The Proper Diet for a Parrot

Without a doubt, you’ll discover that keeping a parrot well fed so it satisfies his or her taste buds as well as her overall health will be the greatest challenge of owning a parrot.

Parrots have literally been kept in captivity as pets for thousands of years.  More than enough time to learn about their dietary needs.  But still we know very little about what type of diet actually keeps them healthy.

Experts do agree that a all seed diet for the majority of parrots is not healthy. Pellet foods have become very popular, they offer an advantage over a seed based diet in that a parrot cannot pick out and eat only its favorite seeds. Although these offer an easy alternative to other foods, they are not the best for many species. 

Many pellets contain artificial food dyes and preservatives that may be harmful. Pellets are also a very boring option for any bird, as the texture and flavor of each pellet is exactly the same. Parrots are birds that need stimulation and with eating the same food all of the time may get bored 

Pellets may be advertised as a “complete diet”, but what is a complete parrot diet for one kind of species of parrots doesn’t necessary mean it will fit the nutritional needs for all. A pellet based diet is better than an all seed diet, but seed supplemented heavily with fresh fruit and vegetables is the best diet for most pet parrots. A commercially prepared seed mixture should not exceed more than five to 10 percent of your friend’s diet.

The most important factor of pet ownership is caring for your parrot and knowing what your parrot diet should be. And if you have a baby parrot, it’s even more crucial. Another fact that many pet owners do not know is that all parrots are omnivorous (means that an animal eats both plants and animals). Your parrot craves a variety of foods in his diet and with a little persistence you’ll discover what truly makes him both happy and healthy.

Pet parrots have lived on a seed-based diet which has been supplemented by what many call “table foods” and a variety of fruit. Just feeding seed mixtures don’t supply your parrot with the overall nutrition needed for robust good health.

Excellent sources of protein for your parrot include garbanzo beans, lentils, soy beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, split peas as well as white kidney beans. Both dairy products and meats are considered sources of complete protein as well.

Offer fruits that a parrots diet might have been exposed to in the wild such as mangos, kiwi, melons, pineapple, papaya, or pomegranates. When feeding fruits make sure to remove the pits because they can be toxic.   Try to limit your parrot’s consumption of fruit to no more than 10 percent of his diet daily.

It’s not unusual to find companion birds with vitamin ‘A’ deficiency, especially if they are kept on diet that consists mostly of seed. Feeding him foods rich in beta carotene will help you can tell by their colors. Choose fruits and vegetables which are reddish or orange in color.

Good sources of beta carotene include sweet potatoes, winter squash, apricots, and carrots.  Even if the food isn’t an orange hue, it still may contain beta carotene valuable to your parrot’s health.  Examples of more mundane-looking green vegetables that fall into this category include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, turnip greens, dandelion greens as well as mustard green.

If you offer the parrot seeds as part of diet in which he is allowed to choose all of his foods, he’ll choose seeds to the omission of all other foods.  Seeds are great, but they don’t create a balanced diet.

One aspect of parrot care not covered in this article is where and whom you should aquire your pet bird from, so we recommend reading the article on finding a parrot breeder they are well educated on how to raise a parrot. 

Hand feeding your parrot will start a bonding relationship with each other, so when you are ready to start training your parrot to do tricks‘ he will be familiar with being handled. Offer fruits that a parrots diet might have been exposed to in the wild such as mangos, kiwi, melons, pineapple, papaya, or pomegranates. When feeding fruits make sure to remove the pits because they can be toxic.   Try to limit your parrot’s consumption of fruit to no more than 10 percent of his diet daily.

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