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All About Birds

By Len La Riccia

This article has been reprinted with the permission of Bird Crazy

Before buying a bird, be sure to understand the species’ behavioral and nutritional requirements. Most species are generalists, meaning that they eat many types of food in the wild. Parrots can become bored easily in captivity, so a varied diet is a good way to provide entertainment. Besides keeping him occupied for hours, a diet of fresh food is less expensive and more nutritious than store-bought bird food.

When considering foods to include in your Parrots diet, a good rule of thumb is that the bird can have a tiny portion of whatever you’re eating, as well as vegetables and fruit scraps, cooked eggs and a small amount of seeds. Avocados are the only fruit that they should not be given, since it contains excessive amounts of vitamin A. They also need calcium, either from a mineral supplement or a cuttle bone.

Although all parrots will benefit from a varied diet, many birds become finicky after being maintained on sunflower seeds for most of their lives. Seed are high in fat and do not provide a balanced diet for most species. To encourage your bird to "eat his veggies" slowly reduce the amount of seed while adding a smorgasbord of alternatives. Birds will often mimic their owners, so you can encourage your bird to try new foods by letting him watch you eat some, then offering a little bit to him. Also, a bird must be familiar with a food before he eats it, so continue providing small amounts even if he does not eat it at first.

Birds have no teeth. Instead they have a special muscular organ called the "crop" which grinds up food into smaller particles. In order to accomplish this task, the crop requires an occasional dose of grit (a course sandy mixture which is sold in pet stores.) Provide a small dish of grit next to the food dish so the bird always has access to it.

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