Providing proper nutrition to your parrot (or psittaciformes, according to the scientific name) is essential to ensure a long and happy life. A parrot that follows a healthy and balanced diet, in fact, tends to be more active and have more beautiful plumage than a parrot with food deficiencies. You probably already know that your parrot loves seeds, but they are not enough to make up a good diet. Having a better idea of what he should be eating will help you make the right decisions to keep him healthy.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Know What to Feed the Parrot
Step 1. Give your parrot some pelleted food
Pellets are an important component of your diet: they are granules made up of a mixture of fruit, vegetables, cereals and seeds and therefore have a very high nutritional value. They come in different colors, sizes and even tastes.
- Read the list of ingredients carefully before buying pellets; do not take food with many preservatives.
- Given the large variety of pellets available, you may want to hear from your vet on which mix is best for your parrot.
Step 2. Include seeds in your diet
Even if they don't have to be the basis of your diet, the seeds still provide a good nutritional supply. As with pellets, there are various mixes of seeds to choose from. The ideal would be to buy a pack of assorted seeds, but you can also buy individual types of seeds and mix them yourself.
- Sunflower seeds were once thought to be addictive in parrots, but that's not true at all.
- Before buying the seeds, make sure they are fresh. They must not smell musty or rancid and must be free of insects and fungi. They should also be shiny.
- The parrot may prefer germinated seeds. To germinate the seeds, soak a portion every night; you can leave it at room temperature or put it in the fridge. After 12 - 24 hours you will begin to see sprouts; at that point you can give the seeds to the parrot.
- Seeds are for parrots like candy for people - they're tasty, but should only be eaten occasionally. You can use them as a treat if you are training the parrot.
Step 3. Add fresh fruits and vegetables
There are many types of fruits and vegetables that you can feed the parrot, including apples, broccoli, kale, and peaches. Whichever you choose, make sure you wash it well with fresh water first. Keep in mind that fruit has a relatively high sugar content, so it doesn't have to be a big part of your diet.
- Remember that pelleted food already contains fruit, so the parrot is likely to get the same nutrients from pellets as it would from fresh fruit.
- Cut fruits and vegetables into small pieces to make them easier to eat.
- Some types of fruit may stain the parrot's feces, but that's not something to worry about.
Step 4. Give him some dried fruit
Dried fruit is also part of a healthy diet, as it is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. It is also a very fatty food, so you don't have to overdo the quantity. You could use it as a treat during training or as an occasional special treat.
- The dried fruit you can give the parrot includes walnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, and cashews.
- It doesn't have to be salty.
- If possible, leave it in the shell. Wild parrots often break their shells with their beak. By leaving the dried fruit in the shell, you will force the parrot to work hard to be able to feed, which is a great physical and mental stimulus. Keep in mind that breaking the shells is a learned behavior.
- Macaws tend to need more nuts and fat than other parrots.
Step 5. Add legumes and grains
Legumes include beans, peas and lentils and have a high nutritional value. Among the legumes you can give to the parrot are black beans, green beans and chickpeas. Tofu is also a legume that you can give him if he likes it. He can eat them raw or cooked.
Grains should be whole. You can give him, for example, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and barley. They should also be lightly salted
Step 6. Include meat in your diet
Parrots are omnivores, so they can also eat meat. Chicken meat, for example, is great for them. Make sure the chicken is well cooked before feeding it to the parrot.
Too much meat can damage his kidneys, so he only needs to eat small amounts
Step 7. Learn which foods you should never give to your parrot
While parrots can eat many of the things humans eat, some are harmful to them. For example, avocado and chocolate are toxic to parrots, as are alcohol and caffeine.
A fungus that produces a toxin called "aflatoxin" can grow on peanuts that have been stored poorly (in hot, dark and humid places). Aflatoxin can be lethal to parrots, therefore avoid giving him peanuts.
Step 8. Make sure you always have fresh water available
Keep in mind that parrots can be very chaotic when they eat; this means that bits of food can end up in the water bowl. Change it twice a day or whenever you see food inside.
Part 2 of 2: Know How to Feed the Parrot
Step 1. Feed the parrot twice a day
The exact amount of food he needs depends on factors such as age, species, and general health. Your vet can give you further guidance on how much of each specific diet component you should eat. Give small amounts of seeds and fresh foods (fruit, vegetables, etc.) in the morning and evening. Wait about an hour and then remove any leftovers so they don't spoil.
- You shouldn't give the parrot more than a teaspoon or two of seeds.
- When he has run out of seeds and fresh food, give him the pellets (in the morning only). It will likely tease them throughout the day rather than consuming them all at once, so you don't have to take out the ones that don't finish in the morning.
- If you have a small parrot, you can give it about a quarter of a glass of pellets a day, while for a large parrot about half a glass can be fine. If possible, feed them a little at a time rather than putting the whole amount in the cage right away.
- The other components of the diet should be administered in small quantities. For example, if your parrot is small, you can give him half a teaspoon of fruit, half a tablespoon of vegetables, and half a tablespoon of a protein food, such as dried fruit or cooked meat. If it is large, it will need one tablespoon of fruit, one tablespoon of vegetables and one and a half tablespoons of a protein food.
Step 2. Encourage the parrot to search for food
Wild parrots spend a great deal of their time looking for food. To keep your parrot from getting lazy, make sure he has to put in a little effort to be able to eat. For example, fill the manger with pellets and gravel to force him to sift through the gravel to get to the food.
- You can also put food in special toys, which you can find in pet stores.
- Having to work hard to feed will keep the parrot busy and mentally stimulated, which helps reduce the risk of behavioral problems.
Step 3. Track your weight
Obesity can be a major problem in parrots, especially if they eat too many fatty foods. Obese parrots can get fatty liver disease, or "fatty liver disease", a very serious medical condition. If your parrot appears to have gained weight, take him to the vet. Reducing the amount of food will help him lose weight, but you should always make sure his diet remains healthy and balanced.
Some parrot species, such as parakeets, cockatoos and amazons, are particularly predisposed to obesity and fatty liver disease
Step 4. Make sure you don't have a vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin A helps parrots fight infections. Deficiency of this vitamin is common in birds and can make them seriously ill; in particular, it can compromise the respiratory system. If your parrot is not getting enough vitamin A, it may develop problems such as nasal discharge, difficulty breathing or sneezing. if you notice any of these symptoms, take him to the vet.
- A vitamin A deficiency can also affect the kidneys and digestive system.
- If you provide your parrot with a healthy and balanced diet, he will receive the right amount of vitamin A to stay healthy.
Advice
- Consult your vet if you are unsure which foods are right for your parrot.
- Opinions differ on the ideal percentage of each food. For example, some argue that pellets should make up 80% of the diet, others only 25%. Your vet can help you find the right balance of food for your parrot.
