What is a Good Parrot Diet?
There are all kinds of parrots out there, in all kinds of shapes and sizes.
Every one of them needs a different balanced diet.
However, making sure that they get the right one for their species will help them live longer and be better pets.
Unfortunately, most people feed their parrots the wrong things.
A diet composed mostly of seeds is not what a parrot needs to survive.
Instead, it needs all kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods, in order to keep it healthy and happy.
Parrots sometimes seem to do well on a seed based diet.
This isn't because this is the appropriate diet for them, but because parrots are relatively hardy birds.
Seeds don't provide enough calcium and vitamin A and are too high in fat.
This can result in a bird that is overweight and suffering from vitamin deficiencies.
Large parrots should have only about ten percent of their diet made up of seeds, while cockatiels and budgies, which naturally eat more seeds, can tolerate up to a quarter of the diet in nuts and seeds.
Pellet foods are a better choice than seed mixes for owners who want a convenient, balanced diet for their birds.
These are nutritious and easy to offer.
They're made up of all the important components of the wild parrot diet, combined according to species.
However, they can get boring - after all, parrots crave stimulus.
That's why it's a good idea to supplement a pellet diet for your parrot with other foods, too.
Consider making the pellet diet about half to two thirds of the parrot's total diet, and filling in the rest with other food.
Offer fresh fruits and vegetables, either chopped or in large chunks.
You can even hang them on the side of the cage to encourage problem solving.
Good parrot vegetables include squash like cucumber and zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, eggplant, corn right on the cob, green beans, cauliflower and sweet peppers.
Choice fruits include melon, pineapple, kiwi, mango, papaya, cherries, apples, grapes, bananas, oranges, pomegranates and peaches.
Remove all seeds to prevent poisoning.
Never feed your parrot avocado, chocolate or chocolate products, caffeine or alcohol, or any fungi.
These can be toxic to your bird.
Offer only foods that have natural colorings and no preservatives, and avoid food with too much salt, sugar or fat.
Whole grain breads, cereals and pasta are a good idea for many birds, as well.
Remember - many behavioral problems with your parrot are actually because it's malnourished and feeling ill.
A responsible parrot owner will learn to take care of their bird properly, so it'll live a long and healthy life.
Every one of them needs a different balanced diet.
However, making sure that they get the right one for their species will help them live longer and be better pets.
Unfortunately, most people feed their parrots the wrong things.
A diet composed mostly of seeds is not what a parrot needs to survive.
Instead, it needs all kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods, in order to keep it healthy and happy.
Parrots sometimes seem to do well on a seed based diet.
This isn't because this is the appropriate diet for them, but because parrots are relatively hardy birds.
Seeds don't provide enough calcium and vitamin A and are too high in fat.
This can result in a bird that is overweight and suffering from vitamin deficiencies.
Large parrots should have only about ten percent of their diet made up of seeds, while cockatiels and budgies, which naturally eat more seeds, can tolerate up to a quarter of the diet in nuts and seeds.
Pellet foods are a better choice than seed mixes for owners who want a convenient, balanced diet for their birds.
These are nutritious and easy to offer.
They're made up of all the important components of the wild parrot diet, combined according to species.
However, they can get boring - after all, parrots crave stimulus.
That's why it's a good idea to supplement a pellet diet for your parrot with other foods, too.
Consider making the pellet diet about half to two thirds of the parrot's total diet, and filling in the rest with other food.
Offer fresh fruits and vegetables, either chopped or in large chunks.
You can even hang them on the side of the cage to encourage problem solving.
Good parrot vegetables include squash like cucumber and zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, eggplant, corn right on the cob, green beans, cauliflower and sweet peppers.
Choice fruits include melon, pineapple, kiwi, mango, papaya, cherries, apples, grapes, bananas, oranges, pomegranates and peaches.
Remove all seeds to prevent poisoning.
Never feed your parrot avocado, chocolate or chocolate products, caffeine or alcohol, or any fungi.
These can be toxic to your bird.
Offer only foods that have natural colorings and no preservatives, and avoid food with too much salt, sugar or fat.
Whole grain breads, cereals and pasta are a good idea for many birds, as well.
Remember - many behavioral problems with your parrot are actually because it's malnourished and feeling ill.
A responsible parrot owner will learn to take care of their bird properly, so it'll live a long and healthy life.
