Parrot Keeping Secrets

Parrots come in many different sizes and species but one thing remains the same for all of them; feeding parrots a healthy diet can help them to live longer and enjoy a better quality of life.

At this point in the scientific community, there is not enough research to assess the type of diets that parrots sustain for a long period of time in the wild.

Experts do not agree on the perfect diet to follow for pet parrots. 

But, they do agree that a purely seed diet is not healthy for the majority of parrots.

The fact that some parrots do well on a diet based on seeds is a tribute the how hardy parrots are, rather then the fact that the diet is balanced.

Seeds are deficient in many nutrients like vitamin A and calcium.  They are also too high in fat. 

In the world of parrot, seeds should only make up about ten percent of their diet. 

In natural seed eaters like budgies and cockatiels they can tolerate about twenty-five percent of seeds in their diets.

Pellet foods are made from a variety of foods including grains, seeds, vegetables, fruits plus vitamins and minerals. 

They provide a nutritious and balanced diet. 

However, parrots may get bored with eating the same thing all of the time.

These are birds that crave stimulation.

Pellet food can make up the base of a parrot diet consisting of about fifty to sixty percent.

You should offer your parrot fresh fruit and vegetable as well.

These can be offered to parrots chopped or in large chucks.

Let your parrot hold and gnaw on the fruit and vegetable.

To provide your parrot with more stimulation you can hang pieces of fruit and vegetable on the side of his cage.

The bottom line is you need to feed your parrot as big a variety of parrot pellets, seed, fruit and vegetable as often as you can.

That way your parrot will receive a well rounded variety of nutrition. Some good vegetables to offer parrots are:

• carrots,

• eggplant,

• cucumber,

• sweet potatoes,

• green beans,

• corn,

• cauliflower,

• and sweet peppers.

Parrots love fruit especially the ones they would have been exposed to in the wild, like:

• mangos,

• kiwi,

• melons,

• pineapple,

• papaya,

• pomegranates,

• peaches,

• cherries,

• grapes,

• apples,

• oranges,

• bananas.

You need to remove the pips or seeds from the fruit as they can be toxic.

There are a few foods that should never be fed to parrots as they are toxic to parrots. They are:

• avocado,

• guacamole,

• chocolate

• cocoa,

• alcohol,

• caffeine,

• and mushrooms.

Parrots should also not have foods that contain a large amount of salt, sugar, grease, preservatives, food coloring, and other additives.

Grains such as cooked brown rice, oats, barely, wheat, and pasta are also a good source of nutrients for parrots.

Some parrot owners also feed their birds whole wheat breads or unsweetened whole wheat cereals.

Because parrots are such sensitive birds you have to take a lot of consideration into the diet that you are feeding your parrot.

Most problems with parrots stem from malnutrition.

Responsible owners understand the importance of parrot diets and are willing to fullfill all of their bird’s nutritional needs.