Pet Habitat South Africa

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21 Dec 2019

How To Prepare A Healthy Diet For Parrots

Posted By : Guest

The current recommendation by avian veterinarians is that pellets should make up 50-70 percent of a parrot’s diet. The best pellets to feed your parrots are those that do not contain sugar or dyes, since these ingredients may have a cumulative effect in the body and can cause diseases over the long term, possibly even shortening birds’ life span. The best bird pellet brands considered worldwide are Harrison’s, Roudybush and TOPs (Totally Organic Pellets).

All of the Roudybush diets are formulated by avian nutritionist Tom Roudybush, M.S. In his 16 years of nutritional research at the university of California in USA, Tom Roudybush has become a leader in the avian nutrition field. Roudybush Daily Maintenance bird pellets is made with a unique steam pelleting process which retains nutrients and is scientifically formulated for the care of healthy adult birds. All natural, high-quality ingredients work together to build a diet specifically formulated with the nutrition your bird requires. This comprehensive formula doesn’t have any artificial colours, flavours or animal by-products and doesn’t require any additional vitamin or mineral supplements for a complete meal.

The formulation of TOP's parrot food's organic pellets also features a unique list of ingredients that are different than any other pellet on the market. A quartet of TOP's key ingredients comprise 95 percent of alfalfa, millet, barley and brown rice. These cornerstone components give TOP's pellets their classic green color (from the alfalfa) and foundation to deliver healthy nutrition to your flock. The remaining 5 percent is comprised of a special blend of healthy, organic dry ingredients that add the flavours, textures, and fats that your birds love.

What makes TOP's pellets so special? For starters, the pellets are cold-pressed (not extruded or heat baked) to keep more natural enzymes, vitamins, and other nutrients intact. They are free of artificial ingredients, colours or flavours, and do not use any sugars or fillers like corn, peanuts and soy. And of course, the pellets are USDA Organic Certified. This means that when you feed TOP's pellets to your birds you are providing them with all-natural, nutritious food that can make their lives better. Both Roudybush and TOPs pellets is available in South Africa at reputable pet stores, avian vet clinics and from online ecommerce websites.

Fresh foods for birds

The remaining 30-50 percent of a parrot’s diet should be composed of fresh foods, including these:

Raw or steamed vegetables (preferably organic, when available)
Cooked whole grains and/or pseudo-grains, such as rice (brown, wild or forbidden), oats, barley, quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth
Soaked and cooked or sprouted legumes
Raw, soaked or sprouted nuts and seeds
Limited amounts of raw fruit

Fruits, seeds and nuts should comprise no more than 10-20 percent of their diet combined. Many people envision parrots in the wild eating a diet of nothing but fruits and nuts, but researchers are discovering that, for most parrot species, that is somewhat of a misconception. In addition, wild birds expend a lot more energy than captive birds, so they need the extra sugars and fats found in nuts and fruits. Plus, the fruits that they eat in the wild contain much less sugar and much more fibre than the fruits cultivated for human consumption. Offer fruits, seeds and nuts only as a treat, and focus mostly on fresh berries and raw, unsalted nuts.

Parrot diet preparation

An easy, less time-consuming and cost-effective way to provide a wide variety of fresh foods to your bird daily is to make something called “chop.” Chop is exactly what it sounds like: You cook a big batch of grains and legumes, chop up a variety of vegetables, and mix it all together in a large container. You then spoon 3-4 individual daily servings into sandwich bags or other containers, and put them in the freezer. Depending on how much you make and how many birds you have, one batch of chop can last anywhere from one week to several months.

Many parrots have never learned how to eat a healthy diet, but they can be taught to do so. If your parrot refuses to eat pellets and veggies, there are many videos on YouTube that teaches you how to convert your parrot to a healthier, more varied diet.