a few of those as well. But, I buy the non meat ones.

They don't need meat or beans daily though. Supplemental protein only needs to be about 5% of the diet and it's in the pellets as well. And feed more veggies than fruits. Fruit does contain natural sugars and is generally less packed with vitamins and minerals than veggies are. However they tend to like fruit better. It's usually easier at least at first to get them to eat the fruit. But, keep giving the veggies and usually they will eventually come to love them. They all seem to love bread and pasta right away.

There is company called Crazy Corn that makes different flavors of things you can cook for your birds. Those are easy to make and they seem to really enjoy them. No one locally sells their products anymore for me so I have to order them off the internet.