Did you know that most of our parrot species were not meant to be seed eaters? Eating a seed diet is pretty much like eating fast-food French fries all day long, every day. High on fat, low on all nutritional value. It sure tastes amazing, but the body is going to pay.
With few exceptions, our parrot family members should be getting no seeds or seeds as treats only.
BIG IMPORTANT STATEMENT HERE: DO NOT SUDDENLY REMOVE ALL YOUR PARROT’S SEEDS AND START THEM ON SOMETHING “HEALTHIER.”
Before you make any quick moves, keep this in mind. Parrots’ instincts tell them a lot about what is safe and what is not. Many of those instincts serve them well. One of those instincts is to NOT eat something they aren’t sure is safe. So our seed junkies may not realize the very nutritious stuff you put in the bowl is food. If you make a sudden and complete change-over in diet, your parrot might starve herself to death. Seriously.
Okay, so we’re not going to go all “cold-turkey” on their butts and take away the only thing they recognize as food. At least not yet. The specifics of converting a pet parrot to a healthy diet is a longer discussion, but let’s just get to what we eventually DO want our parrots to eat.
Most of our pet parrots should eat approximately 75% pellets (commercial brands include Zupreem, Roudybush, Lafeber and Harrisons), and 25% fresh fruits and veggies. (There are a few exceptions like budgies, cockatiels and lorikeets*)
Here are four brands of pellets. These should ultimately be used as the majority of most parrots’ diets.
Notice? No seeds.
Okay, many of us do offer a seed treat in the form of something like Lafeber’s Nutriberries or Avi-Cakes, but these really are treats, not a staple of the diet. They are healthier than straight seeds and might even be used as part of a transition program from seed-junkie to pellet-lover.
Lafeber makes a line of seed and pellet mix treats that might also be used to help transition a seed junkie to pellets.
Transitioning parrots from being junk-food junkies is a slow one, and you should consult your bird’s vet about how to transition safely. The main tip I can give you is that this is NOT a 2 week process. Most parrots take months to convert. I tell my clients “think 6 months, and if your parrot is happily eating his brightly colored Zupreem pellets in 2 months, throw a party and call me”. That’s when we start discussing how to phase off of the seeds and our bright future.
In a separate article I cover my favorite technique for converting my patients onto pellets and off of seeds in a very safe way, but now you have the big picture of the overall goals. Eating healthy can lead to overall better health, prettier feathering, and a happier, longer-living family member. So, the time is now!
*Studies over the years indicate that budgies and cockatiels can and should have seeds as PART of their diet. Some say 50% depending on the overall health of the animal, but consult your bird vet. It’s still terribly important that all parrots eat the other healthy foods. Lorikeets (lories) are fruit and nectar eaters. They should not eat seeds or pellets.