Another Chop Day

Violet_Diva

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Aug 30, 2016
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Norfolk (England)
Parrots
Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
Today I made 3 chop combos to change day to day by adding fresh ingredients to the base chop of choice...

The first mixture
Carrot
Sweet potato
Parsnip
Baby sweetcorn

The second mixture
Red bell pepper
Green bell pepper
Yellow bell pepper
Orange Bell pepper
Radishes
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Carrot
Sweet potato
Parsnip
Baby sweetcorn

The third mixture
Parsley
Kale
Red bell pepper
Green bell pepper
Yellow bell pepper
Orange Bell pepper
Radishes
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Carrot
Sweet potato
Parsnip
Baby sweetcorn



I also got some fresh sugarsnap peas and celery to add a bit of crunch to any of the mixtures just before serving. Gerry loves nibbling on them pea pods!
 

Mdjandt

New member
May 16, 2018
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0
Thatā€™s great! I should start doing prep work. Lol. I think thatā€™s a more efficient way than figuring it out on the fly. Gerry must be a very happy bird!!!
 

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,354
2,131
Maryland - USA
Parrots
Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
I love this approach. Iā€™m so paranoid about the nutrition Iā€™m more likely to throw ALL of that into a single mixture to ensure Iā€™m not missing anything. I try to temper, but itā€™s not easy!
 
OP
Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

Member
Aug 30, 2016
843
Media
6
Albums
1
19
Norfolk (England)
Parrots
Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
  • Thread Starter
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  • #6
Looks nice! Changing the formula helps to keep interest!
I really should try using some different things in my base mixes. I think I've got a bit too comfortable with my 'usuals'.

Having a trilogy of mixtures creates a little bit of variety. I just have to make sure I add enough variety of fresh / dried stuff to them each day!
 
OP
Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

Member
Aug 30, 2016
843
Media
6
Albums
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19
Norfolk (England)
Parrots
Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Thatā€™s great! I should start doing prep work. Lol. I think thatā€™s a more efficient way than figuring it out on the fly. Gerry must be a very happy bird!!!
I specifically do a 'bird shop' for chop. They have their own mini fridge :D

I have multiple stainless steel bowls and I soak similar items together in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and bottled water for 20 mins and wash and rinse thoroughly to remove pesticides.

All root veg is peeled.

Each item is cut into chunks and put in my blender and then added to my big empty bowl. When the bowl becomes full, I bag about half the mixture.

Then I start chopping and blitzing some more different things, add those to the bowl, once again, when the bowl is full, I bag half and add the next ingredients.

All mixtures are approved by all :D
 
OP
Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

Member
Aug 30, 2016
843
Media
6
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19
Norfolk (England)
Parrots
Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Nice job! Wish I had any form of excitement when it comes to chop day.
I'm never usually excited at the prospect of chop day - but I get into it once I get going. It's nice knowing it's done and that I don't have to worry about it for a while - that's the payoff... that and having happy birdies scoffing it :D
 
OP
Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

Member
Aug 30, 2016
843
Media
6
Albums
1
19
Norfolk (England)
Parrots
Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
I love this approach. Iā€™m so paranoid about the nutrition Iā€™m more likely to throw ALL of that into a single mixture to ensure Iā€™m not missing anything. I try to temper, but itā€™s not easy!
Maybe you could think of the nutrition on a weekly basis rather than a daily one? In the wild these guys probably wouldn't eat exactly the same nutritional values every day, don't put so much pressure on yourself! :)
 
Apr 3, 2013
944
23
MD, USA
Nice job! Wish I had any form of excitement when it comes to chop day.
I'm never usually excited at the prospect of chop day - but I get into it once I get going. It's nice knowing it's done and that I don't have to worry about it for a while - that's the payoff... that and having happy birdies scoffing it :D

How often do you do it? I typically just get 4-5 veggies and 1 fruit a week and mix it up week to week.
 
OP
Violet_Diva

Violet_Diva

Member
Aug 30, 2016
843
Media
6
Albums
1
19
Norfolk (England)
Parrots
Bella (Vosmaeri Eclectus Female) + Dexter (Red Sided Eclectus Male) + Gerry (Vosmaeri Eclectus Male)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Nice job! Wish I had any form of excitement when it comes to chop day.
I'm never usually excited at the prospect of chop day - but I get into it once I get going. It's nice knowing it's done and that I don't have to worry about it for a while - that's the payoff... that and having happy birdies scoffing it :D

How often do you do it? I typically just get 4-5 veggies and 1 fruit a week and mix it up week to week.

Due to the limited size of my freezer, I only make upto a months worth of chop at a time, but sometimes I only make a couple of weeks worth depending on freezer space.

After its freshly made, I keep 3 days worth in the fridge (as it keeps fine for that long).

The rest - I get frozen portions out the freezer the night before and put in the fridge ready for morning. In the morning I will mix a bit of something else with it depending on what I've got available.

One morning I might add some pomegranate, or porridge oats, or dried vegetable mix, or sprinkle something like Goldenfeast Garden Flora Blend on top, or mix in cooked Beans and lentils... endless possibilities and combos! :)
 

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,354
2,131
Maryland - USA
Parrots
Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
I love this approach. Iā€™m so paranoid about the nutrition Iā€™m more likely to throw ALL of that into a single mixture to ensure Iā€™m not missing anything. I try to temper, but itā€™s not easy!
Maybe you could think of the nutrition on a weekly basis rather than a daily one? In the wild these guys probably wouldn't eat exactly the same nutritional values every day, don't put so much pressure on yourself! :)

good in theory. Hard in practice. My batches tend to be 3 month batches or more, not intentionally but I avoid waste.

Also, it really is a habit thatā€™s so difficult to break.
 

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