A well-balanced diet is essential for the health and longevity of parrots. Contrary to common misconceptions, a parrot's diet should not solely consist of seeds. Instead, it should primarily comprise high-quality pellets and a variety of fresh foods.
The Importance of Pellets
The current recommendation by board-certified avian veterinarians who study avian nutrition is that pellets should make up 50-70% of a parrot's diet. Choosing to feed your parrot a fortified pellet diet ensures they get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. The best pellets to feed your parrots are those that do not contain additives, such as sugar or dyes, because these ingredients can have a cumulative effect in the body and cause diseases over the long term, possibly even shortening a bird's life span. Recommended pellet brands include (but are not limited to) Lafeber, Harrison’s, Roudybush, Zupreem Naturals, Hagen, TOPS (Totally Organic Pellets), and Caitec Oven Fresh Bites.
Many parrots have never learned how to eat a healthy pellet diet, but they can be taught to do so through a gradual conversion process. To switch a bird from an all-seed diet, the first step is to determine how much seed they eat. Measure how many teaspoons of seed your bird eats in 24 hours. Measure the amount fed in the morning and then 24 hours later blow off the husks and measure how much is left. The difference is the amount eaten. The next step is to then only feed that amount of seed that you know your bird eats, but now mixed with an equal amount of the formulated pellets and thawed mixed frozen vegetables. The last step is to then take away a pinch of seed each day. This makes your bird slightly hungrier each day, and as they forage through the mash they start eating the pellets and the vegetables. At the end of 2-3 weeks, most birds are eating the formulated diet and vegetables, and vegetables and aren’t getting any seed at all. Convert two birds in the same cage at once - the competition for food often makes the conversion faster and simpler. If at any time during this conversion period, your bird looks unwell or develops small black droppings, feed it some seed immediately.
Fresh Foods: A Vital Component
Fresh foods should make up the greatest portion of your parrot’s diet, 50% and up depending on the bird. Offer fresh produce straight from your garden or a farmer's market. Fresh frozen or canned foods packed in water (no oils, salt, or seasonings) are also good options. Serve fresh, steamed, or boiled produce, then mashed or broken into small crumbles via a food processor.
Here are some fresh foods that can be included in a parrot's diet:
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- Raw or steamed vegetables (preferably organic)
- Cooked whole grains and/or pseudo-grains, such as rice (brown, wild, or forbidden), oats, barley, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, and teff
- Soaked and cooked or sprouted legumes
At Iowa Parrot Rescue, the diet includes frozen vegetable blends, which contain carrots, peas, lima beans, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, and green beans. To this we add fresh zucchini, yellow squash, COOKED sweet potatoes, celery, and radishes. Home preparation has a lot more options. Those can include: Brussel sprouts, bok choy, beets, kale, winter squash (always cook tubers), peppers (all colors PLUS hot peppers!), dandelion (pesticide free), endive, cucumber, and so much more.
Fruits, Nuts, and Seeds: Treats in Moderation
Fruits, seeds, and nuts should comprise no more than 10-20% of a healthy parrot diet. Many people envision parrots in the wild eating a diet of nothing but fruits and nuts, but researchers are discovering that, for most parrot species, this is somewhat of a misconception. In addition, wild birds expend a lot more energy than captive birds do, so they need the extra sugars and fats found in nuts and fruits. Plus, the fruits that they eat in the wild contain much less sugar and much more fiber than the fruits cultivated for human consumption. Offer fruits, seeds, and nuts only as a treat, and focus mostly on fresh berries and raw, unsalted nuts. Avoid giving peanuts, as these can be dangerous. Other nuts, such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts, can be used. Always check the food for mold or rot before giving it to a parrot. Fresh fruit makes a quick and easy treat for training. We don’t like to use anything with added colorants or sulphured dried fruit. There’s endless varieties of parrot safe and appropriate treats.
We feed fruit three times a week, which consists of apples, oranges, bananas, and a berry blend. Certain fruits seeds can be given. Those include pumpkin, squash, and melon seeds. Other fruits we like are: Pear, pomegranate, grapes, mango, apricot, coconut, melon (green, water, orange), plum, cherries (always WITHOUT the pits), tomato (technically a fruit, and should not be given often due to the acidity), dates, figs, papaya, kiwi, etc. All fruit is high in sugar and should be given only as a treat. Low glycemic index (GI) fruits should be given. Fruits high on the GI, such as watermelon, are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Low-GI fruits (apples, apricots, bananas, grapes, kiwis, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries) are more slowly digested and absorbed, producing gradual rises in blood sugar.
Contrary to popular belief, seeds should not be demonized. They should fit in about 10% of your bird’s daily diet, or be offered in measured amounts a few times a week. That said, they are certainly not all created equally and you should be mindful about what brands and types of seed you are feeding. If it contains sunflower, smells stale, has excessive millet, or dyed seeds, it’s NOT a good mix. Anything from Walmart is pretty much guaranteed to be bad.
We feed Goldenfeast, which are some of the freshest and most varied mixes. Unfortunately the price point is often unattainable. Other more affordable brands we like are Higgin’s gold blends, Tropimix, TOPS all-in-one, and soak-n-serve mixes like Higgin’s Worldly Cuisines and Bird Street Bistro. We don’t use any Kaytee mixes (low quality and fatty ingredients), Brown’s, Colorful Companions, Higgin’s Vitaseed, Higgin’s sunburst, Sunseed brand, or Wild Harvest.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
The Convenience of Parrot Chop
An easy, efficient, and cost-effective way to provide a wide variety of fresh foods to your bird daily is to make something called “chop.” Chop is exactly what it sounds like: You cook a big batch of grains and legumes, finely chop up a variety of vegetables, and mix it all together in a large container. You then spoon three to four individual daily servings into sandwich bags or other containers, and put them in the freezer. Depending on how much you make and how many birds you have, one batch of chop can last anywhere from one week to several months. Chop can be customized to the individual bird’s preferences, but you can also try sparking curiosity by mixing in new ingredients.
Foods to Avoid
Avoid giving onions, chocolate, or avocados to your pet parrot. You may consider them "treat worthy," but these are toxic to your parrot. Also, avoid giving peanuts, as these can be dangerous. Raw beans are toxic! Peanuts are one of the few legumes we don’t like to feed, due to both high fat content and a higher likelihood of harboring Aspergillosis fungi.
Understanding Specific Needs
Small bird species, such as budgie parakeets or cockatiels, can have a mixture of high-quality seed and pellets because of their high metabolism and energy expenditure. But seed is not appropriate for larger species, such as Amazons, greys, macaws, and cockatoos, because they do not provide enough healthy nutrients. Plus, unhealthy seed mixes often contribute to health conditions in pet birds, including excessive weight gain and liver disease. For larger parrots, sprouts and grains comprise a very small portion of their diet. Some birds, like budgies (parakeets) and cockatiels naturally have a more grain heavy diet and should be fed more of this. The easiest way to sprout is to buy soak and sprout mixes, which typically consist of a variety of sproutable grains and seeds that you soak and rinse for a few days until they can be served. The nutrients are significantly more bio-available in sprouted grains and seeds than raw, so the extra effort is worth it for the health of your bird.
We feed Goldenfeast, which are some of the freshest and most varied mixes. Unfortunately the price point is often unattainable. Other more affordable brands we like are Higgin’s gold blends, Tropimix, TOPS all-in-one, and soak-n-serve mixes like Higgin’s Worldly Cuisines and Bird Street Bistro. We don’t use any Kaytee mixes (low quality and fatty ingredients), Brown’s, Colorful Companions, Higgin’s Vitaseed, Higgin’s sunburst, Sunseed brand, or Wild Harvest.
Lorikeets are unique among parrots in that their anatomy and metabolism have evolved around a high-energy lifestyle. Wild lorikeets eat high-sugar, easily digested foods (pollen, nectar, and fruit) but burn it off quickly. In captivity, lorikeets fed a similar diet are likely to gain weight and suffer the associated health problems.
Read also: Satisfy Your Cravings with Whole Foods
General Feeding Guidelines
Parrots are prone to obesity, fatty liver disease, heart disease, and nutritional deficiencies. The majority of your bird’s diet should be a pelleted complete diet supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables. Seeds and nuts are excellent treats but should be used sparingly. Parrots are incredibly intelligent, but can be childish about their diet. If offered their whole diet at once, they are prone to eating around the healthier things and go straight for their favorites, much like a toddler just eating the cookies of their dinner. Watch your bird’s eating habits and ensure they are eating their pellets before offering them “desserts” like seeds and high sugar fruits. Parrots can also resist trying new things or stop eating if their diet is changed suddenly. Introduce new pellets or foods gradually in small amounts over a few weeks and watch to see what they are actually eating.
There are varying discussions on when to feed a pet parrot. Some veterinarians think having food available at all times in the cage is optimal. Others recommend two daily measured meals. But, check with your veterinarian for what they recommend for your pet parrot.
Creating a Suitable Habitat
Before you can bring a bird into your home, you must purchase everything you will require for his care. Fortunately, all the items your pet will need should be available from your local pet store. The size of the habitat you need will depend on the bird (or birds) you plan to keep, but a good rule of thumb is to house your bird in the largest habitat that you can afford and have room for in your home. Your habitat should be square or rectangular rather than round to provide your pet with more room to fly and move. Also, the bars should be evenly spaced, not tapered toward the top. In a habitat with tapered bars, a bird can get his toe, wing, or even his head caught where the bars come together, causing serious injury. The habitat itself should be made of metal or a combination of metal and plastic (combo habitats for small birds only). Stainless steel (best), powder-coated steel (better), and galvanized after weld (good) suitable habitat materials-other metals may contain harmful toxins that your bird could ingest. A variety of materials can be used to line your bird's habitat, but the best options are newspaper or commercial bird litters such as Kaytee Walnut Litter. Both are safe, inexpensive, easy to replace, and clearly show a bird's droppings, which can be important for monitoring his health. Stainless steel is the ideal material for food & water cups because it's easy to scrub and disinfect. Perches can be made of natural branches, wood, plastic or PVC, rope, concrete, or pumice. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Offer your bird perches of assorted materials which vary in diameter. Most birds benefit from having items in their habitat to keep them active and entertained. There are other ways to enrich your bird’s life than just toys, although toys are a necessary item! A travel carrier is necessary for taking your bird to the vet's office and other places. Soft fabric carriers are popular, but if your bird is ill they are difficult to disinfect. Plastic airline kennels are also practical and easy to disinfect if needed. It should also have adequate ventilation and a place to put food and water dishes.