A Parrot's Diet

A Parrot's Diet

Parrot like all creatures need a healthy and varied diet to thrive - if you have a parrot that lives in-doors then it is even more important.

What should constitute a healthy and varied diet has been discussed and debated by many people. This article is intended to take all of theories and give you an idea of ​​what the best practices are and to warn of the foods that should definitely be avoided. The findings expressed below are of my own opinion, but these opinions are based on findings based on information on hundreds of parrots in both sanctuary and pen environments.

Towards the end of this article, I will provide a list of advised foods. I am aware that due to availability you may not be able to supply all of these foods for your parrot, but the more varied the diet the better.

First of all, it is wise to understand just what a parrot needs and why?

Birds and other flying creatures are renowned for having a high metabolism and burn calories very quickly. It is therefore essential that they eat the right foods to provide energy. Carbohydrates are essential and required in high quantities as they convert to energy easily

In my experience parrots eat almost anything! They need similar vitamins and minerals to humans and because of this are often fed leftovers from their owners own plates. They have ability of knowing what they are lacking in dietary terms and will eat more of those foods to counter the deficiency. I read somewhere of a pregnant woman who had a craving for liver (something that she never ate before). After a visit to the doctor it was found that she as iron deficient and that her craving was replenishing the lack of iron in her body. This is a trend among all creatures.

As well as variety, feeding your parrots will enhance their diet. Many people find it hard to get their bird to eat a wide variety of foods, and the main reason for this is that there is no feeding regime. Believe me, parrots will eat all sorts of food when fed at the right times.

TIP! I n the wild parrots never have the option of eating cold foods because where they live is always hot. When you are trying to get your parrot to east something new, heat it slightly in the microwave. You'll be amazed at what an effect this has!

(Do not worry about how much your bird eats. He may throw the food away the first time it is offered or he may just take a small bite. Keep on offering it and he will soon take as much as he needs.)

So ... when do you feed your parrot?

Extensive research has been carried out in this area. One common mistake made by parrot owners is to provide a bowl of food in the morning, at the same time, in the same corner, containing the same food with a few extras offered now and again. This no good for the parrot or your pocket as you will find yourself throwing away a lot of the food

Only providing one meal a day of mixed parrot seed or pellets will in turn encourage your parrot to become selective and picky - eating what they want and trashing what they do not. You will often find unopened and uneaten seeds and pallets which suggest that you are giving your bird far too much. An analogy I would use here is leaving a kid in a supermarket on his own and tell him to take what he wants. Inevitably the kid will head straight for the sweets aisle and indulge in his favourite confectionary whilst the produce aisles go untouched! By feeding your children their greens at dinner and only providing a plate of food (not a whole store) you are essentially forcing the child to eat the right foods. You need to feed your parrot with a similar strictness otherwise he will pick out what he wants and leave the rest.

During studies it has emerged that parrots eating patterns follow a relatively strict regime. They will fill the crops to almost bursting point in the morning. This will slowly release through their system throughout the day. This will then be repeated in the evening to get them through the night. The amount of a good quality parrot mix offered, should be approx 30 / 35g or a level serving-spoonful. It is up to you what you feed in which order.

The bulk of any parrots diet should be fruit and vegetables, along with some kind of animal protein. The remaining part can consist of a good quality mix bought from a pet store. Remember that parrots are natural nibblers as well. Food chopped up into tiny little chunks may look nice and be easy for the bird to eat and digest, but they would much prefer a whole apple or carrot that they can nibble on!

When choosing a good mix, try and find one that has a good variety of seeds in and not just 75% sunflower. As mentioned above, your bird will take what they need / want and leave the extra. Buying a cheap mix may seem like a smart financial move at the time, but trust me; you will be wasting a lot more than the parrot is actually eating. A good mix is ​​key to a parrot's diet. Tests have proven also, feeding your parrot pellets leads to an increase in water consumption, so be aware of this when / if feeding your parrot pellets.

There is a belief that you should not move or alter the layout of a cage. There is a slight contradiction to this rule concerning the feeding bowl. It is true that parrots do not like change in their living environment, but for feeding purposes it is advised to move the bowl. What I suggest is to move the bowl very slightly to begin with and when the bird starts to get used to the idea start becoming more radical with the movement!

Below is a list of foods recommended for parrot consumption:

Vegetables: Broccoli, Carrot, Celery, Potatoes (cooked), Turnip, Sweet corn, Peas / Beans, Swede, Sweet Potato, Cabbage Leaves

Fruit: Apple, Banana, Plum, Apricot, Pomegranate, Grapes, Orange, Mango, Peach

Animal Protein: Cheese, Chicken Bones ( cooked), Hard Boiled Egg, Fish

Nuts: Peanuts, Hazel Nuts, Brazil Nuts

As you can see, there are many types of food to keep your parrot not only well nourished but also occupied in keeping himself fed.

There is some food that you parrot should NEVER be fed to your bird and have been known to cause death in some instances!

DO NOT FEED THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR BIRDS !

Avocado Pear

Chocolate

Tea

Coffee

Salt

Alcohol

Uncooked Potato