Feeding Guide for Pet Parrots
You will need to observe and maintain and balanced diet for your parrot to keep him/her healthy. Good nutrition is one of the key in maintaining your bird’s shiny plumage, well-formed beak and active mind. It must become a part of your routine to look after your bird’s meals and nutrition. Below is a simple feeding guide which will serve as basic structure for keeping your pet parrot healthy and happy.
Seeds: Cockatiels and budgies are seed eaters. Among parrot species, their diet may consist of 25% seeds. Other species may be fed with 10% seeds in their diet.
Sprouted Seeds: Sprouted seeds are rich source of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
Leafy greens and vegetables: Among vegetables, dark yellow and leafy greens have the most nutritional value. They may be fed with parsley, spinach, dandelion greens, turnip greens, kale, sugar snaps, snow peas, squash, corn, green beans, broccoli, and moderate amounts of romaine lettuce.
Fruits: Parrots love fruits. Birds that are native in tropical weathers prefer tropical fruits. However, feed them with fruits in moderation. Choices are mangos, papayas, pineapples, kiwis, bananas, nectarines, pomegranates, cherries, grapes, apples, pears, tangerines, cantaloupes and other melons. Avoid fruit pits, apple seeds and avocadoes.
Pellets: Pellets can be bought at local pet shops. They are now formulated to meet your pet parrot’s nutritional needs and are supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Pellets come in different textures and sizes to present more variety.
Other Foods: You may also feed your parrot with whole wheat bread, whole wheat cereals, cooked brown rice, small amounts of well-cooked meat, cooked eggs, barley, oats, cooked peas and lentils.
Important Note: Never feed them with chocolates, foods with high fat, salt and sugar content, foods with MSG, caffeine, alcohol, food with nitrates, nitrites and sulfites, onions, fava and navy beans and sprouted lima.
