For the longest time it was believed that feeding parrots seeds and nuts was sufficient for their nutritional needs. It has however been found that this is very far from the truth. Like all other animals, and yourself, it is important to have a varied diet. So what foods do you need to feed your parrot with?<\/p>\n

The Importance of Feeding Parrots Fresh Food<\/h2>\n

Parrots and parakeets are tropical birds and they need to live\u00a0and eat well. They require a wide range of food in their diet to remain healthy. Our parrots and parakeets are much more sedentary than those found in the wild, and so do not require a fat-rich diet like their wild counterparts. A varied\u00a0diet is the best to keep them at their healthiest and happiest. A nutritionally balanced diet will ensure they get enough of the\u00a0nutrients they need daily. Improper feeding can cause nutritional imbalances leading to illness and in some cases,\u00a0death. It’s actually\u00a0pretty\u00a0fun (for both you and your bird!) to offer your pet a variety of tasty things to eat. You may soon\u00a0realize that parrots and parakeets have their own individual taste and texture preferences. Therefore, these are only guidelines on what you’ll want to offer your bird to keep it both healthy and satisfied.<\/p>\n

Seeds and Pellets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Birdseed mixes and pellets are usually the staple food for most parrots and parakeets. Budgie mixes are primarily composed of millet and groats, but should include other small seed types. Seed mixes for parrots are usually made up of wheat, mixed millet, hemp, maize, oats, sunflower, safflower, buckwheat, niger, linseed, paddy rice and groats. Big birds like Macaws like nuts on their menu as a chief ingredient.<\/p>\n

Pellets are made from ground seeds, grains, vitamins and minerals baked at low heat and made into many different shapes. Most pellets are colored so they can look attractive to the bird.<\/p>\n

Choosing the right seed mix\u00a0is vitally important and is the staple of your bird’s diet. Offer a\u00a0high quality, millet-based seed,\u00a0but you should not allow your bird fill up entirely on seeds. Most commercial\u00a0seed mixes do not provide enough necessary nutrients that your bird might require and can cause diseases like cancer, obesity as well as other health issues.<\/p>\n

Vegetables and Fruits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fruits and vegetables are important to a bird\u2019s diet. Most vegetables are packed with tons of vitamins, calcium, fiber and proteins. They are therefore very beneficial to your bird and offer great support to bodily functions and immunity.<\/p>\n

You should offer them yellow and dark green vegetables daily. You should give them vegetables and fruits such as apples, grapes, pears, bananas, cherries, broccoli, sweet potato, spinach, squash, celery and carrots.<\/p>\n

Feed them with raw fruits and vegetables because cooking destroys\u00a0vital nutrients. They can be chopped, diced, whole, pureed or sliced. You should try preparing them a variety\u00a0of ways to find what your bird likes best. Be careful to remove all seeds and pits from any fruit you feed your bird, and peel any fruit and vegetables as they may contain harmful pesticide residue. Remove after a few hours so they do not spoil and avoid adding any dressing to the vegetables.<\/p>\n

Grains<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feed your birds with grains. You can feed with any type of grain you need like brown rice, barley and quinoa. You can add fruits, vegetables and natural honey to the grains so as to make it very interesting. You can pour them into a dish and mix them with water.<\/p>\n

Protein<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can offer your bird small portions of unseasoned crumbled eggs, unseasoned chicken or turkey or vegetables with a plant protein like cooked beans and nuts. You can cook the shells with the egg.<\/p>\n

Correct Feeding<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your bird should have different options to eat daily. You should feed your birds with pellets and seeds every day. Fruits, soft foods, vegetables, eggs or cheese should be feed to them on regular basis. Furthermore, you should change the food every day to keep them fresh. You should remove the old food before you add new food.<\/p>\n

Balance the Food<\/strong><\/p>\n

Food should be changed gradually over a period of time. Your bird\u2019s diet should always be balanced. You should not feed them with all different types of food at once. This may\u00a0lead to overeating and can make your birds sick and unhappy.<\/p>\n

Treats<\/strong><\/p>\n

Treats are great for training and every now and then. They should not be part of the main course and should be of different varieties so your bird does not become bored.<\/p>\n

Provide a mineral block and a cuttlebone<\/strong><\/p>\n

Minerals blocks and cuttlebones are necessities for your bird. They contain important nutrients and minerals. The cuttlebone should always be placed in the cage. If these becomes soiled with dropping and get wet then you should throw it\u00a0away and provide a clean one instead. These provide the bird with enrichment activities. You should also ensure that your bird’s mineral block is\u00a0clean and dry.<\/p>\n

Watch For Sickness<\/strong><\/p>\n

By regularly checking your bird’s stools, you can also monitor its health. Sometimes fresh fruits and vegetables, or even simply changing your bird’s diet at all, can cause a change in stool consistency. In some cases if the stool becomes watery and loose, you can try\u00a0reducing the amount of fresh food for a day to see if it regains a firm consistency.<\/p>\n

Feeding Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

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• Do not feed chocolate and avocados as they are poisonous.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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  • Most birds like fresh fruit and vegetables, if your bird has never tried fresh food before or seems disinterested, don\u2019t give up! Keep offering a variety of options and eventually your bird will become curious enough to try some.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    • It is important to adjust the diet progressively over a period of days by changing part of the old food with a bit of new. This helps suspicious and shy birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
      • Since feathers are made of proteins, when your bird is in moult, feed it extra protein for the energy needed to grow new feathers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Harmful Foods<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
        • Avocado: Skin, flesh and pits of avocado (including guacamole) are toxic to birds and cause cardiac distress leading to heart failure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
          • Tomato leaves: Like potatoes, tomatoes are also part of the nightshade family. While the fruits of these plants are fine to eat, the green parts including stem, vine and leaves are extremely toxic. Be sure to trim off all parts of the leaves and stem when preparing tomatoes to feed to your bird.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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            • Dried Beans: Birds love to eat beans, but they must be thoroughly cooked first. Dry, uncooked beans contain hemaglutin, and this is a poison that is very toxic to birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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              • Chocolate: While humans love chocolate, this is a definite no-no for your pet bird. In birds, chocolate causes vomiting and diarrhea. Eventually affecting their central nervous system, it leads to seizures and then death.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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                • Caffeinated drinks: Caffeine in all forms is harmful to birds, including sodas, tea and coffee. In birds, caffeine leads to cardiac malfunction, including fast heartbeat, hyperactivity, irregular heart rhythm and cardiac arrest. Share a natural fruit or vegetable juice with your bird friend instead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                  \n
                  • Alcohol: While most of us would never dream of feeding alcohol to our birds, some free-roaming pets like to sample from their owners\u2019 drink glasses, and unfortunately, sometimes this includes alcohol. Alcohol interferes with a bird\u2019s organ and can be fatal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                    \n
                    • Fruit seeds and pits: Fruit is a favorite treat for many birds, however the seeds and pits of such fruit as apples, cherries, pears, peaches and apricots have small amounts of naturally-occurring cyanide. Ensure all fruit is cleaned and cored before offering it to your bird as a snack.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                      \n
                      • Mushrooms: As a general rule, birds shouldn\u2019t have mushrooms. Mushrooms can cause digestive issues, and the caps and stems can lead to liver failure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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                        • Rhubarb: Although the stalks are safe for birds, the leaves of the rhubarb plant are toxic for birds to eat. The leaves have high levels of oxalic acid and irritate the intestinal tract, and enough of it can kill your bird.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                          \n
                          • Salt: We humans aren\u2019t always selective when it comes to the healthfulness of our diet, however birds don\u2019t have this luxury. Foods with large amounts of salt or sugar can cause health problems such as dehydration, thirst, kidney failure and death.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                            \n
                            • Onions: In small amounts, onions are generally safe, but if your bird eats too much it can cause vomiting, diarrhea and digestive upset. When birds are exposed to onions for a prolonged amount of time, it can lead to hemolytic anemia. This type of anemia leads to respiratory distress and then death.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                              \n
                              • Peanuts: While large birds love them, cooked and uncooked peanuts contain a fungal toxin called aflatoxin. This fungus is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in many species of animals, including birds. Even roasting peanuts does not completely eliminate aflatoxin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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