A well balanced diet for a parrot is far more than seed, in fact seed is one of the things they require the very least of. Some parrots are prone to fatty liver disease like African Greys and Cockatoos. Seeds can be very high in fat and need to be offered sparingly due to this. Pellets are very balanced however I do not believe that they should be the only food source either. Parrots love variety and there are many benefits and vitamins from fresh and cooked foods that you wont find in just a pellet diet alone.
Here is my own personal list of the healthy foods and amounts that your parrot should be receiving on a daily basis.
Quality Proteins – up to 20%
Proteins are made up of amino acids which are the building blocks of life. Many protein sources are of poor nutritional value because they have an incomplete balance of important amino acids. Incomplete sources of protein may be combined with others to form more complete proteins – for example rice and beans.
Combination’s of various grains, brown rice, enriched pasta, corn, nuts and / or various cooked beans.
Vitamin A Veggies – about 30%
Vitamin A is essential for skin and feather condition, eyesight, and helps the body fight infection by keeping the mucous membranes healthy. High Vit A vegetables are one of the most important foods you can get your parrot to eat.
Green Vit A veggies – Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, kale, spinach, broccoli, dandelion greens, water cress, beet greens, chicory, chard, parsley, green peppers, alfalfa, hot peppers.
Yellow- orange Vit A veggies – Sweet potatoes cooked, yams cooked, carrots, butternut squash, hubbard squash, acorn squash, hot peppers, red peppers, pumpkin.
Fruits with decent Vit A – Peaches, nectarines, apricots, Japanese persimmon, cantaloupe, raw plantain, papaya, sour red cherry.
Other Veggies and Fruits – about 15 to 20 %
While these foods may not be high in Vit A, they still have other nutritional value or psychological benefits as part of a varied diet.
Corn of the cob, peas in the pod, bean sprouts, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, leeks, artichokes, zucchini, green beans, okra, asparagus, beets, tomato, potato cooked, apples (seeds are toxic), grapes, banana, guava, berries, pomegranates, tangerines, oranges, figs, blueberries, plums, kiwi fruit, cranberries, prickly pear, pineapple, etc.
Whole Grains – about 15 to 20%
Whole grain bread or toast, unsweetened cereals, whole grain pastas, brown rice, low-fat granola, wheat germ, wild rice, oat bran etc.
Carbohydrates – about 10%
Fruits, pasta, grains, bread, corn, beans, cooked potatoes, peas, nuts, seeds. Noted that nuts and seeds provide the very small amount of fat needed in your parrots diet.
Deborah
Copyright © 2011 Deborah FeatheredAngels
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