Find out what to look for when feeding a pet parrot - By: Kaye Dennan

Feeding a parrot the right way and at the right time is important for the health of a pet parrot and although not difficult to do, finding out how to feed the parrot and what to feed the parrot, make up the difference between a healthy diet and an unhealthy diet. Of course, the parrot cannot tell you that he doesn't like what he is being fed, and if he does not eat it this could be very damaging to his health if the parrot owner does not realize he is not eating. Malnutrition in pet parrots is one of the main causes of death so understanding what to feed them and what other signs to look for is essential for the parrot owner.

What do parrots need?

Parrots need all their vitamins and nutrients just we humans do. They too are growing cells each day as their beak grows and other body parts are repaired and that all requires the right food for good health. This is why when planning the parrot food for the week consideration needs to be given as to actually what they are being fed, how often and if they are eating what they are being given.

Parrots need to eat each every day and if they do not they will become ill very quickly.

Basically a parrot diet should consist of the following:

- Pellets: a minimum of 40% a day

- Grain: about 10% a day

- Fruit and vegetables for the rest of the diet

Although parrots do like cooked food, the actual process of the cooking does destroy the vitamins and nutrients that they so badly need, so it is suggested that they only have a small amount of cooked food in their diet.

Feeding the parrot.

Parrots are a tropical bird by nature so they just love those tropical fruits like mangoes, melons, peaches and the like. Pawpaws, bananas, pineapples, apricots and other tropical fruits will be a hit.

A very important part of the parrot diet to ensure is health is to include leafy green vegetables in the diet. Foods in this category that will be good for the parrot are: broccoli, cauliflower, beans and peas. Beans of all types are good for the parrot.

Broccoli is not a 'natural' food for the parrot but it has an abundance of just about every nutrient known to man so if you can get your parrot to eat broccoli you can pat yourself on the back. Because it is not a food that they would naturally eat, the parrot might have to be coerced into eating it.

Two meals a day.

Parrots only need two meals a day and really not much in between. Parrots in their normal environment feed early in the morning and again before sunset.

If as a parrot owner, you are going to be away all day, hang something like a carrot stick or celery stick in the cage so that the parrot can have some fun with it, but also have something to nibble on when he is hungry.

As a parrot owner, take care to observe what is being eaten during the parrot feeding time and if, in fact, he is eating every day. If he is not eating at all an urgent trip to the vet will be needed. As part of the parrot feeding regime, keep trying those foods he does not like, such as broccoli, because many of them are very good for them.

Copyright (c) 2010 Kaye Dennan

About the Author

Owning a pet parrot is lots of fun and at Pet Parrot Secrets you will find all types of information on just how to have a happy, healthy parrot and lots of tips on having fun with him too. Why don't you sign up to my FREE '10 Secrets to Caring for a Pet Parrot' mini-course.

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