Parrot diet(updated)

[BirdyBee]

This is an updated version of my "parrot diet" thread! I hope you enjoy reading it and find it helpful!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Parrot diet is crucial to their physical and mental health. Did you know that 30% of unwanted behaviours can be fixed with a good diet alone?

What should you feed your bird? This varies from species to species. African greys need a slightly higher diet in calcium, macaws need a diet slightly higher in fats, Eclectuses need a diet of mostly fresh food and lorikeets need mostly nectar and some fruits/veg, and can't have seed/pellets in their diet as their stomach has no muscles(only use seed as treats for them). I suggest you do research on your bird's species.

There are 8 parts of a bird’s diet

Seed

Seeds should only be given in moderation. Some birds need more seed, (such as granivores like cockatiels and budgies need 25% seed), and some need less(such as ekkies). Diets high in seed can cause obesity, heart and liver diseases(Usually because of high carbs/fats), and poor feather quality. To tell if you have a good seed mix, try sprouting it. If it doesn't sprout, it's probably not a good seed mix.

List of safe seeds here: https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/parronting-essentials-blog/list-of-safe-seeds-for-parrots

Pellets​

What are pellets? Pellets are a food that fill the nutritional gaps in a bird's diet, but a lot of pellet brands are bad.

Vegetables​

Vegetables are a very important part of their diet, as they are high in minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients. When making them chop, try to use as many vegetables as possible. Use at least 5 vegetables. Although they are healthy for birds, don't feed them only vegetables.


(IMPORTANT) Bird safe vegetables here:
https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/pa...ampaign=list_of_safe_vegetables_for_parrotsve

Sprouts/microgreens​

Sprouts/microgreens are healthy since they are very nutrient dense and are a nutritional powerhouse. It can be mixed with their chop or be given plain.

IMPORTANT: when making sprouts, NEVER use bleach. Despite what a lot of people say, it’s toxic, even if you rinse it. Apple cider vinegar is safer. NOTE: sprouts should only be fed 3-4 times a week to prevent an overdose of nutrients, and should be fed sparingly to hormonal birds and birds with liver/kidney problems.

Safe sprouts/how to make sprouts: https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/pa...utm_campaign=list_of_safe_sprouts_for_parrots

How to sprout for your birds | Sprouting for parrots

Fruits​

​

Fruits are also important to birds, especially to fruit-eating birds like lorikeets. Typically, Birds should have about 10% fruit in their diet. It's best to give it only 2-3 times a week. It’s not 100% necessary(again, this depends on species) but is great if your bird likes it. If your bird doesn’t like fruit then you can feed them veggies like beetroot, carrots, etc, since they contain a lot of sugars.

(IMPORTANT)Safe fruit list here: https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/pa...&utm_campaign=list_of_safe_fruits_for_parrots

Grains​

​

Grains are a great additive to their diet, but they shouldn't be fed a lot. It should be about 5% of their diet.

(IMPORTANT) List of safe grains: https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/parronting-essentials-blog/list-of-safe-grains-for-parrots (This link does say that whole-wheat bread and whole-wheat cereal is safe, but they are only fine as an occasional treat(especially the cereal as it is usually high in sugar/salt)

Nuts​

​

Nuts should only be about 5% of their diet, or should only be used as treats.. Make sure they are unsalted. Nuts are important as they have essential fats, proteins and minerals.

(IMPORTANT) bird safe nuts here: https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/pa...og&utm_campaign=list_of_safe_nuts_for_parrots

Herbs, flowers, and spices​

​

Herbs, spices, and flowers can be great for them. Flowers shouldn’t be fed a lot, as they have low nutritional value. Herbs and spices on the other hand, can have a lot of health benefits. Herbs and spices should only be fed in small amounts or occasionally.



SAFE HERBS/SPICES: https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/pa...ign=list_of_safe_herbs_and_spices_for_parrots
SAFE FLOWERS: https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/pa...utm_campaign=list_of_safe_flowers_for_parrots


(IMPORTANT): UNSAFE FOODS FOR BIRDS: https://www.allaboutparrots.com/foods-that-parrots-should-not-eat/

 

[SailBoat]

Just a couple of things:

Knowledge regarding the Natural Range of the Species is important in understand what is common in their Natural Range. That said, it is possible for two species to share or over lap their Natural Range, but have different needs. Example: Mac's and Amazons have large overlapping ranges, but within their Range they forage differently and have different diet requirements. Not Huge,, but different as Mac's travel over vast distances where Amazons tend to fly in thicker forested areas.

The use of solid percentages is commonly problematic as natural variation occurs within a given year. Thus it is not uncommon for the specific Parrot to have an extensive want during one part of the year and have a low interest in another. This is also true as they move naturally in and out of Hormonal /Breeding Season and Molting seasons. as a result, there should be a sliding scale regarding percentages. Example 15 to 25%.

 

[BirdyBee]

Just a couple of things:

Knowledge regarding the Natural Range of the Species is important in understand what is common in their Natural Range. That said, it is possible for two species to share or over lap their Natural Range, but have different needs. Example: Mac's and Amazons have large overlapping ranges, but within their Range they forage differently and have different diet requirements. Not Huge,, but different as Mac's travel over vast distances where Amazons tend to fly in thicker forested areas.

The use of solid percentages is commonly problematic as natural variation occurs within a given year. Thus it is not uncommon for the specific Parrot to have an extensive want during one part of the year and have a low interest in another. This is also true as they move naturally in and out of Hormonal /Breeding Season and Molting seasons. as a result, there should be a sliding scale regarding percentages. Example 15 to 25%.

Thanks. I'll remove the percentage parts.

 

[Laurasea]

Recommend using a different seed mix picture. This picture is mostly hulled and unhulled sunflower seeds Very fatty. This example is everything we are trying to steer people away from in a seed mix

 

[BirdyBee]

Recommend using a different seed mix picture. This picture is mostly hulled and unhulled sunflower seeds Very fatty. This example is everything we are trying to steer people away from in a seed mix

Ok, thanks!

 

[BirdyBee]

How about this one from TOP's?

 

[Laurasea]

Much better. But I wonder if you need their permission to use this image? I don't know copyright laws or anything. Maybe you could take your own image of this product, or what you use.

Always great to talk about parrot nutrition a worthy topic. Always evolving as we try and provide the best for our parrots.

 

[BirdyBee]

Much better. But I wonder if you need their permission to use this image? I don't know copyright laws or anything. Maybe you could take your own image of this product, or what you use.

I currently don't have a seed mix. Maybe I should just remove the pic completely?(or I can just give credit)

 

[SailBoat]

Much better. But I wonder if you need their permission to use this image? I don't know copyright laws or anything. Maybe you could take your own image of this product, or what you use.

Always great to talk about parrot nutrition a worthy topic. Always evolving as we try and provide the best for our parrots.

Truly Great Point!! Copyright Laws and the Internet is an ongoing struggle as the amount of outright 'word for word' (and photos) copying of others is insane. See my Thread in the Amazon Forum, Second Thread tilted: I Love Amazons. I used the above tools to acknowledge sources and it had severed me well, as I had received a couple of thanks from authors. FYI: I have found it safe to provide the name of the individual or organization as the source or stated as 'unknown' if that is the case.

I agree with the photo being an issue as it appears to be fading toward Green.

 

[SailBoat]

I currently don't have a seed mix. Maybe I should just remove the pic completely?(or I can just give credit)

Leave it for now with source and be on the look out for such a photo source. See Parrot Island Parrot Store in MN. The are one of our sources and they have great information on their Website.

Take care with your diet source as if you have replaced seed / grains / nuts 100% with Pellets, you may need to look closer at the ratio of filler to food sources in what you are providing. Just my two cents! The why is based in the rate they move food from Bill too Vent.

 

[Laurasea]

You could go out to a petstore, most of the bags are Clear and take your own image.
This hold true fir all your images unless they are in public domain

I try and just copy the whole link when I want to share stuff, as I'm trying to be good and not plagiarize. But I don't know what right

 

[BirdyBee]

I decided just to remove the pics. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[foxgloveparrot]

I decided just to remove the pics. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

That's good! Very nice thread though

 

[BirdyBee]

Take care with your diet source as if you have replaced seed / grains / nuts 100% with Pellets, you may need to look closer at the ratio of filler to food sources in what you are providing. Just my two cents! The why is based in the rate they move food from Bill too Vent.

I'm not sure what you mean? Sorry, I'm not good with understanding stuff.

 

[SailBoat]

Another source we use for our (Mid-to-Large) Parrot (Amazon) is provided by Scarlett MardiGras. The mix is slanted toward Macaws and as a result we select /pull out the majority of the Sunflower seed and all the peanuts. We save all our pull-out to provide to a close friend that has multiple mid-to large Parrots.

 

[SailBoat]

I'm not sure what you mean? Sorry, I'm not good with understanding stuff.

Large Parrots have longer digestive tracks and as a result the food is in their track for longer periods of time and they can absorb more from the food source than smaller Parrots. Humans have very long tracks in comparison and can take a couple of days where as small Parrots, the time line can be an hour to maybe a couple of hours. The smaller the Parrot the faster their Absorption needs to be. Hence, the need for high quality diet /faster absorbing diet. Hope that helps, as I tend to assume sometimes.

 

[BirdyBee]

Large Parrots have longer digestive tracks and as a result the food is in their track for longer periods of time and they can absorb more from the food source than smaller Parrots. Humans have very long tracks in comparison and can take a couple of days where as small Parrots, the time line can be an hour to maybe a couple of hours. The smaller the Parrot the faster their Absorption needs to be. Hence, the need for high quality diet /faster absorbing diet. Hope that helps, as I tend to assume sometimes.

Understood. I think that's why stuff like coloured pellets are worse for ekkies than other species, right?

 

[SailBoat]

Understood. I think that's why stuff like coloured pellets are worse for ekkies than other species, right?

Right! Plus Pellets in general as they have very active digestive systems and Pellets tend to be overly enriched for them. I strongly recommend that you follow our Ekkie Members on their forum as their diet is very complicated and the vast majority of what is on the Web is down right dangerous diet information for them.

 

[BirdyBee]

Right! Plus Pellets in general as they have very active digestive systems and Pellets tend to be overly enriched for them. I strongly recommend that you follow our Ekkie Members on their forum as their diet is very complicated and the vast majority of what is on the Web is down right dangerous diet information for them.

thanks. I've heard the only safe pellets for ekkies are pellets like TOP's.

I don't own one but my parents rehomed one we used to have since they realized it wasn't the right pet for us. He went to a friend of my mom(we made sure that she wouldn't rehome him again).

 

[SailBoat]

thanks. I've heard the only safe pellets for ekkies are pellets like TOP's.

I don't own one but my parents rehomed one we used to have since they realized it wasn't the right pet for us. He went to a friend of my mom(we made sure that she wouldn't rehome him again).

To my understanding, (knowing that my speciality are Amazons) TOP's is only sprinkled into a chop and even at that level I would yield to a specialist.