Swift As A Bird

       Parrot/Bird Diet 

 

The following diet is suitable for many parrots but you will need to vary amounts for different species.

Parrots must have as varied diet as possible, and fed at least twice a day. Once in the morning and also in the afternoon\evening. This stops them from eating all their “favorites”  at once as in with humans, gives them something to look forward to. The daily diet should consist of seeds, nuts, cooked or sprouted pulses, fresh fruit, vegetables and animal protein such as cooked chicken or cheese.

Seed based diets are high in calories and fat, and deficient in many important nutrients, (i.e. sunflower and peanuts/monkey nuts) vitamin A and calcium being prime examples; -vitamin A is used for lining the body, the skin, the inside of the respiratory tract, and even the kidneys. Deficiencies mean that these linings are weaker and not able to resist infections, and can even break down entirely. -Calcium is used in the bones, but also in muscles like the heart, which is why low blood calcium levels (“hypocalcaemia”) are very dangerous and can lead to shivering, twitching, fits and heart problems which can in severe cases result in death. While this is seen in many species of bird the vast majorities are in African greys. Many types of vitamin supplements can be bought in store, Animals get their calcium and vitamin D3 from the sunlight, most of our pet birds never get any sunlight. It is good to get your pets out into sunlight as often as possible, but you must put a blanket over half the cage so they can get out of the sun if needed. All birds from finches right up to parrots will have a vitamin deficiency sooner or later if they don't get the right foods. All birds especially African greys in particular need calcium on a regular basis, our birds all get Zolcal D which is a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement. Given every 3rd day. Except if they are on Harrisons complete food. 

Suitable foods are:

VEGETABLES: Alfalfa, Broccoli, Carrots, Sweet potatoe, Cauliflower, Celery, Courgettes, Cucumber, Green beans (French\runner), Kale, Peas, Sweet peppers, Pumpkin-cooked, Spinach, Spring greens, Sprouts, Sweet corn, Watercress. Asparagus, Beet, Cabbage, Dandelion leaves, Parsnip Spinach. Ideally buy organic.

WASH HANDS AND BE CAREFUL WHEN YOUR BIRD HAS BEEN EATING CHILLI  PEPPERS ! 

FRUIT-

fresh-Apple, Banana, Blackberry, Cherry, Figs, Grapes, Kiwi, Mango, Melon, Nectarine, Orange, Papaya, Pears, Pineapple, Plums, Pomegranate. Strawberries, Pineapple, Tomato, Cherries (not  the pip)  dried- Currants, dates, figs, raisins, These can also be soaked overnight and thoroughly rinsed. Buy dried fruit without added preservatives e.g. No sulphur or E additives, dried banana chips are usually  popular.

NUTS

Almond, Brazil, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, walnut, pine nut palm nut, most nuts can be bought from specialist suppliers in bulk or from your supermarket in small quantities.

All these nuts can be given in shell or shelled. If these are in shell you may have to crack the shell a little to give your bird a start, walnuts should be halved, your bird will eat them from two halves.  Peanuts/monkey nuts  are in factually not nuts! But a member of the pea family.  They are a good way of contaminating your bird with a fungus called aspergillosis and their fore should be cooked at high temperature in an oven before feeding as this will reduce the danger.

OTHER FOODS

Cheddar cheese, chicken-cooked not the bone, eggs- hard boiled, mixed pulses-soaked and cooked, brown rice chick pea, kidney-must be cooked!, lentils and pasta. Cuttlefish bone, millet sprays, sunflower seed -not excess as high fat content, toast with a bit of honey or peanut butter. Digestive biscuit.

Do not offer your bird to many treats as it will eat only these and ignore the rest, therefore not get adequate supply of vitamins\minerals. Millet spray, cuttlefish and iodine block should be available at all times. It goes without saying that fresh water should always be available. A vitamin and mineral supplement can be added to your birds diet, all this in addition to a good parrot mix offered daily. Vitamin A is absolutely essential to your birds diet and can be found in such items as sweet corn and carrot. Fresh frozen mixed vegetables (defrosted) are a good standby.

 There are a number of commercial complete diets on the market. Whilst they contain all the nutrients for your birds requirements, I think they lack interest for your bird. If you do feed one of these to your bird you must provide extras such as fruit, veg, nuts etc to maintain interest. After all would you like to eat the same thing day in day out?

SOME BIRDS DO NOT EAT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES! This is up to you to persevere, animals will eat what they are fed! try feeding fruit and veg whole, chopped, mixed in with seed whatever it takes and persevere for months if it takes that long! You do not want a sunflower/peanut junkie! You are not doing them any favours it will just kill them in time. If you have feeding problems then you are welcome to come and talk to us.

NOTE: Chocolate is poisonous to your bird as is avocado, mushroom and un-cooked potato. Do not feed your bird sweets, cakes, crisps, alcohol, salt and sugar it is not good for them and will kill them.

 

       

PLEASE NOTE

 

This information is based on my own (extensive) experience of dealing with birds therefore is both fact AND opinion based.  You should always seek professional advice before making any changes to your birds treatment or environment.