|
I will be adding info about different aspects of caring for birds along with helpful tips. I hope you will find this info
valuable and informative.
*FEEDING*:- PARROTS don't live on seeds alone!
*Grains-Breads & Cereal Group:
Cooked brown rice,bagels,muffins,toasted bread, Commercial protein biscuits, Pasta noodles (cooked),Oatmeal (cooked or
raw,enriched),LOW salt crackers, graham crackers, SUGARLESS cereals, puffed rice/wheat/corn or millet, Dried beans/peas (cooked),
English muffins, Lentils - cooked, Raw wheat germ, Whole grain breads - Try it toasted.
*Fresh Vegetables:
Red & Green peppers, Cucumbers, Green peas in pods, Corn on the cob (cooked or uncooked), Squash (including cooked
acorn squash, winter squash,and seeds), Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, Carrots (raw or cooked, also tops), Beets and beet greens,
Potatoes & Sweet potatoes (cooked), Turnips (cooked), Zucchini, Brussel sprouts, Kindney, Pinto, and Navy beans, Chard,
Yams (cooked), Beans of any kind (cook if dried), bok choy, Greens (turnip,collard,mustard; all greens with deep colours EXCEPT
spinach), mixed vegetables, Parsley, Pumpkin (seeds also).
*Fruits & vegetables have a very high water content, and are low in protein & calories, so offer these foods as
only a part of an overall balanced diet (30%).
*Meat Group:
Beef, lamb, tuna fish (packed in water), hamburger, chicken and chicken parts- wing tips, thigh bones. (Yes, you can give
them a chicken or trukey bone: they will split it and eat the marrow, but don't forget to remove the thin splinter from the
drumstick, turkey- same as chicken), cooked fish ( On this one, WATCH OUT for bones especially in salmon). NO PROCESSED MEATS!
(i.e. baloney, hotdogs, pepperoni etc.) Also, do NOT feed your bird PORK; it contains high quantities of nitrates, preservatives,
and antibiotics that are unhealthy.
** All meats, fish and fowl have to be cooked. Protein in general should be no more than 10% of daily diet.
*Fruits:
Persimmons, pomegranates, figs,papaya, mangoes, bananas, cherries-without pits, berries, strawberries, apricots, cantaloupe,
palm fruit,rhubarb (stalk only, leaves are toxic), star fruit, passion fruit, guava, kiwi, & many other similar tropical
fruits. Apples (or apple-flavoured sugar water), pears (or pear-flavoured sugar water), peaches (or peach-flavoured sugar
water0, grapes & melons (which are 97% water)-- these are water fruits, and will keep your parrot at a low, unhealthy
weight. You may give these fruits for added texture or variety, but don't rely on them for nutritional value. (Also, please
remember that dried fruit has NO nutritional value Dried fruit adds crunch, texture, and variety, which we all want, but
it does NOT add anything to the bird's nutrition.)
*Nuts:
Hazelnuts, palm nuts (difficult to find but well worth it), walnuts, brazil nuts, pine nuts, almonds (high in calcium,
low in fat), whole, not salted or roasted. (Don't give peanuts or peanut butter, which are extremely high in fat.)
*Dairy Group (Protein):
Cottage cheese, yogurt (do not buy from vending machines), hard cheeses in moderation (great source of protein & calcium),
eggs and egg yolks - hard boiled or scrambled (Leave the shell in the scrambled or hard boiled eggs.. Egg shell is an excellent
source of calcium.)
**NOTE**: One way to help prevent conure bleeding syndrome, which is a nutritional problem caused by a lack of calcium,
is by feeding your conures low-fat yogurt, cheeses, and anything with Vitamin A. Broccoli, cabbage, and turnips greens are
also good for them. (these contain Vitamin K).
***NEVER GIVE***
pork or fat, highly seasoned,salted, greasy or oily, smoked, raw, nitrite/treated, preservatives. Also, acidic fruits,
avocado, spinach, and chocolate of any kind. In general, junk food,sugars, oils, etc. Seeds should be less than 20% of daily
diet.
**Apple seeds, cherry, apricot and peach pits all contain some cyanide. Avocado has caused problems in some psittacines.
Beware of chemicals sprayed on 'non-poisonous' plants that can cause poisoning.
These lists are by no means complete. These are only suggestions of safe foods to try instead of seed mix. Parrots like
to try other foods.
Above info taken from the book:-Parrot Behaviour Modification by Charlie Harding)
|
