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Kalden
Flutterer
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Posts: 181
Location: Singapore |
| Share your Parrot's Diet |
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I'm currently reviewing my flock's diet and Was discussing in another thread about the % composition of my flock's diet.
I realize that there are really a variety of prescriptions given, it can be confusing!
We all know variety is king but its the % composition for each component that is often the source of uncertainty.
Some reccomend 80% pellets, some recommend natural vegs/fruits as major component with pellet as supplement.
So I'm really curious how each of us come up with our parrot's diet and wish to hear how your parrot fare based on the diet you give him/her/them.
Please feel free to share!
For a start, I feed my flock 20% vegs/fruits, 20% bean/grain sprouts, 30% pellets, 30% seeds mix and 10% occasional treats
for Tara..she's rather picky in her choice of fruits and vegs (there's only a few she will take readily and some others only when the mood suits her.)
She take mostly pelelts and of course the seeds...lots of fruits and vegs wasted on her.
Manju eat like a pig. He tales everything.
Bodhi, like Tara has favourites but better than Tara in that he loves leafy veggies which tara totally throw out of her bowl or ignore.
Baby has favourites too but she's a middle between Manju the pig and Tara the ficky eater.
I cannot see the difference but overall they seem to be doing fine. |
Monday July 31, 2006 2:25 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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I feed Iago & Zazu both harrison high potency coarse pellets. I think about 80 percent of their diet consists of pellets.
I also feed Harrison juvenile, mixed with palm oil and yoghurt and apple cider vinegar, veggies, fruit, nuts, and other food but that's just 20 percent or less.
That's how my vet recommended it.  |
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Monday July 31, 2006 6:39 pm |
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gedoena
Flutterer
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 115
Location: Bloomington, Indiana, USA |
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I'm not sure of the exact percents... we feed each of the birds Harrison's pellets (Dewey gets Adult Lifetime Fine and the budgies get Super Fine. When they start molting we mix in High Potency in equal portions). They get a small amount of seeds (parrot mix for Dewey, a fancy finch mix for the budgies) as a treat each day. They pick through them quite a lot... the budgies only seem to eat the seeds, not the bits of dried fruit or vegetable, and Dewey mostly picks out the sunflower seeds and sometimes a few of the other seeds.
We also give them each a "birdy plate" full of fresh and cooked foods, whatever we are eating for lunch and dinner. They pick over this and don't eat everything... the budgies especially like rice and noodles so I try to cover these with the broth of whatever we are eating so it is higher in protean content and vitamins. Kiwi also loves lettuce and other leafy vegetables, and Sugar has slowly started to eat them (or at least lick them) since he came here. Dewey also gets a portion of Max's egg each morning (before he puts salt on it of course), and will eat pieces of apple or grape.
I would like them to eat a more varied diet, but they seem to be generally healthy. The last time we visited my parents, my mom commented on how beautiful and vibrant their feathers are. We just got them transitioned to pellets earlier this year (after which they each had quite a substantial molt) so I assume this is a good result of the pellet diet.
Marisa |
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Monday July 31, 2006 7:16 pm |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
I agree with Sue The thing about pellets is that they consist of a well balanced diet consisting of seeds, veggies, fruits and grains. So with the pellet, they are getting EVERYTHING they need  If you only offer fresh fruits, veggies, seeds and grains individually, they are going to eat only what they like, therefore, not getting all the nutrition they need. That is why they should have 75-80% pellet and offer the other stuff basically as a treat and it's good stimulation, something with different texture. It's good for them but in moderation. |
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Monday July 31, 2006 9:09 pm |
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Kalden
Flutterer
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Posts: 181
Location: Singapore |
looks like I have to increase the % of pellets my birds are having... |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 3:47 pm |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
Another thing to remember. If you offer mostly fresh foods, you REALLY need to be on top of things. Making sure you remove after just 2 hours or so because they develope bacteria very quickly which can be deadly to your bird. With pellets, change their food every morning and you can leave it go all day and night without the risk of bacteria growth  It's a much safer and healthier alternative. I like to offer the fresh stuff when I'm eating. So when I'm done, I'll wait till they're finished then just toss it out so I don't have to worry about bacteria at all. |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 4:17 pm |
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Kalden
Flutterer
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Posts: 181
Location: Singapore |
I usually feed the fresh food in the morning and clear them by the late afternoon just before they begin to turn bad.
I didn't really stick to the "2 hr" rule but so far for these few years, there hasn't been a problem. 
yeah...pellets and seeds are just so convenient and easy to clean up
but when you see how they enjoy the fresh food in so many varieties, its worth it.
thats provided the birds are socialized into eating these fresh food in the first place.
here might be my new diet formula...increasing pellets to 40%
pellets 40%
fresh vegs 15%
fruits 10%
sprouts 10%
seeds-nuts 20%
treats 5%
how about that? |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 4:53 pm |
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wystearya
Fledgeling
Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 265
Location: NC, USA |
Here is what my lovebird, Luna, will eat.
Regularly: A good quality seed mix (I found one with ingredients very similar to Harrison's), vitamin supplement in her water, wheat germ oil on some seed (for vitamin E).
And these as treats: Apple, carrot, broccoli, whole grain breads, cooked pasta, and cooked chicken (for some protein). She also has a cuttle bone for calcium.
I have tried to get her to eat pellets (Harrisons) but she will not touch them. She hates them, lol!
~Wystearya |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 6:52 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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Wys, how about crushing those pellets? Making sharp edges? That's easier for them to accept.. |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 7:10 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
I feed all my parrots 80% high potency Harrison's bird food, 20% Veggies, legumes, fruits, and nuts. And some human foods as occasional treats. Lovebirds also steal some of my doves's seeds when I'm not looking  |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 7:32 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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That's why they are lovebirds Shirin! They do all things they shouldn't be doing!
Flit did that too!  |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 7:33 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Oh Sue, these lovebirds are such a handful! They're always doing something naughty like stealing seeds, climbing into other birds' cages and starting fights, bullying everyone, biting...  what am I doing wrong?!? |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 7:36 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
The avian vet has recommended a diet consisting of 75-80% pellets, but I don't know if that's exactly what my birds eat. I would say Manu the macaw probaly eats about that much in pellets.
I always have Zupreem pellets available for them, tho Jennie doesn't eat them as well as she eats her veggies.
I offer them all veggies, in some form or another 2x a day, morning & eve. For their eve serving, I give them a mixture of 15 bean mix & egg noodles, mixed in with their veggies.
I offer them all a seed mixture 3x a week, Manu gets a seeds/nuts mix usually everyday.
I also offer them scrambled egss mixed with mixed frozen veggies about 2x a week.
Every once in awhile, a couple times a week, I offer them fresh fruits.
That SOUNDS kind of complicated, but I really have got a routine for them! |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 8:06 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Cathy, it sounds like you like cooking, am I right? |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 8:14 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
Oh Shirin! A cook I am NOT  Thank goodness for microwaves What I dislike most is the chopping! I know some people find that relaxing, I just find it time consuming, LoL! |
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Tuesday August 1, 2006 8:17 pm |
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