Just for Pets Healthy Recipe for your Pet Birds Diet
Seeds vs. Pellets:
When it comes to feeding your Pet Bird, two choices are prevalent on the market today, seeds and pellets. Seed diets have been around for a long time and were always considered to be a healthy diet. However, the problem with a seed diet is that it does not provide a balanced diet. Generally, seed diets contain about 10-20 different ingredients, some that birds love, and some they are not too fond of. This allows the bird to pick and choose what they like, and they eat all of their favorite seed, then their next favorite, until they get to the stuff they don=t like - which they don't eat. This means your bird is not getting a balanced diet, only receiving nutrients from the seeds they select - which generally are the best tasting, but least nutritious.
A pelleted diet is formulated to be a complete and balanced diet. Each bite is the same, with the same nutritional balance, so a bird can=t pick and choose only what they like. Pellets are the most nutritious, balanced diet you can offer your companion parrot! Birds almost always prefer seeds over pellets, but pellets are much healthier. There are many different manufacturers of pellets, and they are not all the same as far as nutritional balance, size, shape, color, and flavor. Just because your bird eats one brand of pellet, this does not mean they will automatically start eating another brand, so you should stick with the brand he/she eats. We recommend feeding your bird a natural colored pellet, and not feeding pellets with a bunch of artificial colors or flavors, to avoid these additives from their main diet, and also to prevent your bird from only eating a certain color or shape they prefer.
How Much Pellets should My Bird Eat?
The best diet you can give your bird contains pellets making up roughly 60-70% of their diet. This provides an excellent base diet which contains essential vitamins and minerals. However, a bird that eats pellets alone, or for that matter even a seed-based diet, will get very bored with the same old stuff everyday. The key to a healthy diet is providing a good balanced base diet (pellets) and also offering a wide variety of foods to satisfy their natural instincts to forage for different types of food. In order to get your bird to stay on a pelleted diet once you offer them other, better tasting foods and treats can be very tricky. Keep the mentality that many parents will tell their children, "if you don't eat your dinner, you don't get any dessert," meaning if your bird does not eat his pellets well one day, do not offer him extra treats thinking he/she must be hungry. They will just fill up on the good stuff, and you are actually rewarding your bird for not eating their pellets and reinforcing that behavior.
Also, birds generally will not eat pellets well if they are left in the cage too long - as they will go stale. You are much better off to offer your bird food more often then to fill up the dish. Generally speaking, you should put enough pellets in the dish only for one day, which will vary from bird to bird. Also, you should check their dish at least a couple times a day, to make sure you did not underestimate how much they eat. This also aids in getting them to eat the pellets, as each time you remove the dish to check it out, their curiosity will get them, and they will check out what you did, encouraging them to eat their pellets.
What else can My Bird Eat Besides Pellets?
We use Nutriberries and very occasionally seed to supplement our birds diet. Nutriberries contain seeds and pellets mixed together in a berry shape which birds love. Generally, you should not offer more than 2-6 Nutriberries a day, depending on the size of the bird, or else they will refuse to eat their pellets, and hold out for the Nutriberries. Also, they should be offered later in the day to allow your bird time to eat his/her pellets during the day. Seed should be used sparingly, only as a special treat - or else, as discussed before, they will not eat the pellets. Seeds should make up no more than 10-15% of your bird's diet. Seeds are an excellent reward for training your bird to do any tricks, because they can eat it very quickly and still remember what they are being rewarded for, and they love it so it‘s a great motivator.
Fresh foods are also a very important supplement to your bird's diet. Remember, they get very bored eating just pellets, and they will also get bored if you always offer the same treat.
The following list comprises many "People" foods you can offer your companion pet bird to eat in addition to his base diet. It is important to offer a wide variety of these foods, and not get stuck in the habit of always giving your bird the same treats. When serving fresh foods to your bird, keep in mind that your bird is very small in size compared to a human, so that the size proportion of food you offer should be equally as small. Birds can eat a lot, and usually do not overeat, however, the amount you offer them and the variety of choices offered is very important. For example, junk food, such as a french fry (with salt removed), for a 1 lb. bird (i.e. African Grey), 1 French Fry for them is equal to eating 150 French Fries for a 150 lb. person.
When preparing fresh foods for your bird, keep in mind their size and offer a serving size which is appropriate for their size. For example, small birds, such as Canaries, Parakeets, Lovebirds, and Cockatiels will respond better to shredded or very thinly sliced carrots than to larger pieces which may intimidate them. Medium sized birds, such as Conures, Quakers, Mini Macaws, Senegals, and Meyer=s generally prefer small chunks of a carrot that they can pick up and hold in their foot. Large Parrots, such as African Greys, Amazons, Cockatoos, Macaws, and Eclectus Parrots prefer larger pieces or whole baby carrots that they can easily hold in their foot.
Fresh foods are also the best way to add an Avian Vitamin Supplement, such as Nekton or Lafeber=s quality vitamin supplements. Fresh foods, especially those with any moisture will absorb vitamins and the bird will actually eat all or most of the vitamins as well. Generally, mixing vitamins in the water wastes a lot of vitamins (their water dish hardly goes down) and can actually promote bacteria growth if not sanitized properly.
The following list was created to help you choose healthy treats to incorporate into your birds diet for both nutritional benefits and to satisfy their tastes. This list is not entirely inclusive, but does contain many healthy treats our birds seem to enjoy.
Vegetables:
Many Vegetables can be served to your bird raw or cooked (depending on how they like them). Veggies are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals to supplement your birds diet. Be careful not to overcook veggies, because this will cook off all of the vitamins and minerals out of them (that goes for humans too!)
· Carrots · Corn · Peas · Broccoli · Greens
· Sweet Potatoes · Squash · Peppers · Cauliflower
Leafy Greens (freshly washed or slightly cooked): - the darker green, the more nutrients!
· Beets · Kale · Chicory · Mustard Greens
· Collard · Spinach · Turnip
Squash (generally preferred cooked):
· Acorn · Butternut · Spaghetti · Beets · Turnips
Hot or Sweet Peppers (dried, fresh, or slightly cooked):
· Green · Red · Yellow · Bell · Sweet
Fruits:
Generally, birds prefer raw fruits, and they should be washed well before serving or soaked in a vinegar solution to clean off any possible contaminants, especially if the skin is consumed. As a general rule, if the seeds can be removed and you do not normally eat them, do not offer them to your bird. Some seeds actually are toxic. Apple seeds, which contain a small amount of cyanide, and peach pits should never be offered, as they are proven to be toxic. Strawberries and other fruits where the seeds are normally consumed are fine to offer with the fruit. Fruits are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, but you do not want to offer to much, as they do have a high water and sugar content.
· Apples (no seeds) · Peaches (no pits) · Cherries (no pits) · Cranberries · Strawberries
· Oranges · Mangos · Papaya · Banana · Raspberries
· Figs · Pomegranates · Pineapple · Watermelon · Cantaloupe
· Honeydew · Apricots · Pears · Blueberries
Grains:
Grains are low in fat, and packed with proteins, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
· Wheat · Oats · Barley
Barley can be cooked and then you can freeze to add to pasta, veggies, nuts, and beans.
Pasta and Rice:
Most birds love pasta and rice, and once again provide some nutrients for your bird, especially if they are sprinkled with a quality Bird Vitamin Supplement. With so many types and sizes of pasta, they make an excellent additive to your birds diet. Most birds prefer pasta cooked, and mixed with other ingredients such as vegetables, grains, beans, etc. You can be creative and make mixes yourself, or there are many prepacked mixes, such as Crazy Corn and Beak Appetit, to make it easier for you.
· Rice · Spaghetti · Orzo · Elbow Macaroni · You name it!!
Beans:
Beans are an excellent source of proteins & calcium. Most birds prefer beans cooked so that they are warm and soft, and are an excellent addition to pastas and vegetables.
· Black Beans · Garbanzo Beans · Great Northern Beans · Pinto Beans
· Black Eyed Peas · Lentils · Lima Beans
Nuts:
Nuts are an excellent source of nutrients, and most birds love them. However, they should be limited in quantity because of there higher fat content. For smaller bird who can't open the shells, they can be offered out of the shell, and for larger birds who can open them, that's part of the fun! Do not offer Nuts which have been salted, and always inspect to make sure they are clean of any mold or fungus. Peanuts, especially, can grow aflatoxin, a microscopic fungus which can be deadly. Peanuts are also very high in fat, and should be limited if offered.
· Almonds · Filberts · Pecans · Walnuts
· Pistachios · Macadamia · Peanuts
Meats & Fish:
Meats and Fish in your birds diet can be beneficial, but only in small quantities, and dangerous if not cooked well. Usually only the larger size birds will eat meat of fish, and they should only be offered very small pieces. However, it is advised that it is thoroughly cooked at home by you, and given in small quantities and sparingly. Keep in mind any seasonings used could dramatically increase sodium amounts and be harmful to your bird.
Other Foods:
· Small amounts of low-fat, low-salt yogurt and cheeses can be excellent sources of calcium.
· Eggs and Egg shells also can be excellent sources of calcium.
· "Birdie Breads" that are prepared with fruits and veggies and provide more variety in one serving.
· Crazy Corn, Beak Appetit, and Goldenfeast are three excellent quality pre-made mixtures we carry in our store and loved by many birds, and provide a lot of variety yet convenient to use.
· Sprouts are and excellent additive to a birds diet, and provide very high concentrations of nutrients.
Tips:
Have 3 dishes in your birds cage. 1 for water, 1 for main diet, and 1 for fresh foods.
Do not leave fresh foods in your birds cage for any longer than 2 hours or so because most of these food will spoil.
Fresh Orange Juice (and other juices low in sugars and sodium) can be squeezed over soft foods or breads (even pellets), however, they will only stay good for no longer than 3-4 hours.
If you use a cutting board to prepare your birds food, be sure to run through the dishwasher frequently to thoroughly sanitize. It is also recommended for your own safety, to have two cutting boards, one for meats and one for fruits and veggies, to prevent any possible contamination.
Don't get stuck in the habit of always offering the same treats - the more your bird likes, the happier he/she will be, and the healthier their diet will be.
If your bird does not like something one time or refuses new foods, don't give up. Keep trying, sometimes birds need a little time before they try something new.
Remember to add a Vitamin Supplement to Fresh Foods, especially if your bird is moulting, or does not eat a quality balanced pelleted diet as its base.
Seeds vs. Pellets:
When it comes to feeding your Pet Bird, two choices are prevalent on the market today, seeds and pellets. Seed diets have been around for a long time and were always considered to be a healthy diet. However, the problem with a seed diet is that it does not provide a balanced diet. Generally, seed diets contain about 10-20 different ingredients, some that birds love, and some they are not too fond of. This allows the bird to pick and choose what they like, and they eat all of their favorite seed, then their next favorite, until they get to the stuff they don=t like - which they don't eat. This means your bird is not getting a balanced diet, only receiving nutrients from the seeds they select - which generally are the best tasting, but least nutritious.
A pelleted diet is formulated to be a complete and balanced diet. Each bite is the same, with the same nutritional balance, so a bird can=t pick and choose only what they like. Pellets are the most nutritious, balanced diet you can offer your companion parrot! Birds almost always prefer seeds over pellets, but pellets are much healthier. There are many different manufacturers of pellets, and they are not all the same as far as nutritional balance, size, shape, color, and flavor. Just because your bird eats one brand of pellet, this does not mean they will automatically start eating another brand, so you should stick with the brand he/she eats. We recommend feeding your bird a natural colored pellet, and not feeding pellets with a bunch of artificial colors or flavors, to avoid these additives from their main diet, and also to prevent your bird from only eating a certain color or shape they prefer.
How Much Pellets should My Bird Eat?
The best diet you can give your bird contains pellets making up roughly 60-70% of their diet. This provides an excellent base diet which contains essential vitamins and minerals. However, a bird that eats pellets alone, or for that matter even a seed-based diet, will get very bored with the same old stuff everyday. The key to a healthy diet is providing a good balanced base diet (pellets) and also offering a wide variety of foods to satisfy their natural instincts to forage for different types of food. In order to get your bird to stay on a pelleted diet once you offer them other, better tasting foods and treats can be very tricky. Keep the mentality that many parents will tell their children, "if you don't eat your dinner, you don't get any dessert," meaning if your bird does not eat his pellets well one day, do not offer him extra treats thinking he/she must be hungry. They will just fill up on the good stuff, and you are actually rewarding your bird for not eating their pellets and reinforcing that behavior.
Also, birds generally will not eat pellets well if they are left in the cage too long - as they will go stale. You are much better off to offer your bird food more often then to fill up the dish. Generally speaking, you should put enough pellets in the dish only for one day, which will vary from bird to bird. Also, you should check their dish at least a couple times a day, to make sure you did not underestimate how much they eat. This also aids in getting them to eat the pellets, as each time you remove the dish to check it out, their curiosity will get them, and they will check out what you did, encouraging them to eat their pellets.
What else can My Bird Eat Besides Pellets?
We use Nutriberries and very occasionally seed to supplement our birds diet. Nutriberries contain seeds and pellets mixed together in a berry shape which birds love. Generally, you should not offer more than 2-6 Nutriberries a day, depending on the size of the bird, or else they will refuse to eat their pellets, and hold out for the Nutriberries. Also, they should be offered later in the day to allow your bird time to eat his/her pellets during the day. Seed should be used sparingly, only as a special treat - or else, as discussed before, they will not eat the pellets. Seeds should make up no more than 10-15% of your bird's diet. Seeds are an excellent reward for training your bird to do any tricks, because they can eat it very quickly and still remember what they are being rewarded for, and they love it so it‘s a great motivator.
Fresh foods are also a very important supplement to your bird's diet. Remember, they get very bored eating just pellets, and they will also get bored if you always offer the same treat.
The following list comprises many "People" foods you can offer your companion pet bird to eat in addition to his base diet. It is important to offer a wide variety of these foods, and not get stuck in the habit of always giving your bird the same treats. When serving fresh foods to your bird, keep in mind that your bird is very small in size compared to a human, so that the size proportion of food you offer should be equally as small. Birds can eat a lot, and usually do not overeat, however, the amount you offer them and the variety of choices offered is very important. For example, junk food, such as a french fry (with salt removed), for a 1 lb. bird (i.e. African Grey), 1 French Fry for them is equal to eating 150 French Fries for a 150 lb. person.
When preparing fresh foods for your bird, keep in mind their size and offer a serving size which is appropriate for their size. For example, small birds, such as Canaries, Parakeets, Lovebirds, and Cockatiels will respond better to shredded or very thinly sliced carrots than to larger pieces which may intimidate them. Medium sized birds, such as Conures, Quakers, Mini Macaws, Senegals, and Meyer=s generally prefer small chunks of a carrot that they can pick up and hold in their foot. Large Parrots, such as African Greys, Amazons, Cockatoos, Macaws, and Eclectus Parrots prefer larger pieces or whole baby carrots that they can easily hold in their foot.
Fresh foods are also the best way to add an Avian Vitamin Supplement, such as Nekton or Lafeber=s quality vitamin supplements. Fresh foods, especially those with any moisture will absorb vitamins and the bird will actually eat all or most of the vitamins as well. Generally, mixing vitamins in the water wastes a lot of vitamins (their water dish hardly goes down) and can actually promote bacteria growth if not sanitized properly.
The following list was created to help you choose healthy treats to incorporate into your birds diet for both nutritional benefits and to satisfy their tastes. This list is not entirely inclusive, but does contain many healthy treats our birds seem to enjoy.
Vegetables:
Many Vegetables can be served to your bird raw or cooked (depending on how they like them). Veggies are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals to supplement your birds diet. Be careful not to overcook veggies, because this will cook off all of the vitamins and minerals out of them (that goes for humans too!)
· Carrots · Corn · Peas · Broccoli · Greens
· Sweet Potatoes · Squash · Peppers · Cauliflower
Leafy Greens (freshly washed or slightly cooked): - the darker green, the more nutrients!
· Beets · Kale · Chicory · Mustard Greens
· Collard · Spinach · Turnip
Squash (generally preferred cooked):
· Acorn · Butternut · Spaghetti · Beets · Turnips
Hot or Sweet Peppers (dried, fresh, or slightly cooked):
· Green · Red · Yellow · Bell · Sweet
Fruits:
Generally, birds prefer raw fruits, and they should be washed well before serving or soaked in a vinegar solution to clean off any possible contaminants, especially if the skin is consumed. As a general rule, if the seeds can be removed and you do not normally eat them, do not offer them to your bird. Some seeds actually are toxic. Apple seeds, which contain a small amount of cyanide, and peach pits should never be offered, as they are proven to be toxic. Strawberries and other fruits where the seeds are normally consumed are fine to offer with the fruit. Fruits are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, but you do not want to offer to much, as they do have a high water and sugar content.
· Apples (no seeds) · Peaches (no pits) · Cherries (no pits) · Cranberries · Strawberries
· Oranges · Mangos · Papaya · Banana · Raspberries
· Figs · Pomegranates · Pineapple · Watermelon · Cantaloupe
· Honeydew · Apricots · Pears · Blueberries
Grains:
Grains are low in fat, and packed with proteins, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
· Wheat · Oats · Barley
Barley can be cooked and then you can freeze to add to pasta, veggies, nuts, and beans.
Pasta and Rice:
Most birds love pasta and rice, and once again provide some nutrients for your bird, especially if they are sprinkled with a quality Bird Vitamin Supplement. With so many types and sizes of pasta, they make an excellent additive to your birds diet. Most birds prefer pasta cooked, and mixed with other ingredients such as vegetables, grains, beans, etc. You can be creative and make mixes yourself, or there are many prepacked mixes, such as Crazy Corn and Beak Appetit, to make it easier for you.
· Rice · Spaghetti · Orzo · Elbow Macaroni · You name it!!
Beans:
Beans are an excellent source of proteins & calcium. Most birds prefer beans cooked so that they are warm and soft, and are an excellent addition to pastas and vegetables.
· Black Beans · Garbanzo Beans · Great Northern Beans · Pinto Beans
· Black Eyed Peas · Lentils · Lima Beans
Nuts:
Nuts are an excellent source of nutrients, and most birds love them. However, they should be limited in quantity because of there higher fat content. For smaller bird who can't open the shells, they can be offered out of the shell, and for larger birds who can open them, that's part of the fun! Do not offer Nuts which have been salted, and always inspect to make sure they are clean of any mold or fungus. Peanuts, especially, can grow aflatoxin, a microscopic fungus which can be deadly. Peanuts are also very high in fat, and should be limited if offered.
· Almonds · Filberts · Pecans · Walnuts
· Pistachios · Macadamia · Peanuts
Meats & Fish:
Meats and Fish in your birds diet can be beneficial, but only in small quantities, and dangerous if not cooked well. Usually only the larger size birds will eat meat of fish, and they should only be offered very small pieces. However, it is advised that it is thoroughly cooked at home by you, and given in small quantities and sparingly. Keep in mind any seasonings used could dramatically increase sodium amounts and be harmful to your bird.
Other Foods:
· Small amounts of low-fat, low-salt yogurt and cheeses can be excellent sources of calcium.
· Eggs and Egg shells also can be excellent sources of calcium.
· "Birdie Breads" that are prepared with fruits and veggies and provide more variety in one serving.
· Crazy Corn, Beak Appetit, and Goldenfeast are three excellent quality pre-made mixtures we carry in our store and loved by many birds, and provide a lot of variety yet convenient to use.
· Sprouts are and excellent additive to a birds diet, and provide very high concentrations of nutrients.
Tips:
Have 3 dishes in your birds cage. 1 for water, 1 for main diet, and 1 for fresh foods.
Do not leave fresh foods in your birds cage for any longer than 2 hours or so because most of these food will spoil.
Fresh Orange Juice (and other juices low in sugars and sodium) can be squeezed over soft foods or breads (even pellets), however, they will only stay good for no longer than 3-4 hours.
If you use a cutting board to prepare your birds food, be sure to run through the dishwasher frequently to thoroughly sanitize. It is also recommended for your own safety, to have two cutting boards, one for meats and one for fruits and veggies, to prevent any possible contamination.
Don't get stuck in the habit of always offering the same treats - the more your bird likes, the happier he/she will be, and the healthier their diet will be.
If your bird does not like something one time or refuses new foods, don't give up. Keep trying, sometimes birds need a little time before they try something new.
Remember to add a Vitamin Supplement to Fresh Foods, especially if your bird is moulting, or does not eat a quality balanced pelleted diet as its base.
