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The Upside-Down Parrot Food
Pyramid
General Nutrition Guidelines for Companion Birds
  Every Day!
 
Beans, Seeds, Legumes Every
Day
  
Grains like brown rice
&  quinoa
5 Times a
Week
  
Two or three times a
week*
Special  as treats
here & there
 for Calcium on
occasion**,
especially for Bluefronts and
Greys
Special Treats like  on special days only!
These diet recommendations are general ground rules. Certain
species of birds require special diet considerations, so consult your avian vet
for more specific recommendations. We've fed this type of diet to lovebirds,
cockatiels, English budgies (parakeets), Poicephalus parrots (Senegals, Red
Belly parrots, etc.), Amazons (blue-front, yellow nape), conures (green cheek,
blue crown), Indian ringnecks, canaries, finches, and various other birds and
parrots.
Don't forget to change your bird's diet slowly. Consistency is
important! Keep giving the same fresh veggies even if the bird ignores them.
Eventually, your bird will try something new. Try hiding new foods under
familiar foods. Try sprouting the seeds your bird usually eats; sprouted seeds
are much healthier than unsprouted seeds, and they will seem "familiar" to your
bird.
*Fruits are high in sugar and spoil easily, so they are not as
important (or as nutritious) as fresh vegetables. They also attract flies
(germs!) and ants (annoying!). Avoid strawberries unless they are certified
organic due to harmful pesticides (considered the worst fruit for this). Try a
special fruit/vegetable wash if you can't obtain organically grown vegetables
and fruits. In California, Trader Joe's carries an excellent nontoxic cleaner
for fresh foods.
**Don't leave cooked and fresh foods in the cage for more than
a couple of hours to avoid spoilage. Yogurt should only be left in for an hour.
Also try prepared foods like Crazy Corn that require only a few minutes of
cooking.
Check out our recipe page for
new ideas. If you have a recipe, be sure to submit it and we'll gladly post it,
giving you credit.
Remember, the better your bird eats, the longer your bird
lives! You can literally add DECADES to a bird's life with the proper diet. Just
read our Cautionary
Tales to find out how deadly a poor diet can be.
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