This will be a constant battle for me and other parrot owners because we want what’s best for our birds but there is no complete diet out there and truth be told there will never be. Provide your birds with foraging opportunities using their pellets. Make sure you are giving them whole raw foods, oils and cooked Food. Fruits and veggies are a must. Explore your parrot’s palate, make eating a fun activity. I love making dishes that can be used for the humans and Parrots (less cooking/preparing for me hahaha).

Nutrition is so important because it plays a HUGE role in your parrot’s development, health, bodily functions and in my personal opinion their overall demeanor. I found that when my parrots were eating better and getting more of a variety they seemed friendly, more willing to interact with others and calmer.

So let’s look at a few things briefly. The best way for a parrot to get their Omega-3’s is via nuts. I feed my parrots Pine nuts (yes a bit expensive), I use it as their training treat and that way I know for sure they are getting an intake of their Omega 3’s. Other seeds that offer Omega 3’s are walnuts, Brazil nuts and Pecans. Flax seeds I have recently started to use but only about once a week in its soaked form.

My go-to oil is coconut oil. Not only for the humans but also the parrots in our lives because it is a very versatile oil, It offers antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

I know a lot of owners who feed their parrots dairy but listen, parrots do not produce milk therefore they do not produce the enzyme required to breakdown dairy so I would refrain from giving birds’ milk. Now I have no problem with providing them with Almond milk or a milk that is made from a nut as they eat the nut anyways but actual milk like cow’s milk or goat milk would be a big no-no on my list.

I personally am incorporated more sprouting and soaking into my birds diets as it seems to be the best enzyme. Try to feed your parrots as much food in it’s raw form as possible as that’s really the only way to guarantee that they are getting the full nutrients that those foods have to offer.

Food is our medicine not just for humans but for parrots as well. Many sick people and birds have been diagnosed with illness that require medication. A lot of people have turned to food for their healing and it’s worked….

Food for thought!!

Parenting Parrots