#ICookForParrots – what does that mean?

Why we “Cook for parrots”

Birds need more than seeds, more than nuts, more than pellets. They need real, fresh, living, sprouted, and sometimes cooked foods. The greater variety in the diet, the better the nutrition. There’s no single “recipe” nor “cookbook” of recipes. Feeding birds properly is much more complex, because the needs of these creatures are more complex.

I tell people to feed the rainbow, feed seasonally, and feed fresh. Sprout! Garden! Buy organic! But we still get folks asking for “recipes” and asking “how” we feed.

I will tell you this:

Flock Feeding: Feeding an entire aviary of birds is easier because there is a social hierarchy, and the “leader(s)” will influence the rest of the flock to follow them in eating what they’ve deemed safe and tasty. We have taken in budgies who had never been fed anything but seed and within a day or two of joining the flock, they are rushing to the bowls of fresh food and chowing down.

Be the Example: Parrots are social eaters. If you want your parrot to eat healthy, eat healthy with them. Model the healthy behavior you wish for them to emulate. This is especially true for “one bird” households. You ARE their flock leader so they are looking to you to show them what’s good and what’s not.

Feed the Rainbow: This means feed as much variety as you can get, with as many colors. Different colors manifest in our food because of the nutrients they are made of. The more colors, the bigger variety of nutrients.

Keep Trying: Too many people give up far too easily. Your bird may refuse fresh food for a year, then suddenly decide to try it and go crazy for it every day afterwards. It took my cockatiel over a year. Once he “moved in” with his sun conure bestie, he saw the sun conure eating fresh foods and instantly decided he wanted some too. Now he rushes to his bowl every day to devour the fresh offering of the day.

Remember – feed them like their lives depend on it. Because, just like our own bodies, they DO depend on getting the right foods to stay healthy!

#ICookForParrots

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