DIET
One of the most confusing aspects of pet parrot care is without doubt the subject of diet (well, along with behaviour issues).
There are now a huge amount of different ready-made parrot foods available. These products range from straight forward seed and nut mixes (parrot mixes) to vitamin fortified seed mixtures, from coarse, organic pellets to perfectly shaped pellets that smell like a pack of wine gums, from dried fruits to gourmet cooking mixes. Some products are sold as “complete” foods others require supplementation.
Then, of course, there is the debate of natural, raw product such as fruits, seeds, nuts and grains, versus artificially produced foods such as pellets (even organic pellets are an ‘artificial’ food).
Like most other living creatures parrots require a certain amount of minerals, vitamins, protein and carbohydrates. No one food item provides all of these ingredients (except in artificial form, i.e. pellets). So, variety truly is the key. This is not only necessary to meet all of the bird’s nutritional requirements but also to provide interest in food, stimulation and psychological well-being.
Know your parrot
Nutritional requirements vary greatly amongst some of the parrot species most commonly kept as pets.
It is essential that you speak to the breeder and your veterinarian about the type of parrot you wish to keep as a pet before you fill his food bowls.
It would take several articles, preferably written by parrot nutritionists, to explain all the different dietary requirements of different species (if known at all) but to illustrate my point here are some examples to show this diversity: Galahs (Rose-breasted cockatoos) require a diet very low in fat (no more than about 5%), in contrast Hyacinthine Macaws require quite a substantial amount of fat in their diet. Fig parrots in captivity are often known to suffer from a vitamin K deficiency and grey parrots require more calcium in their diet than for example an Amazon does.
Food Items
Pellets
Pellets are a much spoken about parrot food item. Some people love feeding them, others hate them. Older birds that have been fed on seeds and nuts all their lives are often hard to convert onto pellets.
Despite the fact that some pellet manufactures would lead us to believe that their product is the perfect, complete food for all pet parrots it must be remembered that with over 300 different species of parrots it is outright impossible to produce one food that is perfect and nutritionally complete for all. Even the pellets that are produced with macaws in mind, or ones for African parrots, or ones for cockatoos may only live up to the basic nutritional requirements of such species groups. On the other hand, without a vast amount of research into each individual parrot species we will never know what each species really does require.
There is a huge variety of pellets available on the market these days. Some are organic, others contain additives and preservatives. Some are left natural, while others are flavoured and coloured. So, what are the differences?
There are several ways of producing pellets:
Extruded pellets are made from a mash of ingredients or a meal-based product (sometimes processing left-overs instead of whole grain products). These are pressed into little shapes under the influence of high temperatures. Some pellets are only exposed to very high temperatures for brief moments. However, the higher the temperature and the longer this is applied, the greater the “biscuit” effect of the end product. If the temperature/duration of this process is excessive many of the vital vitamins, enzymes and probiotics die, which are later sprayed onto the pellets, often together with scents and colourings.
Compressed pellets appear more natural, coarse looking, as they are produced at lower temperatures. However, this type of pellet is therefore considered less safe from a bacterial and toxin point of view. Compressed pellets are less palatable than extruded pellets as the heat that is applied in the extrusion process (unless excessive) makes the pellets more digestible.
Harrison's Organic Pellets, for example, are produced under low heat extrusion.
Several studies have been conducted by scientist on behalf of some of the major parrot food producers to research in what quantities parrots require protein, carbohydrates, vitamins etc. As a result most ‘complete, balanced’ pelleted diets contain around 15% protein, 5-10% fat and about 3% fibre. Some pellets are produced with a specific group of parrots in mind and therefore contain a little more or less calcium or fat or protein, for example.
Generally speaking, pellets contain all the vitamins and minerals parrots require which means that no extra supplementation is required.
I do, however, not recommend that you feed pellets exclusively. Fresh foods do contain levels of nutrients that simply cannot be retained in an artificially produced, or cooked food and do add variety.
Vegetables
Other than avocado you can feed your pet parrot pretty much any vegetable that you can think of. Try feeding the nutritional things such as greens, tomatoes and peppers. Salt is a killer for parrots so stay clear of things such as olives (usually preserved in salt). Although garlic and onions are full of goodness they are really rather aggressive on the tummy, so these are best left out of the food bowl as well.
Apart from providing some fibre and carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables provide much needed vitamins and also minerals.
Parrots are much more reliant on vitamin A to maintain a healthy immune system than they are on vitamin C.
In vitamin supplements vitamin A is present in a complete form. This means that if too much vitamin supplement is added to a bird’s diet it is possible to overdose vitamin A. On the other hand, this is not possible when fresh fruit and vegetables are fed. Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A and is changed inside the body into the essential vitamin A. As soon as the bird’s system has ‘produced’ enough vitamin A it will simple discard any excess beta-carotene without any harmful effect.
Fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene are:
Carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, winter squash, pumpkin, cantaloupe and mangoes. Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, spinach, Swiss chard and broccoli.
Other good vegetables to feed are:
Beans, cabbage, sprouts, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet corn, green peas, cauliflower, red and green peppers, celery, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumber and cooked white potato
Greens: dark leaf lettuces, dandelion greens, collard greens, mustard greens, kale, beet greens
Fruit
It’s worth remembering that most of our fruits are bred for appearance and sweetness. This is often to the detriment of vitamins and minerals as well as fibers and I therefore favour feeding vegetables. Still, a parrot’s diet should not be without fruit. Tropical fruits are best - Try and get organically grown fruits if you can.
Good fruits to feed are:
Apples, oranges, pears, apricots and peaches (stone removed), pineapple, passion fruit, bananas, mangos, melon, cantaloupe, papaya, coconut, plums, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries and blackberries are good for your parrot.
Pomegranate is a great favourite when in season.
Nuts
Many nuts such as cashew, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecan or Brazil nuts are very nutritious, contain a good amount of protein, but also do contain quite a high level of fat which can be harmful to many parrots if fed to excess. Nuts are also a good source of essential oils, such as omega 3 and 6 and also provide vitamins. Omega 3 & 6 oils are polyunsaturated essential fatty acids which are important to maintain a healthy heart and benefit the cardiovascular system. Flaxseed/linseed oil is very high in both of these oils. Most nuts contain more omega 6 than omega 3 oils. However, walnuts are a good source of both.
Many parrot mixes contain more peanuts than any other type of nut. The reason for this is that peanuts are cheap to produce compared to, for example, Brazil nuts, which only grow wild.
The problem with peanuts (which incidentally are not really a nut at all, as they grow in the ground and are botanically classified a legume) is that the red skins often harbour harmful aflatoxins (a by-product of a fungus). If you wish to feed peanuts I suggest you buy the blanched, skinned kind (available in health food shops).
It is also advisable to ensure that all other nuts fed to parrots are fit for human consumption.
Seeds
Although seeds are a source of nutrition, some can be high in fat.
Sprouted seeds:
Seeds can be an important part of the diet, but must be from a clean source and be fresh. Seeds can provide vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin as well as essential amino acids and minerals. When you sprout a seed, it comes to life, changing its entire chemical composition. The fatty oils found in the seeds are converted to essential fatty acids.
Sprouts are an ideal source of protein that can also help the body to cleanse itself. Besides providing protein, sprouts are rich in almost every nutrient, vitamins (especially vitamin A, B vitamins, C, D and E), enzymes, essential fatty acids and minerals (including iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc and chromium) all of which are natural antioxidants that strengthen the immune system and protect against toxic chemical build-up. The few calories that are found in sprouts come from simple sugars, which make them a quick source of energy.
Parrot mixes
Many parrot mixes contain a very high amount of oily seeds (any type of sunflower, from small, striped to large white, safflower seeds etc.) and peanuts.
On the surface parrot mixes seem to contain much of what a parrot needs, including carbohydrates and protein, however, most do not provide the necessary amount of vitamins.
The main concern with these mixes is that many of the ingredients are simply inedible in the form they are delivered. Groats, barley, dried maize, rice and mung beans are wonderful and healthy but in their dried form (as present in parrot mixes) are rock-hard, almost tasteless and thoroughly unenjoyable. All these ingredients require to be soaked in order to become palatable and tasty. Due to some of the other ingredients present in parrot mixes it is not possible to soak the entire mix, making the aforementioned ingredients simply redundant.
Pulse and rice mixtures
...are often greeted eagerly. These should be cooked. Homemade mixtures would consist of several varieties of legumes along with rice and grains. The mixture should be soaked for at least 6 hours, then boiled for 10 min. and simmered for 20 more min. and cooled before serving. Legumes, grains and potatoes are cooked to neutralize enzymes that inhibit digestion and also to neutralize toxins. You can find many of these bean and grain mixtures available premixed, look for the low fat ones.
Pulses:
Pinto beans, black-eyed peas, adzuki, green and yellow split peas, garbanzo, black beans and lentils.
Grains:
Wheat, barley, brown rice, millet, oats
Other good foods include
Cooked wholemeal pasta, wholemeal bread, cereals, nuts
Occasionally:
Low-fat yoghurt, lean boiled chicken, white steamed fish.
Millet
A good low fat seed at about 4% fat. There are several kinds of millet. Some birds tend to prefer the larger millets. Millet is one of the oldest and most nutritious foods we know. As a grain, it is nutritionally balanced, non-acid forming and is rich in high-grade protein (containing 10 essential amino acids), minerals, vitamins and lecithin. You can buy millet sprays at a pet shop or unshelled millet at your health food shop.
For variation, you can plump millet sprays by simmering them for about 10 minutes. You can also sprout millet.
Water
Fresh drinking water must, of course, be available to your bird at all times. Change the water twice daily to prevent bacterial growth.
Foods that should NEVER be offered are:
Chocolate, avocado, alcohol and caffeine
Other foods to avoid are:
Refined sugar, dairy products (with perhaps the exception of low-fat yoghurt and small occasional amounts of cheese), salt, fried foods.
Vitamin supplements
Adding a vitamin/mineral supplement to your bird’s diet is essential if your parrot does not eat pellets on a regular basis.
However, it is important to remember that feeding too much vitamin/mineral supplement can have toxic effects. Do not exceed the manufactures recommendation.
Many supplements are available in powder form, which can be sprinkled over soft, moist foods. I do not recommend water-soluble vitamins as they cause bacterial growth in the water within around four hours and quite apart from that, parrots do not consume enough water to benefit sufficiently from the added vitamins.
Some birds are put off by the flavour of vitamin supplements on their fruit and some supplements even cause discolouration of fruits and vegetables. In this case it is best to administer the supplements in a ‘hidden’ form. You can mix a pinch of supplement into a spoonful of yoghurt and serve it on the spoon, or in an eggcup. Alternatively you could insert a pinch of supplement into a grape with the use of a sharp knife tip or mix it into a sip of orange juice (served in an egg cup).
Medical conditions
Many pet parrots that are allowed to overindulge on seed mixes are overweight and some even obese. Species such as Amazons, Eclectus and cockatoos (particularly Galahs) easily become overweight if the fat content in their diet is not controlled. African greys may require more oils in their diet, however, as many of these birds are picky eaters and often stubbornly ignore most things other than oily seeds and nuts, they also tend to become overweight.
The lack of vitamin A in a bird’s diet can easily lead to respiratory complaints, infectious diseases, pressure sores on feet, dry skin and various other health complaints.
African greys often suffer from a calcium deficiency, which can lead to seizures and even death.
Again, it is important that you know and understand the particular dietary requirements of the parrot species you are keeping. Your breeder and your vet will be able to advise you on this matter further.
The problem with getting it right
If all of the above food types are fed in the right quantities you will have a happy, healthy parrot. However, this is exactly where the problem begins. What are the right amounts? A little of everything would probably provide a somewhat balanced diet.
Most pet parrot owners are well-meaning and really do offer most of the above ingredients on a daily basis. Yet, many complain that their bird only eats the sunflower seeds and peanuts, nibbles a little at some apple, or orange and ignores the rest of the fruit, vegetables and pellets most, if not all of the time. And so, it doesn’t take long before the bird develops nutritional deficiencies and with that even behavioural problems.
Some parrot species are harder to persuade to dig into their greens and moist foods such as African greys, for example, and it is for this reason that we have to make sure that we provide the right amount of the various foods to eliminate the possibility of selective eating. Most of us half fill or even fill the food bowl in the cage with parrot (seed) mix and provide another bowl of fruit and veg along with water. The bird has now full control over what it wants to eat. There are sufficient oily seeds and peanuts in the bowl to feed the parrot for several days. As these two foods are by most parrots perceived to be the tastiest there seems little reason to eat any of the other foods that are offered.
Phrases such as; “…oh, but he likes the sunflower seeds so much!”, or “…but he won’t eat anything else!” almost always lead to these foods being fed to excess and dietary deficiencies are subsequently inevitable.
If, on the other hand, only a heaped tablespoon of seed mix is put in the bowl the bird remains sufficiently hungry to also eat some of the pellets as well as the fruits and vegetables.
Many readers will consider this outright mean, after all, a tablespoon of parrot mix doesn’t look much, does it? However, if you compare a bowl full of parrot mix to the size of the bird you suddenly realise how out of proportion and therefore unnecessary this is.
Ways to feed
There are two ways of feeding your pet parrot that allow for variety both nutritionally as well as psychologically.
Option 1 is a diet consisting of a good quality seed mix, nuts, soaked pulses and vegetables and fruits (this mixture of foods will require supplementation with a vitamin/mineral supplement).
Option 2 is a diet consisting of a good quality pellet together with fruit and vegetables and possibly nuts as treats.
Note, the only difference between the two suggested diets is the fact that the seed/nut mix, pulses and vitamin supplement are replaced with pellets.
Most would agree that Option 2 is favourable for pet parrots.
Pellets contain protein as well as a balanced amount of vitamins and minerals, making the need for cooking pulses and adding supplements redundant.
Option 1 is a great way of feeding your parrot but you will have to be strict (not overfeed a particular item), consistent and go through some cooking procedures to always provide fresh pulses.
Ways of feeding variety
A good way of feeding your parrot is in stages throughout the day.
Always offer the most important and nutritious foods in the morning when your bird is at its hungriest.
Fruits and vegetables can be divided into two portions and served, one half first thing in the morning and the other half (kept fresh in the fridge) later in the day.
The only food item left in the cage at all times should be organic pellets. There is no harm in pet parrots having constant access to these as long as the daily ration (as suggested by the manufacturer) is not exceeded to prevent overfeeding.
If you wish to feed pulses you should also offer these in the morning. Remove all fresh foods after 4-5 hours as bacteria easily breeds on these.
In the afternoon you can then offer the other half of the fruits and vegetables along with a small amount of seed mix (only for those birds that refuse the pellets).
Nuts are loved by almost all parrots. Coarsely crush some nuts and offer these nut-bits throughout the day when you train your birds, or just because they are being good and are well-behaved.
Summary
Please remember that every parrot that refuses to eat the ‘good stuff’ and won’t take his head out of the seed bowl can be persuaded to eat a variety of healthy foods simply by adjusting the amounts that are offered.
A medium size parrot, such as a grey parrot, or an Amazon does not require any more than 1-2 tablespoons of seed mix per day. Feed this later in the day to ensure that some of the healthy fresh foods are eaten first. Be persistent, even if your parrot ignores the fruit bowl for a while. Use a small amount of nuts as treats and offer healthy titbits to add more variety and excitement.
And finally, if your bird persistently ignores the fruit & veg bowl you can always try making things ‘a little more fun’: Thread some fruit chunks onto a bird-friendly skewer which can be hung inside the birdcage or even on a playstand, or you could hide some in a box which your bird needs to crack to get to the food or you could make little food parcels by wrapping fruit and vegetables in a large leave of spring greens which is tied together with some string and hung inside the cage. Be creative - there are many ways of persuading a parrot to eat healthily and the easiest is to make it fun for both him and you.