Healthy Diet for Your Parrot
Is your bird a seed only eater? Did you know in that wild seeds form only a small portion of the natural diet? While seeds are an important part of a pet parrot's daily diet they should not comprise all of it.
Parrots are opportunistic omnivores, which in plain English means they eat whatever they encounter in their day ("opportunistic") and, like us, eat from all the food groups - veggies & fruits, grain, and animal protein ("omnivores").
The seed based diets that have traditionally been fed to pet birds are not representative of that parrots eat in the wild. Little is actually known about exactly what comprises their daily diet, but their natural diet does include a variety of things like seeds, nuts, fruits, shoots, buds, corms, and invertebrates (insects, worms, and larvae). Wild parrots have even been observed eating dead fish that wash up from lakes and streams. Because some of the plant material they eat also contains toxins, parrots in South America flock to natural mineral beds regularly to feed on the clay and minerals available in order to detoxify their systems.
We do know that a seed only diet generally cuts your pet's potential lifespan in half, as well as leading to deficiencies in vitamins, especially vitamin A, minerals, especially calcium and protein. They also tend to be too high in fat.
While formulated diets (aka pellets) are now becoming widely used, they also do not comprise a complete diet and can lead to health problems if used exclusively, especially with the kidneys and liver. Formulated diets were originally based on research done in the poultry industry, where the focus is on rapid growth and maximum size, not longevity. While they've come a long way, and like seeds, form an important part of a complete diet, they can not do it alone. What's important for your bird's health and happiness is variety, balance, and moderation. Veggies, whole grains, and some fruit should form the basis of a well fed bird's daily diet.
A parrot's "job" in the wild is to spend the day searching for food, then working to access it. Nuts are a prime example, as getting to the nut meat involves removing not only the hard shell, but the fibrous outer husk as well. It's important to give your pet a "job" and make her have to work a little for her goodies as well. Having to peel veggies and open nuts helps offset boredom. (Just be sure the veggies are organic and not contaminated with pesticides.)
Patience, creativity and common sense will work wonders in improving your parrot's diet and overall health. The rewards are well worth the effort, resulting in a well feathered, bright-eyed, playful companion who can share your life for as long as possible.
-----------------------------------------
Your Parrot Place
Marilu Anderson, Bird Nutrition and Behavior Consultant, (503) 771-BIRD.
Marilu is a regular contributor to the Your Parrot Place Newsletter.
YourParrotPlace.com
- Only the Best for Your Parrot!
Free eBook!
140 pages! A compilation of parrot articles from 2000-2004.
http://www.yourparrotplace.com/ebooks/ypp2004ebook.htm
Latest News
A Season of Responsibility for New Pet Owners MarketWatch - Will the owner have a safe, pet-ready household? -- Will the owner be capable of caring for the pet for its lifetime, both in terms of time and financial ... |
Homeless pets still need to eat Reuters - With foreclosures of homes on the rise, so are stories of pet abandonment, but pet food maker Del Monte says sales of dog and cat food and treats hasn’t ... Earnings Note: Del Monte Foods 2Q09 - Taming Pets |
Pet-centric Retail Site Muttropolis.com Included in Internet ... MarketWatch - Featured alongside some of the world's most highly regarded brands, Muttropolis is one of only three pet related sites to be included among the honorees and ... ToolKing.com Makes Internet Retailer’s Hot 100 Retail Web Site List Ritz Interactive Named to Internet Retailer's 2009 Hot 100 Best ... Ritz Interactive Named to Internet Retailer's 2009 Hot 100 Best ... |
Make sure pets have safe, happy holidays Pioneer Press Online, IL - As families start pulling out their favorite holiday recipes and shopping lists and decorations, it's easy to overlook one hairy detail: The family pets. ... |
Bob Shallit: New animal hospital to offer hotel luxury for pets Sacramento Bee, USA - "It won't look like an animal hospital," says Dr. Schenck, who has run Mueller Pet Medical Center near Sac Executive Airport for the past 30 years. ... |
Hilary Duff Has Precious Pets Just Jared, NY - Hilary Duff buys a couple of fluffy toys for her cat on her trip to Maxwell Dog pet store in LA on Wednesday. Last week, Hilary attended the Rodeo Walk of ... |
![]() Weekly Vista | Pets as presents: Cute, but is it practical? Weekly Vista, AR - Adopting a pet at Christmastime may bring joy to the family, but it also comes with responsibilities and expenses for years to come. ... Exponential potential |
InSight UT: Pets line up to take their pictures with Santa Claus Tennessee Journalist, TN - 23 pet owners took their animals to the Agri Feed Pet Supply store to get their pictures taken with Santa Claus. Many owners said they participated in the ... Have your pet pose with Santa to benefit animal organizations Santa Paws is coming to town |
Middlesex Borough man urges fire safety after losing home, pets to ... Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - By JARED KALTWASSER • Staff Writer • December 3, 2008 MIDDLESEX BOROUGH —When Roland Stanzione first heard the smoke detector go off just before 7 pm on ... |
![]() Farragutpress | Holiday leftovers may create dangers for pets Farragutpress, TN - Recently, veterinarian Debye Turner Bell spoke on the CBS Early Show cautioning against feeding your pets anything from your Thanksgiving and Christmas ... Pet as a Christmas gift isn't a good idea |
Resources
-
Online Classifieds - Free classsifieds advertising with Classified 2000 .net
High Traffic classifieds Free and fee based advertising. Personals Employment Business Pets Vehicles more categories. Affordable business solutions...
-
Bake-A-Dog-Bone :: Starting A Homebased Pet Business
Resource Guide for Starting a Dog Treat Pet Business
-
Top Quality, High Converting eBooks.
Earn excellent affiliate income: Pets, Diets, Selling, more.
-
Online Pet Memorials Desicated To Sadly Missed Pets
Create a Loving Online Pet Memorial Dedicated to Sadly Missed Pets and Animal Companions.

