What should I feed African Grey Parrot

[Billdore]

So I'm kind of really stressing out. I';m feeding Timneh Nutri Berries. I have a couple of different kinds. I bought a big tub of the parrot food does this last awhile should I refrigerate for longevity? Safflower Gold mix, and Kaytee Fiesta blend parrot food. I mix them together and put the nutri berries on top. I've been removing the peanuts now but at the store she was getting a bowl of peanuts a day. She does have fun with them but I don't think its worth it. I'm worried she won't be getting enough veggies. I need to work on chopping things up more. Also being so new to her I don't have a good idea of how much she eats yet. I've been giving her broccoli, Green beans only eats the inside seed part, doesn't like Kale, Grapes (loves them I only give her one a day so far), 1 organic dried craisin a day, Sweet potatoes, Blueberry, carrots, Banana. What am I lacking? I need something nice and dark Green that she likes. Thank you for all the help! Is their a good method for detecting drafts? Her cage is as far away from windows as possible but every room in my house has windows. I do keep it warm about 74 but that doesn't mean their isn't something sneaky and sinister going on. I kind of just wet my finger and crawl/walk around Timnehs cage testing the air. Thanks again everyone for the crash course this is all happening so much faster than I ever dreamed possible. really amazing can't wait to see her in the am. Get down to business cleaning her play stand I picked up from the store today (no room in the vehicle last night.)

 

[Billdore]

P.S. I'm sorry for having started so many threads on here so quickly. I just love picking everyone's brains. Everyone has been so helpful!!!

 

[Billdore]

throwing the ball for nieces and nephews

 

[Loko]

Everyone is going to have different opinions on what brand food they use. Personally, I have used Harrisons High Potency and Adult Lifetime, and will continue using it as the vets I have seen recommend it and my Loco is healthy, and enjoys it. Kaytee is a reputable company, the only thing I would stray away from is the colored pellets. They have them both colored, and regular (brown). The coloring is not dangerous, it just can complicate things like being able to tell if your birds droppings are not normal and being able to react accordingly, quickly. I like to leave the pellets out all day, and provide fruit and veggies in the morning and afternoon. More veggies than fruit, and anything healthy is good.. Ideally, the veggies should be the primary food and pellets to supplement appetite after, though some birds are just picky and can absolutely be healthy on pellets, though obviously fresh food is the ideal situation. I would recommend you search "chop", if you havent already. Its just basically a big mix/salad of veggies, and usually a whole grain (brown rice, quinoa, whole grain pasta, etc), and some legumes (beans, lentils, etc). Theres no "right" way to make it really, just find out what your bird likes. If he likes sweet potatoe, broccolli, squash, carrots, peppers, and cilantro, you can use a blender or dice all of them up into small pieces, then if he likes lentils and brown rice, you can cook that up and mix some in as well. Thats just an example, see what he likes. You can make a bunch of it and freeze it in daily portions, heat it up and add fresh fruit to it daily. Any veggie /fruit that is healthy for them is fair game. Locos favorite fruit is pomegranite, which is mine also. A boiled egg every once in a while can be good too. Nutriberries I use as a treat more than a main food item. In the morning I usually give him one after he does something good, like a trick or potty in the right spot, and also before I leave I give him one to ease him a little bit. 74 is a great temperature as well, thats about the same as I have it. You can usually feel a draft especially if youre looking out for one, so dont worry too much but keep an eye out. Other than that, its good to visit a local avian vet and get a wellness check, establish baselines in case anything is ever wrong, etc. It seems like you guys are bonding well, keep it up!

 

[Scott]

No shortage of controversy for an ideal diet! The bulk of my fids diet consists of "chop" which is fresh vegetables and fruit, with some Zupreem fruit-blend pellets and a high quality seed mix. The latter two items are removed when chop is served.

The "sticky" threads atop the Parrot Foods sub-forum has many great ideas: Parrot Food, Recipes and Diet - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

It will take trial and error to learn what Timneh will eat. Be persistent and accept a good many foods will be tossed from her bowl. She will get curious and eventually try some if not most if the items. Parrots are flock-eaters, and YOU are a flock member. Prepare a plate of chop for yourself, eat in front of her, make "Mmmmm" sounds of appreciation, bob your head. It really works!!

 

[Billdore]

Thats a great idea Loko and Scott thank you I never really thought about eating in front of Timneh. Is there a time in the day where its too late to feed fresh chop? I just put her bowl in her cage for her first bath and I'm pretty nervous about the water temp just above room temp. Then I will remove it in an hour or so. This is what she is used to for now, I will be moving into the shower sooner than later though. Pretty nervous about that too.

 

[Scott]

I prepare and feed chop in the morning, around 9:30 to 10:00 or so. During cooler days it is available as their ONLY food source until roughly 4pm depending on temperature. You can improvise depending on your schedule, but feeding very late in the day tends to be problematic. My goal is to maximize their willingness to eat more nourishing foods.

 

[Billdore]

Timneh and I are up pretty late. I work from 3-10 and then we hang out and watch a movie or something. She usually seems to get a bit hungry after i get home and will pick at whats left in her bowl of nutriberries and seed mix. Is it alright to empty this once every morning? I wash and refresh her water dish 3 times a day or more if needed like tonight. She pooped in it right after I cleaned it (not on purpose I don't think she was pretty high up on her cage.) She is so cute about bedtime. I start turning off the lights and she climbs right up onto this one toy she uses for her sleeping perch. She is so awesome.

 

[Scott]

Cleaning her "dry" food bowl once daily seems just fine. You'll have to watch her habits to learn if she treats it as a trash can! Some birds are incredibly clean while others drag food to the water bowl, play with it, and dump it back into the supply dish! Others treat it as a toilet at times.

Keeping the water dish clean is essential to avoid a nasty breeding ground. Sounds as if you are on the right track in all respects!!

 

[Billdore]

Thanks for all your help Super Moderator indeed!!!

 

[Scott]

You are very welcome, happy to help!!