The Diet Your Parrot Should be On June 3, 2008

 

I used to think the proper diet for a parrot was mainly organic pellets such as Harrison’s or Feed Your Flock with supplements of fruits, vegetables and properly cooked meats (chicken, fish, beef).

 

Was I ever wrong! I started taking notice to birds healthier than mine and sought to find out what they were eating. My rose breasted cockatoo (known as a galah) began doing some toned down versions of “toe tapping”. This is what made me realize I was doing it all wrong and luckily, I did it right with my Congo African Grey. 

 

My entire flock is now on mainly real foods with access to an organic pellet diet as well (I use Harrison’s). I feed them the healthiest foods first – which is mainly greens like green beans, spinach, and so on. Yams, sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, and more are also very nutritious. My flock members are especially large fans of corn and peas as well as mashed up berries (all kinds). Grapes, apples, oranges and more are also big hits in my flock. Each member has their favorite.

 

It’s important when feeding real foods to stay away from foods that are high in saturated fat, sodium and sugar. I used cream corn to wean my galah onto real corn kernels. She only needed the creamed stuff for a few days before she was eating the real good stuff. So “temporary transition foods” are okay because they are just that, temporary, and are used to get your bird onto the healthiest foods possible.

 

 

Seeds, millet, and other fatty foods such as seeds and nuts should be given in moderation or (what I do) is use them for training purposes. Seeds to birds are like candy to kids.

 

The hard part about feeding your pet parrot right is that the big pet store chains do not sell any organic pellet diets. So, you have to find them elsewhere (I get mine from my vet) or order online. The other hard part is preparing the fresh foods every day. I do this once a week by preparing seven separate containers full of fresh foods for my birds and storing them. They are labeled by day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) and split between my flock. This makes it easy to grab a container and empty it into their cage in the morning and at night. They have other dishes (such as berry dishes) that are for everyone throughout the day. 

 

Each bird has their favorites… my military macaw loves pastas, rice and basically carbohydrates! Bondi the galah loves berries and constantly has a pink and purple looking beak, while Cressi the Grey loves all the healthy stuff (I lucked out!) then there’s my toucan Fiji who is all about the melons. You will figure out which foods are your bird’s favorites in no time. Making your own meal around what your bird can eat can help as well. If you’re having oatmeal in the morning, make a little extra for your bird (plain, of course) and let them enjoy it with you (make sure you let it cool off first, otherwise it has the potential to burn your bird’s crop). If you have potatoes with dinner, throw in an extra plain one for your bird and if you prepare a nice salad, give your bird his or her own without the dressing!

Key Largo Conch House: Romeo May 21, 2008

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Lacey, Washington
Of: Congo African Grey “Cressi”

 

I just spend a wonderful seven days vacationing in Key Largo, Florida. While there, I went to eat at the Key Largo Conch House 2-3 times! In the entry way of the restaurant, there is a big white cage. This is Romeo’s cage, a 4 year old Congo African Grey parrot.

 

Now, I was really excited to meet Romeo since the last time I was in Key Largo, the cage was empty. His owners take him home every night from the restaurant and I was there too late. This time, though, I came for lunch!

 

Romeo reminded me so much of my own grey, Cressi, who is only 6 months old. He was sitting happily content and all poofy when his owners came near or any sort of familiar face. He was a bit shy but not scared - he just didn’t want to show off his talking abilities around me yet.

 

I was so happy to see someone else had a grey that was not entirely plucked or insanely phobic of strangers. His cage placement was perfect for him and he was outside on the porch as well, in the shade but still catching the light breeze and the soft sunshine. He had gone through his fresh veggies and fruit for the day as I saw bits and pieces left in his dish. Another thing I was thrilled about - he wasn’t a seed eating bird! In fact, Laura (his owner) went on to tell me his favorite dishes from the restaurant. This African Grey not only eats well but eats full blown beautiful looking meals! I think Cressi would be envious to find out she wasn’t getting a variety of cooks making her meals every day!

 

Romeo really had it made. Anyone who wanted into the cute little restaurant had to walk by him and almost every single time, they stopped to say hello to Romeo. He was constantly getting interaction from all sorts of people and was always visually stimulated by his environment. His wings were also another thing to be proud of - when I looked at them I actually thought he was fully flighted but Laura said he’s just barely clipped so he can still fly pretty well but it doesn’t look bad, either. I loved that his wings weren’t just snipped to bits like most.

 

The Conch House is family owned by Laura and her husband Ted, along with their two kids. We met them all and it was the daughter who talked the family into getting the bird in the first place when she was around 15 years old. She is now heading off to college and mom gets to keep Romeo in the mean time and the two have grown quite attached but Romeo was open to anyone as he gets properly socialized every day. This was one African Grey that was not in any way, a one person bird or had any problems whatsoever. I’ve never seen such a content grey before. And I was so happy to meet him and his wonderful owners.

 

Romeo’s owners are a great example of people who truly did their research before buying this bird. They knew it would live over 60 years and they knew it couldn’t live on pellets or worse, seed, for all its life. They really read up and they’ve done an amazing job at giving this bird a proper and healthy home. If Cressi liked older men, I think she’d be interested in Romeo!

Cuttlebone and Calcium Perches March 31, 2008

In my opinion, cuttlebone perches are one of the best inventions for parrots of all-time! My entire flock loves these perches in every flavor. I love giving my birds the colored perch that matches them. For example, I tend to mix it up but I find it a great photo opportunity to give Cash, my military macaw, a kiwi flavored cuttlebone perch so that it turns his beak and feet green to match the rest of him! My rose breasted cockatoo gets strawberry-banana ones and so on so that the pink beak and feet match the rest of her, too!

 

 

 

I actually do not have a single bird who has disliked these perches. They make them in all different sizes which you can order from your local petshop or online. They make them from large to small; for macaws to budgies!

 

These perches are not just great for the nutrients they provide your parrot with but also with the beak and nail trimming they induce as well. These perches will keep your bird busy until the entire thing is free from cuttlebone and I find that they are found to be more fun for the bird to devour than just placing a spare, single piece of cuttlebone in the cage for your bird to take interest in.

 

Why do parrots need cuttlebone and calcium in their diets? To provide strong bones, proper muscle functions, egg development and to prevent common health problems including egg binding. So do your bird a favor and get them one of these cuttlebone perches to see how they like it!

Toxins: Household and Environmental March 23, 2008

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Smiling: Blue and Gold Macaw “Chayko”

 

My parrots are just like kids, and I know that for most if not all bird owners, yours are too. Even if you already have kids, they’re just like kids and if you don’t, even moreso. Above is an image of my blue and gold macaw, Chayko. He was named while on a road trip between Nevada and California. I combined two cities and came up with Chayko. He is about 6 months old in this picture and clipped from the breeder.

 

Most people are unaware of how to “bird proof” their home, just like with having to “baby proof” it when expecting a child. Parrots have very sensitive respitory systems which in turn means that a lot of chemicals people use nowadays, are very harmful to your bird and potentionally toxic.

 

Although it may seem like a great idea to use some branches from your trees outside and bring in some wild flowers and leaves for your bird to chew on - rather than spending loads of money at your petshop nearby - this can be very harmful for your bird as some foliage, twigs and braches are unsafe for your bird.

 

Because of how much information can be out there, I want to go over both safe and unsafe toxins so not to lead to any mishaps. All lists are in alphabetical order to make it easier for you to look up something specific.  

 

Safe Twigs and Branches

 

• Ash
• Citrus (Any)
• Dogwood
• Elm
• Eucalyptus
• Guava
• Madrona
• Magnolia
• Manzanita
• Nut (Except Chestnut and Oak)
• Papaya
• Pine
• Prune
• Ribbonwood
• Sassafras
• Thurlow
• Vine Maple
• Willows (Goat, Pussy and Weeping)

Safe Foliage

• Acacia
• Aloe
• African Violet
• Baby’s Tears
• Bamboo
• Begonia
• Boston Fern
• Bougainvillea
• Chickweed
• Christmas Cactus
• Cissus (Kangaroo Vine)
• Coleus
• Corn Plant
• Crabapple
• Dandelion
• Dogwood
• Donkey Tail
• Dracaena Varieties
• Ferns (Bird’s Nest, Boston, Maidenhair)
• Figs (Creeping, Rubber)
• Fiddle Leaf, Laurel Leaf
• Gardenia
• Grape Ivy
• Hen and Chickens
• Impatiens
• Jade Plant
• Kalanchoe
• Magnolia
• Marigolds
• Monkey Plant
• Nasturtium
• Natal Plum
• Norfolk Island Pine
• Orchids
• Palms (Areca, Date, Fan, Lady, Parlour, Howeia, Kentia, Phownix, Sago)
• Pepperomia
• Petunia
• Pittosporum
• Prayer Plant
• Purple Passion
• Rose
• Rubber Plant
• Schefflera
• Sensitive Plant
• Snake Plant
• Spider Plant
• Swedish Ivy
• Thistle
• Velvet Nettle
• White Clover
• Yucca
• Zebra Plant
• Zinnia

 

Below is a list of household toxins your parrot should never ever injest. These items are toxic to your feathered friends and are what is involved with bird proofing your home. 

 

 

Household Toxins

• Alcoholic Drinks, Alcohol in general
• Ammonia
• Antifreeze
• Ant Syrup or Paste
• Arsenic
• Asbestos
• Auto Products
• Avacado
• Bathroom Cleaners
• Bleach (If you choose to use bleach as a cleaner, it must be very diluted)
• Boric Acid
• Camphophenique
• Carbon Monoxide
• Carpet Cleaners
• Carpet Fresheners
• Charcoal Fluids
• Chlordaine
• Chlorine
• Chocolate
• Cigarette Smoke
• Clinitest Tablets
• Copper and Brass Cleaners
• Corn and Wart Remover
• Deodorants
• Detergents
• Diazinon
• Disinfectants
• Drain Cleaners
• Epoxy Glue
• Felt tip Markers
• Flea Products
• Floor Polish
• Formaldehyde
• Furniture Polish
• Garden Sprays
• Gasoline
• Gun Cleaners
• Hair Dyes and Sprays
• Herbicides
• Insecticides
• Iodine
• Kerosene
• Lighter Fluid
• Lye
• Matches
• Melalueca Oil
• Model Cement
• Mothballs
• Muriatic Acid
• Mushrooms
• Nail Polish and Nail Polish Remover
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Oven Cleaner
• Overheaded Non Stick Cookware
• Paint and Thinner
• Perfume
• Permanents
• Pesticides
• Photo Solutions
• Pine Oil
• RX Drugs
• Rodenticides
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Scented Candles/Oils
• Shaving Lotion
• Shellac
• Shoe Polish
• Snail Bait
• Spot Removers
• Spray Starch
• Strychnine
• Sulfuric Acid
• Super Glue
• Suntan Lotions and Oils
• Surgical Acrylics
• Tea Tree Oil
• Turpentine
• Wax
• Weed Killers
• Window Cleaners
• Wood Preservatives

 

I may make a post in the future with a list of toxic plants and foliage but I didn’t want this one becoming too insanely long and scare people away from actually reading it as I believe the information is invaluable.

A Trick to Getting your Parrot to Eat Healthy March 18, 2008

 

 Photo by Dave
Location: Orlando, Florida
Eater: Rose Breasted Cockatoo “Bondi”

 

My galah is the last of my flock who chooses to eat anything that might even be considered healthy for her. She won’t try anything new unless I try it first and only wants a piece of whatever I touched, not the next one on the plate.

 

Well, I finally got her to try eating the white part of an egg and she loves it! I’m really impressed as it’s one of the only healthy things she will now eat (aside from her pellet diet, forget it, greens!)

 

I’ve noticed with raising our new Congo African Grey parrot around Bondi, that if Cressi (the grey) tries something, Bondi gets more interested in it. Almost as though if it’s good enough for Cressi, it’s good enough for Bondi. It has been a serious trick I’ve been using more - and yesterday I caught Bondi with a purple beak from sharing in the fresh fruit I provided the two of them with (they are now sharing a cage).

 

Ever since discovering the fact that Bondi is interested in foods that Cressi likes, I have gotten her to eat the following healthy foods:

 

• The white part of a hard boiled egg (the yoke is high in saturated fat)
• Oatmeal
• Various fruit such as black berries, raspberries, oranges and plums
• Cooked pasta

 

It has been fun watching these two girls interact with one another and learn from each other. I’m hoping to eventually have Bondi tricked into eating vegetables soon enough!