Pet Parrot Nutrition Guidelines
Birds are naturally seed eaters. However, this does not mean that their diet should consist of seeds only. Seeds should only consist of 10% of most parrot species’ diets. Seed eaters such as budgies and cockatiels can have as much as 25% seeds in their diet. In order to provide your pet with complete nutrition, you may feed them with formulated pellets which are easily available at local pet shops. Pellets are made with vegetables, fruits, seeds and grains and are fortified with vitamins and minerals. This can be considered as the base for the bird’s meal and could comprise 50-60% of the diet.
Although pellets can give balanced nutrition, it does not allow variety and stimulation. It is best to supplement your pet parrot’s diet with fresh vegetables and fruits. Dark yellow and leafy greens have the most nutritional value for birds. They can be fed with sweet potatoes, parsley, leafy greens such as kales, collards, turnip greens, dandelion greens, swiss chard, green beans, eggplant and squash among others. Like vegetables, deeply colored fruits contain more nutrition. However, parrots tend to overeat fruits so feed them in moderation. They can eat kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, berries, melon, pears, tangerines, cranberries, nectarines, pomegranates, peaches, bananas, cherries, grapes and grapefruit.
Parrots may also be fed with other foods such as oats, whole wheat cereals, whole wheat breads, barley, pasta, cooked brown rice, cooked beans, lentils and peas and small amounts of well cooked meat and eggs. With a long list of permissible food it seems like you can feed your pet with anything. However, there are species of parrots that have specific food needs such as lories and lorikeets. You should research on their specific food needs and nutritional requirements. Generally avoid avocados, chocolates, caffeine, alcohol, processed meat, junk food, foods high in fat, salt and sugar and food with monosodium glutamate (MSG).
