All of our parrots diet consists of approximately two-thirds to three-fourths fruits and vegetables, with the balance consisting of a dry pellet feed, and an occasional nut, hard-boiled eggs, cooked chicken, pasta and breads as treats. We do not feed seed to our parrots - not because we believe that seed is necessary bad for parrots, but because we have found that most parrots eating only a basic parrot seed mix will not eat the other items that are vital for their good health. Many parrots become hooked on seed mixes that contain a great deal of sunflower seed, and if allowed, will eat that to the exclusion of all other foods.

The diet we feed to our birds consists of the following: In the morning I dice up six or seven of the following vegetables and fruits - sweet potatoes, yellow squash or zucchini, turnips, beets, celery, kale, cabbage, green beans, asparagus, carrots, snow peas, applies, oranges, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, grapes, bananas, grapefruit, lemon, limes, cantelope or honeydew melons, kiwi, etc. As you can see, the list is limitless and will be controlled to a great extent by what items are in season and when they are reasonably priced. I try to include at least one orange vegetable, apples or pears, a squash and a citrus fruit, along with whatever else is in season. These items are all diced into small bite size pieces. Don't be afraid to give your bird new things. You should not give your bird avocados, cherry pits, peach, nectarine and plum pits, apple seeds, rhubarb, chocolate, coffee or liquor. To the above diced mixture I add frozen or canned mixed vegetables and corn or hominy, and beans (if canned, rinse thoroughly under cool running water to rinse away excess salt and thoroughly drain). If I don't add canned beans (pinto, northern, kidney, black eyed peas, etc.), I add a thawed container of my corn, bean and pasta mix which is cooked in advance in large quantities and frozen in individual servings. I add a powdered calcium supplement (D-Ca-Fos) and mix it all together well. I put this mixture directly on top of the pellets they have left from the night before, and early evening we dump whatever is left and add fresh clean pellets. If you only have one or two birds, you may want to have separate bowls for pellets (or seed) and separate bowls for your fresh foods. Remove the seed or pellets during the day if your bird seems reluctant to eat the fresh foods (all my birds relish their fresh foods, but it wasn't always that way when we fed seed). However, I do feel that once birds have become accustomed to eating a large variety, they most likely will continue even if you begin offering seed again. The most important thing is that the soft, fresh food is not left in the cage long enough to spoil, causing harmful bacteria to grow. Keep in mind that food spoils much faster if its hot and humid where you keep your bird, and that some foods (hard boiled eggs or chicken) spoil much more quickly.

Keep in mind that we keep and breed a large number of parrots, and my birds diet is very regimented, but it needn't be this much work for one or two pet birds. While we spend several hours a day caring for our birds, the basic care involved for one or two pets shouldn't take more than ten or fifteen minutes. You can buy frozen mixed vegetables and add an occasional slice of apple or a few grapes when time is a problem. Or cook up a large pot of beans and legumes with rice and pasta, add nuts and dried fruits, mixed vegetables and freeze in individual servings. Thaw them in your microwave, and you have an instant healthy dinner your birds will love. Or if you eat a healthy diet yourself with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, let your bird share your dinner. Spaghetti and other pasta dishes, casseroles (and even pizza!) are all very good for your birds in moderation, and some pet birds insist on eating dinner with their owners. If you eat a healthy diet (and are not a junk-food junkie like us!) this would probably be the easiest and most convenient way to feed your pet bird. Just remember to provide some good things for your bird if you happen to be dining out. The main thing I want to stress is that you should not feed your bird a straight seed or pellet diet, and a good variety of fresh foods on a daily basis is the key to a healthy and happy parrot.

If you don't think you have the time to provide your bird with a healthy diet, perhaps you should look for a different pet, because the care involved in feeding the bird is only the beginning of what it takes to have a happy and well-adjusted "perfect pet parrot". It is important to have a set schedule or routine - when your bird eats, when he is allowed time out of his cage to play, and time to interact with his owner. This is not to say that because you have a full time job, you do not have enough time for a bird. Most birds are perfectly happy getting their breakfast of fresh foods in the morning (or evening if that fits your schedule), playing and napping during the day, with a couple of hours out each evening to spend with you. And an occasional evening out (for you) won't upset your bird much. Remember, though, that if you lavish a great deal of attention on your bird when you first get him, and them become bored and ignore your bird all the time, rarely letting him out of the cage, you will have problems. These are things to consider if you must travel frequently and your bird will have no one to give him the attention he is used to. A hand-fed pet bird that is constantly confined with no human interaction may become a screaming, feather-plucking maniac, causing you (and the bird) nothing but grief. So be certain that the amount of time you spend with your new baby bird is the amount you will be able to spend after the newness has worn off. However, if you are sure you have the time to devote, let me assure you that you will never have a pet quite like a well-adjusted, healthy, happy parrot - one that will greet you when you get up and come home, tell you good night and that he loves you, and keep you entertained for hours with his amusing antics.

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