Parrot Diet

The Parrot diet is critical to their health and well being. Parrots have a sensitive digestion. Just go to any resort and you will see things like “Please do not feed the Parrots”. Sugar and junk food is detrimental to their health.

So, feeding your Parrot the right foods is important for their health. A balanced diet based on sound bird nutrition recommendations is the key. Feed favorite foods (healthier things you know your parrot will eat) plus warm foods like cooked rice or oatmeal. In addition, spray millet is often enjoyed by smaller birds.

Feed to young, breeding and adult Parrots year-round is your choice. Variety is important. Just like any human we don’t the same meal every day, for every meal. Variety and a balanced diet is good for your Parrot, long term. You can add to your parrot’s favorite seed mix, simply sprinkle on some fruit, vegetables or soaked seed. Miracle meal may be moistened with small amounts of water if desired.

Your Parrot is Smart
Parrots are highly intelligent. Like any child, or adult human for that matter they can be picky unless you manage their diet. Still there is plenty of choice to play with. So, feed pellets separately from seed: most parrots will not eat their pellets if seed is available at the same time. Although pellets are a much better diet than seed alone, pellets are not a complete diet either. Feeding your Parrot the right foods is important for their health.

Feeding a seed-only diet isn’t healthy anymore than feeding a pellet-only diet. Feed your parrots either (a) A formulated diet with greens and treats, or (b) A soft food diet including vitamins or (c) A seed diet with table foods and supplemental vitamins. Whatever diet you choose, be aware that variety is important, and be sure to provide enough infection-fighting vitamin A and D3 to help your parrot utilize calcium. Pistachios can be given as an occasional, tasty treat.

Your Parrot should be fed a varied diet including pellets, fruits, vegetables, and a few nuts. Avoid feeding chocolate, dairy, salty foods, avocado rhubarb, as these are toxic to birds.

Some Parrots Need a Specific Diet
Realize some species such as Lories and Hyacinth Macaws have very special dietary needs. Vegetable and fruit supplementation would still be offered, but slightly less aggressively than the seed fed alone. Fruits are high in water content and constitute a small part of a parrot’s diet.

Fruits are a part of a good avian diet, however, not too much. There are some cautions with fruit. Vegetables need to be a larger part of the Parrot diet. Because of the sugar content, vegetables are more nutritious to feed than fruit.

Fruit seeds and pits may be toxic. Remove seeds before giving fruit to your bird. Fruits and vegetables should be given twice daily. Appropriate fruits and vegetables for your bird include: corn, carrots, potatoes, squash, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cooked sweet potatoes, melons, apples, oranges, berries, bananas, pears and peaches.

Parrots Need Vitamins Too!
Your Parrot needs Vitamins. Obviously, the best first source is through food. Vitamin A occurs naturally in dark leafy greens and orange-colored produce, such as apricots, cantaloupes, carrots, red peppers, pumpkins and sweet potatoes. To resolve Vitamin A deficiency, try adding foods like sweet potatoes (either cooked or steamed until soft), mashed up with other fruits will be both loved by your pet bird, as much as it is good for her or him.

Rather than giving Vitamins added to water where it is difficult to calibrate as to actual dose, if you must, liquid vitamins work well on moist foods, like fruits. Vitamins in the water can encourage bacterial growth, which can be dangerous to parrots with weaker immune systems.