Category: Healthy Food

03Mar/26

Still Planting. Still Growing.

March 3, 2026Healthy Food, News and Updatesfeeding parrots, healthy foodsDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

Even as we look toward the possibility of moving in the future, one thing hasn’t changed: we’re still planting. There’s something grounding about putting seeds in the soil. It’s an act of

02Nov/25

🔥 Why Parrots Love It Hot

November 2, 2025Healthy Food#ICookForParrots, healthy diet, healthy foods, Hot Peppers, Parrot nutrition, real foodDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

Discover why parrots love spicy foods and how capsaicin affects them differently than humans. Learn about safe spice options, health benefits, and Marden’s Ark’s own spicy grain casserole that the Littles can’t get enough of.

30Jul/25

I Cook For Parrots…

July 30, 2025Healthy FoodDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

#ICookForParrots – what does that mean? 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

09Feb/21

Natural Anti-Inflammatories

February 9, 2021Healthy FoodDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

Usually we think of certain foods as “vegetables” or “spices” or “seasonings.” Sometimes, we tend to categorize them according to taste, rather than what they bring to the table in terms of

08Oct/20

Help THE BIRDS and Help YOURSELF!

October 8, 2020Healthy Food, News and Updates, Rescue and Sanctuaryaffliate program, clean foods, healthy foods, organic foodDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

Eating healthy means eating “clean” – foods that are free of chemical pesticides and other harmful toxins used in commercial farming. Sometimes it’s hard to find food you can feel good about

25Feb/20

But I Don’t Have the TIME!

February 25, 2020Healthy Foodfeeding parrots, Freeze dried chop, fresh food, Quick meals for parrots, Texas Freeze Dried NaturalsDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

One of the arguments we often hear for resorting to manufactured foods is “But I don’t have the TIME to do all that food prep and cooking for my birds!” We get

06Apr/19

Sprouting

April 6, 2019Healthy FoodDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

There are many people who find sprouting intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Sprouts are a healthy option for your birds’ diet and are easy to prepare with a

05Jan/19

What about “Pet Food”?

January 5, 2019Bird Safety, Healthy FoodDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

In years past, the concept of what to feed a companion parrot was typically limited to bags of “bird seed” mixes of dubious ingredients and quality. Most were “animal feed” grade offerings,

04Jan/19

Keep it clean!

January 4, 2019Healthy Food#ICookForParrots, feeding parrots, Food prep, food safety, healthy foodsDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

Let’s start out by discussing aseptic technique. What is that? Well, it means, without germs. Aseptic technique eliminates as many pathogens (illness-causing organisms) as possible. Why is that important? When you are

01Sep/18

In Season?

September 1, 2018Healthy Foodfeeding parrots, food as medicine, healthy diet, healthy foods, Parrot nutrition, real foodDeAnna Hicks, Director of Care

What do we mean when we say we feed “in season”? It means we focus on what it ripe now, locally. All spring and summer long, we feed what’s currently ripening as

Marden's Ark Avian Refuge

"A Safe Place to Land"

Category: Healthy Food

Still Planting. Still Growing.

🔥 Why Parrots Love It Hot

I Cook For Parrots…

Natural Anti-Inflammatories

Help THE BIRDS and Help YOURSELF!

But I Don’t Have the TIME!

Sprouting

What about “Pet Food”?

Keep it clean!

In Season?