Food

Basics of a Small Parrot Diet

An insufficient diet can lead to many issues including behavioural issues, hormonal imbalances, dull feathers, low energy as well as future health conditions. Which is why it is so important to get this right! There are a ton of misinformation on the internet about small parrot diet.

Seeds

Seeds are very important to small parrots diet. Small parrots like budgies naturally out in the wild primarily eat seeds. There are many bird people who will jump all over you about feeding seeds, because it can lead to fatty liver disease and obesity, which can happen but you should not fear seeds. Seed should not be the whole diet for your small parrot but it absolutely needs to be included. Seeds are also best served if you soak them overnight before you feed them or sprouting them, this is the simplest way to ensure your small parrot is getting the most out of their nutrient packed seeds you are offering them.

The issue with seeds

The issue with seeds in domestic small birds is where you get your seeds. Commercial budgie or cockatiel seed mixes from your pet stores have artificial colours and dyes and lack variety. When feeding seeds it is best to make your own seed mix out of human grade seeds, and lots of different types of seeds.

Some good seeds to offer

  • quinoa
  • oat groats
  • hemp
  • whole brown flax
  • chia
  • amaranth grain
  • kamut grain
  • spelt grain
  • whole barley
  • milk thisle
  • pumpkin
  • sunflower or safflower (if you use these for training do not include them in their regular diet)
  • caraway
  • dill
  • fennel
  • niger
  • cumin
  • fenugreek

try to add as many of these as you can and change it up often maybe add some other bird safe seeds you find out at your grocery store, variety is key when it comes to any parrot nutrition. Think of it this way in the wild they fly for hundreds of kilometers they will never find the same thing each and every week.

Pellets

All pellets are not created equally. You would think they are all the same thing, but they are not. With all the options at pet stores and online, it can be overwhelming. Stay clear of the colourful pellets these are packed with sugar and can cause your bird to have excess energy and become quite vocal. These overall are not a pellet I would want my bird eating long term if it is temporary will your bird food order comes in or just to get them to start eating pellets that is fine but with their high sugar content they can pose long term health risks on your bird. I would recommend purchasing the following: the following can all be found online if you cannot find them at your local pet stores; Harrisons, Roudybush, and TOPS.

TOPS is one of the best in my opinion if you can get it. It is one of the only pellets that is cold pressed instead of heat pressed. You can put all the healthy foods you want in a pellet but when you heat press it you will lose some of the nutritional value.

Fruits and Veggies – Chop

The first thing I will say is I hope you have a food processor if not you will want to go out and get one, it doesn’t need to be expensive it will just make this process a whole lot easier and save you a lot more time then chopping vegetables and fruits by hand!

Veggies should be majority of your birds diet, seeing as veggies hold so many vitamins and minerals etc. fruits are an occasional treat. Especially if you have a budgie or cockatiel those two are from Australia and in the wild will hardly eat any fruit.

Your bird’s breakfast should always be chop (a bunch of vegetables, fruits, and a bunch of other good stuff put through your food processor) morning will be when your bird is most excited for food and as the saying for humans goes “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” this also stands true for birds.

Chop is amazing because it can be customized for your specific bird if your bird likes bigger chunks of chop to hold in their foot and eat then you don’t process it as much but for finicky birds who like it fine you process it longer.

Once you make your chop you can freeze it and then thaw out the portions you need depending on the size of bird you have and how many you can use anything from an ice cube tray, or different sized containers to freezer bags. I would suggest at night taking out exactly how much you need for breakfast the following morning putting it in your fridge then it is easy and ready to be served!