Most people are under the impression that parrots should eat a diet that is rich in seed.  This is simply not true.  Seeds are fine for an occasional treat, but as a steady diet, it lacks the proper nutrition requirements that parrots need to thrive.

Understanding your parrot’s nutrition requirements is a vital part of pet bird ownership.  The pelleted diet that is offered today is a far cry from the conventional seeds and water diet that was the common fare for birds in captivity. 

When birds are in the wild, they eat a vast array of foods.  They have been observed eating seeds, fruit, nectar, pollen, berries, nuts, snails and even insects.

As humans, we have been hearing about the importance of eating from the four basic food groups.  It may be hard to believe, but these same principles of good nutrition can be applied to your pet parrot’s diet as well.  The Association of Avian Veterinarians say that a diet that is composed of 50 percent grain and legumes, 45 percent dark green or dark orange vegetables and fruits and finally, 5 percent meat that is broiled and well cooked, eggs that are scrambled well and dairy products is ideal.

How can you serve this to your bird? 

If we start with carbohydrates, this would include pellets, whole grain pasta and unsweetened breakfast cereal. 

You can also give your bird whole wheat bread, cooked rice or beans.  Dark green or dark orange vegetables contain the important vitamin A. 

This will help your bird to fight infections.  You can serve your bird carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, broccoli, dried red peppers, dandelion greens and/or spinach.

To feed meat and dairy foods…… that are good for your parrot, include small portions of well cooked meat, tofu, tuna packed in water, well scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, unsweetened yogurt and low fat cheese.  A bird’s digestive system lacks an enzyme called lactase that enables them to digest milk products properly.  You should limit the amount of diary products you feed your feathered friends.  Unfortunately this also includes the ever popular ice cream.  A little bit won’t hurt, but don’t allow your bird to get carried away.

Last but not least, we have the treats.  This is where the seeds come in.  Seeds were long considered a staple of a captive bird’s diet, but we now know that feeding seeds occasionally or using them as a reward during training is the proper way to present them.

Offer your pet bird some fresh fruits and vegetables daily.  Be sure your bird has access to pellets throughout the day as well as fresh water.  If you are feeding your bird any fresh foods, be sure you remove it from the cage after about 30 minutes or so.  This will keep your bird from ingesting spoiled food and avoid stomach upsets.

You can feel confident that if it is healthy for a human, it is fine for your bird to eat too.  Just as you shouldn’t eat fried or processed food, neither should your bird.  Take a leaf from your bird’s nutritional book and you can both enjoy the healthy benefits of a nutritional diet.

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