Best Green Cheek Conure Diet

[Compadrre]

Have this question running in another thread, but figured I'd make a separate thread for more views, having the right question in the title line.

Can somebody detail, exactly how much of what they should be getting? I always get confused on the percentages. Teaspoons/table spoons etc, would be extra helpful. His bowl is kinda small I'd guess 1 cup would fit in there & he empties it probably about every 3 days. (I think, not like I've been timing it.)

Currently my 2 birds have bad diets & I want to fix that. My other thread details why I haven't done this yet, but I'd like to keep this thread short (as possible...for me ) & all about what people suggest, what they do vs my rambling going on in the other thread. If anyone wants the full ramble that explains why I haven't fixed this yet see my profile & find the thread I made before this one. (color genetics question)

Tech is on a seed diet & Yoshi is on zuPreem pellets. They currently get some fruit as a treat. Tech is much older than Yoshi, probably about 13 years & Yoshi is about 8-9 months old. Tech is a girl & Yoshi is a boy.

It has been a very long time, since I researched proper diet for them. Don't recall if age or gender calls for different stuff but they are not together, so I can give each of them different stuff.

*Also I have noticed Yoshi eating some of his poop. I had a horse do this once & it was a vitamin deficiency. I also read another thread here that suggested this is likely the cause too.

Pics of your prep to show amounts of different things are very welcome.

 

[Corkscr.ew2]

Most parrots need a chop-based diet with some seeds and pellets. You can use any vegetables in chop unless they’re treated with pesticides or unsafe (rhubarb, tomatoes, avocado, etc). Conures should only be fed seeds in moderation since they don’t live entirely off seeds in the wild. They usually love millet and oat groats. For pellets, it’s important that you feed what your bird will eat. As long as there’s no artificial color or flavor, salt, or, sugar, the pellet is basically fine. I’ve always found that birds love Harrison’s. Tops, Roudybush, Lafebers, and others are also good.

As for the amount to feed, prepare a large portion of food and weigh it. Then weigh what’s left and subtract that number from the original amount.

 

[Corkscr.ew2]

Also, eating poop is normal. Just clean the cage and play areas often so he’s not eating huge amounts. My bird did this, and it was impossible to discourage him so I just ramped up my cleaning efforts. There were never any issues.

 

[Compadrre]

Tech has been eating Yoshi zupreem pellets. There's three food bowls in her cage, so I fill two with seeds & one with pellets. I have to fill the one with the pellets more often cause she actually finishes that one first now.

Looks like the zupreem pellets their eating now do have preservatives & artificial coloring....

So if I wanted to switch the pellets...What about this bag? (they have a conure size)

How do dried fruits & vegetables compare to fresh? Does that matter?

Can you define chop better, like what is a good mix of stuff (and what stuff exactly) to give them everyday.

 

[Vampiric_Conure57]

I feed my guys frozen veggies nuked in the microwave for a few minutes to thaw them. Then I'll add a peanut or two (unshelled, human grade) and some fruit, usually apples. It's very basic, but my guys love it. Pellets - they're not the best, but Yvons was on Tropican, so I decided to switch all my dinosaurs to it

Between the pellets and the veggies, my GCCs get about 1 tablespoon of mixed frozen veggies and a bowl of pellets that is available 24/7.

 

[Compadrre]

I feed my guys frozen veggies nuked in the microwave for a few minutes to thaw them. Then I'll add a peanut or two (unshelled, human grade) and some fruit, usually apples. It's very basic, but my guys love it. Pellets - they're not the best, but Yvons was on Tropican, so I decided to switch all my dinosaurs to it

Between the pellets and the veggies, my GCCs get about 1 tablespoon of mixed frozen veggies and a bowl of pellets that is available 24/7.

Ok so I am looking at bags of mixed vegetables...they have this one bag that has "petite" peas, corn, green beans & carrots. Is that a good combo? Or what exactly do you feed your guys?

What about broccoli &/or potatoes ? I love broccoli & potatoes.

My birds are probably about to eat better than I do... Broccoli & potatoes are about the only vegetables I ever eat.

 

[Vampiric_Conure57]

Ok so I am looking at bags of mixed vegetables...they have this one bag that has "petite" peas, corn, green beans & carrots. Is that a good combo? Or what exactly do you feed your guys?

What about broccoli &/or potatoes ? I love broccoli & potatoes.

My birds are probably about to eat better than I do... Broccoli & potatoes are about the only vegetables I ever eat.

I do a variety of mixed veggies, most with carrots and beans. The one I'm feeding right now is peas, beans, carrots, and lima beans. When my store carries it, I get a California blend that includes broccoli and cauliflower. They also like rice and pasta . Potatoes are a hit with some birds... not tried it with my bunch yet. As long as you avoid avocado, rhubarb, tomatoes, onion, and garlic, you SHOULD be okay.

 

[Jcas55]

Tech has been eating Yoshi zupreem pellets. There's three food bowls in her cage, so I fill two with seeds & one with pellets. I have to fill the one with the pellets more often cause she actually finishes that one first now.

Looks like the zupreem pellets their eating now do have preservatives & artificial coloring....

So if I wanted to switch the pellets...What about this bag? (they have a conure size)
View attachment 84641

How do dried fruits & vegetables compare to fresh? Does that matter?

Can you define chop better, like what is a good mix of stuff (and what stuff exactly) to give them everyday.

Zupreem does sell a ‘natural’ pellet that has no artificial colors and as far as I can tell there are no artificial preservatives either. It Does have a little sugar, but otherwise seems okay. If your birds like Zupreem pellets, they might transition more easily to the natural Zupreem than to a completely new brand. Just a thought

I offer one type of veggie at a time to my birds to see what they like and then make a sort of rotation of those veggies so they don’t get bored of the same old thing. My Quaker in particular won’t eat the same things more than maybe two or three times a week. But he is extremely particular! You can Experiment a little and find what your birds like

 

[Compadrre]

I got that Roudybush California blend one I posted of pic of, to try. We'll see if they like it. If not then ya maybe I'll try the natural zupreem one next.

Do you guys ever feed egg food? Thoughts? Pros vs cons? I used to sprinkle a little as a topping for Tech & she used to love this stuff.

Says it's good for molting, Yoshi is molting right now & in my other thread we are talking about the amount of black he has on his wings. Which turned into a rather interesting science experiment I did on one of his feathers that already fell out. But anyway I want to make sure he gets a little boost in vitamins right now. Make sure he's got good nutrients for his new feathers and such.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

My show budgie breeder friends (like most show breeders) use egg food for feather conditioning. A show budgie is judged partly on its feathering so they try hard to optimize nutrition. Personally, I like fresh whole foods for my budgies (I don't show them) so I feed them plain chopped scrambled egg a couple times a week. Egg food is dry and crumbly instead of moist like fresh eggs so I would add it to their chop to make it soft and easier to eat instead of just falling to the bottom of the bowl and ignored. It can also be used in Birdie Bread recipes.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Also, eating poop is normal. Just clean the cage and play areas often so he’s not eating huge amounts. My bird did this, and it was impossible to discourage him so I just ramped up my cleaning efforts. There were never any issues.

I've read that animals eating poop because of a nutrional need has an interesting basis in fact. Some nutrients apparently are hard to absorb unless they've been broken down by gut bacteria. Some animals (birds?) have an instinct to "re-eat" their food after digesting it and pooping it so they get a second chance at the needed nutrient. Some people actually studied this stuff!

 

[Compadrre]

I've read that animals eating poop because of a nutrional need has an interesting basis in fact. Some nutrients apparently are hard to absorb unless they've been broken down by gut bacteria. Some animals (birds?) have an instinct to "re-eat" their food after digesting it and pooping it so they get a second chance at the needed nutrient. Some people actually studied this stuff!

Horse vet said the same thing, another reason I want to change his diet. See if that helps. Although honestly I wonder how much of Yoshi's desire to do that is just his ADD/ADHA..."ooooo what's that!? must put in mouth!" like a two year old kid...

I don't cook & they are fixing to eat more fruits & vegies than I do... I got separate metal bowls for fruit & vegies, has a skewer thing in it for bigger chunks, so maybe I'll just stick some of that egg food in the bottom of that little bowl for him. Tech is another story...she's still terrified of the bowl. Takes her about two weeks to brave any kind of new perch, toy or dish. I can replace things she's had, but if it is something she's never seen before, takes about two weeks for her to even go near it. She's such a scaredy cat....bird.

 

[BigBalli]

For an adult GCC the rough split most avian vets quote is 60-70% pellet, 20-25% fresh veg, 5-10% fruit and nuts/seeds as treats. In volume for a 60-70g conure that's around 1.5 tablespoons pellet per day (Harrison's, Roudybush or TOP's are the commonly recommended brands), 1 tablespoon chopped veg (bell pepper, carrot, leafy greens, squash, broccoli, sweet potato, beet), and a couple of small fruit pieces or an almond. Convert off seed slowly, not cold-turkey. Mix seed 70/30 with pellet for a week, then flip to 30/70, then pellet only plus chop. Takes 3-6 weeks with a stubborn seed eater. Weigh him weekly during the switch so you catch any weight loss early.

 

[onamom]

Here is what I do for my two girls:

- Pellets: Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine. Left out all day, full bowl. Refill when low. Always have as much as they want.
- Chop: I made a batch of chop and freeze it into silicone ice cube trays. Each morning they get one cube, thawed the night before. Chop usually includes a variety of veggies. Spinach, peppers, chia seed, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, rainbow carrots, chard, squash, sweet potato, etc etc etc. Lots of recipes here on the forums.
- Foraging: dried fruits, millet, a little seed, Star Anise, birdie tea mixes, herb salad mix. Mixed and hidden throughout in various toys in their cages, I refill it each night.
- Ona gets a blueberry every morning as a special treat. Yuri gets a Harrison's Power Treat as her special morning treat.

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