Feeding your small parrot
by Dr Sandy Hume Avain Veterinarian BVSc MVS MANZCVSc (Avian Health) Inner South Veterinary Centre
Feeding your small parrot a complete and balanced diet is essential to their wellbeing and longevity. To prevent deficiencies and health problems there is a variety of foods that may be offered. A good quality seed mix that is clean, dry and stored in an airtight container can be used as a basis of a balanced diet. You may also choose to feed specially formulated parrot pellets in addition to seed. Consult your Avian Veterinarian for further information on which pellets to feed.
In addition to seed and pellets, you should offer your parrot a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. A higher ratio of vegetables to fruit should be fed due to the relatively high sugar content of many fruits. The following list gives examples of raw fruits and vegetables that can be fed:
The following list gives examples of raw fruits and vegetables that can be fed:
In addition to seed and pellets, you should offer your parrot a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. A higher ratio of vegetables to fruit should be fed due to the relatively high sugar content of many fruits. The following list gives examples of raw fruits and vegetables that can be fed:
§ dark green, leafy vegetables, including bok choy, silver beet and endive but not lettuce.
§ broccoli, cauliflower, beans and snow peas
§ carrot, pumpkin, sweet corn and sweet potato (may be fed raw or parboiled)
§ sprouted seeds – alfalfa, mung beans, or a pre-packaged fresh sprouted seed mix from the supermarket or green grocer
§ small amount of fruit including apples, oranges, bananas, pears and stone fruit
§ fresh water should be available to your parrot at all times
§ avoid rhubarb, avocado, and chocolate as they are toxic In addition to the above listed foods, table foods such as boiled egg, wholemeal rice and pasta (cooked) and beans and legumes (lentils) may be offered occasionally in small quantities.
Avoid foods high in salt or fat
Small parrots commonly suffer from obesity and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. To ensure you have a fit and healthy parrot, it is suggested that you feed a complete and balanced diet in limited quantities. Avoid free access to seed as your parrot may tend to pick and choose its favourite seeds and avoid eating the others. As a guide, a budgerigar requires two level teaspoons of seed per day. Cockatiels and similar sized parrots require two to three level tablespoons of seed per day. Parrots should be offered extremely limited quantities of sunflower seeds due to the very high fat content. Avoid black coloured sunflower seeds and only choose high quality grey striped seeds.
Small parrots are often fed on all or nearly all seed diets. Many of the seeds found in parrot mixes contain 50% fat and are deficient in nearly all vitamins and minerals and some proteins. It is the bird equivalent of eating fast food all day, every day!
Obesity and vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to many serious diseases such as cancer, fatty liver, egg binding, diabetes, weak bones and heart disease. To prevent these problems we recommend monitoring the food intake of your parrot and advise annual health checks for your bird.
Dieting your obese parrot You can put your parrot on a diet by changing the seed mix to two types of seed only: French White Millet and Hulled Oats. These can be purchased at various pet stores. You can also feed measured amounts of food once or twice a day as well as offering the suggested fresh foods. Small parrots should be dieted slowly over many weeks to prevent problems occurring. It is also advised that you monitor your birds weight over time and ensure adequate exercise for your bird