Fresh is best! (Group idea)?

[Kiwibird]

Anyone want to work with me to create a "fresh is best" group in the "social group" section of the forum? For those of us who opt to feed a fresh-foods based diet to discuss different methods ext... and those interested in making the switch to get more information? Freely discuss below!

 

[Christinenc2000]

Great Idea. My time has been very limited the last few weeks . Wish I had time to help you . Just wanted to send a note of encouragement. I can't think of anyone better to head up something like this .

 

[xotamilxo]

i will try too help

 

[itchyfeet]

I have a few questions around this so would be keen to see it happen - will save my questions for now!

 

[Kiwibird]

Glad theres some interest! I would like to work on getting a group set up. I need to work on defining "fresh foods" in relation to the information being discussed in the group (thanks to the member who PM'd me and got me thinking about this point) and also the "mandatory" disclaimers because you know someone at some point will take it as "feed your bird nothing but apples" or something and end up with a sick bird

Does anyone have any suggestions about what kind of things they would like to see discussed? Or other ideas to start?

 

[itchyfeet]

I'd love to see justifications. So I think I'm reasonably ignorant when it comes to the 'fresh foods' theory. Other then glancing over a few posts on here, I haven't looked into it at all. My birds have access to pellets all of the time, and a lesser quantity of seeds. They have a breakfast and dinner meal, generally fresh stuff, maybe a bit of cereal/egg/pasta mixed in.

So to me, this feels ideal. They get the pellets because supposedly that's best, they get the meals because I get the importance of fresh stuff, but they get the seed because that's what they do in nature?!? I get this is breed dependent, and I guess my interest has been sparked by learning about the little tweaks that are ideal for some species diets on here (eclectus comes to mind), and so therefore I can probably do better by my birds...but yeah. How is it calculated, what is the justification, and how does it work for the way a bird has been designed?

Does that make sense? Dunno.

 

[SilverSage]

I would love to be a part of this, BUT I think it needs to be clear that while opinions and frustrations can be voiced, we need to be respectful of those who feel differently and remember not to be militant about it

 

[Minimaker]

I joined a group elsewhere about this, with an avian specialist running it. I found the information really useful and informative. I think fresh is best, but I haven't stopped putting roudybush and zupreme pellets in their enclosures either because I want them to decide for themselves what they want. They have one bowl for fresh and one for pellets/goldenfeast blends mixed. It's funny though, my goffins will run straight for the fresh 9 times out of 10 and toss his pellets on the floor like he couldn't bear to eat them. I've taken to putting his pellet bowl on the ground to keep down the mess and he very rarely goes down the tree stand to get any. Usually if he does he goes for the dried fruits and nuts in the goldenfeast blend and ignores the pellets. My macaw Sailor eats both. She doesn't care. My conure squeaks and bounces the whole time if he sees me getting fresh chop for another bird before him in the morning, he gets absolutely upset. He wants his breakfast right NOW mom, and not a minute later lol. How dare you feed someone else first! He acts like there isn't a bowl of pellets right in front of his face in the cage, he loves that chop first thing in the morning.

 

[jiannotto9492]

I would love this because this is exactly what I'm trying to do with Duke.

 

[Kyoto]

I would love to learn more! especially how to schedule feedings with a busy work schedule. For instance, I work during the day every day, and at times I assist my hubby with his photography studio in the evening… and unfortunately I don't always get a lot of notice from him when that is going to be the case.

Therefore, I feel more comfortable offering fresh food in the morning when I can take it away before it spoils, and leaving pellets for while I'm away. It's honestly the only reason I haven't asked more questions about feeding fresh based.

I am going to increase my fresh feedings to twice a day as often as possible now that I have the means to make many meals at a time, so hopefully if my life gets a bit less busy it will be a plausible option for us to feed fresh only.

As well, proper preparations of things like quinoa, beans, lentils, oats etc. I'm never quite certain about them and tend to leave them out of my chop out of fear of harming her.

And sprouting! How to get sprouting seeds, and to do it properly and safely.

Hope this gives you some topics to touch on.

 

[Mimsy01]

This would be a great group, especially if there are people with some deep knowledge on parrot diet. I see fresh veggies and fruit discussed often on the board, but I'd like to see more on grains, legumes and such-what do they get out of such things raw vs cooked. Some specie specific discussion would be of interesting.

 

[Minimaker]

I would love to learn more! especially how to schedule feedings with a busy work schedule. For instance, I work during the day every day, and at times I assist my hubby with his photography studio in the evening… and unfortunately I don't always get a lot of notice from him when that is going to be the case.

Therefore, I feel more comfortable offering fresh food in the morning when I can take it away before it spoils, and leaving pellets for while I'm away. It's honestly the only reason I haven't asked more questions about feeding fresh based.

I am going to increase my fresh feedings to twice a day as often as possible now that I have the means to make many meals at a time, so hopefully if my life gets a bit less busy it will be a plausible option for us to feed fresh only.

As well, proper preparations of things like quinoa, beans, lentils, oats etc. I'm never quite certain about them and tend to leave them out of my chop out of fear of harming her.

And sprouting! How to get sprouting seeds, and to do it properly and safely.

Hope this gives you some topics to touch on.

It's easiest to just cook all beans/lentils for safety's sake, organic whole oats cooked(although I have seen people mix dry into chop-people weigh in on that), check out the sprout people website (thanks to the knowledgeable people here for that one) or just grab safe seeds and sprout them by soaking for 24 hours and then rinsing the next two days (give or take) twice a day. As soon as those little tails pop out they are ready to eat. Otherwise longer will cause possible mold issues and make them less safe to eat.

 

[Flboy]

I would say, count me in!