hello

[Harpmaker]

Given that most of the AVs in my area recommend clipping wings, "for the safety of the bird," we get very one-sided recommendations. This site may go overboard trying for balance.

[shea2shea]

Thanks Wolf and everyone else for the warm welcome. I don't know how to tell if anyone responded. I am still learning how to post and get back to the site. I tried to upload pictures but the files are too large. I will figure out how to change the pixel size and post. I do have a video of Kale the next day after I got him back that I would like to share.

[shea2shea]

Panarita, I now have an understanding of how this issue of wing clipping can be a big ordeal. Yes, I am very thankful I got Kale back.

[Pajarita]

Given that most of the AVs in my area recommend clipping wings, "for the safety of the bird," we get very one-sided recommendations. This site may go overboard trying for balance.

Indeed they do. They also recommend pellets. But, two AVs I dealt with in the past (the two best I've had even though they were not board certified) told me that they tell people to clip and feed pellets not because they think it's best but because they don't trust people to do the right thing so, to them, clipping and pellets are the lesser evils.

[cml]

Given that most of the AVs in my area recommend clipping wings, "for the safety of the bird," we get very one-sided recommendations. This site may go overboard trying for balance.

Indeed they do. They also recommend pellets. But, two AVs I dealt with in the past (the two best I've had even though they were not board certified) told me that they tell people to clip and feed pellets not because they think it's best but because they don't trust people to do the right thing so, to them, clipping and pellets are the lesser evils.

Which, save clipping which is BS, makes some sense tbh. Most people keeping parrots arent informed enough to provide a correct diet.

Parrot nutrition is a complex field and I feel that we are all just doing the best we can, even with lots of experience as you have Pajarita.
Personally, I use pellets for one of the meals of the day, but provide a VERY varied veggie/fruit/other stuff schedule of meals for the evening meal. I've adapted this over the course of a year or so, with input from several of the best avian vets in our area, as well as from input found here on the forum.
I feel I've found a balance, but I cant say it was easy to get there!

Most people might not want to put down the effort to research and prepare a proper diet for parrots, and if they dont want to, isnt pellets the better option compared to feeding seeds?

[Pajarita]

It depends on the pellets themselves, how they are fed, how much, the species and the individual bird. If we are talking about a large species which is been fed a few TOPs pellets daily, the bird drinks a lot of water and eats lots of produce, it should be fine. But any other brand is no good (too dry, too processed, lab-made vitamins and minerals, unnecessary additives, etc). They are also never good for small species (partial ground foragers like budgies, tiels, plets, lovies, etc) or when free-fed and, if the bird is the kind that doesn't drink a lot of water or doesn't eat any or little produce, they are not good.

The biggest problem with pellets is that people think they are complete nutrition when they are not and free-feed them (parrot free-fed protein food never eat enough produce). And, my point is that, if you have to figure out what you need to feed along with the pellets and prepare it, plus you can only use them sparingly and make sure every day that the bird is properly hydrated why bother paying so much for them? You are much better off making a large gloop, mash or chop batch once a month and feeding something you KNOW for a fact is good for them and which you don't have to worry about.

[shea2shea]

That was my next question. I was informed Kale may be allergic to nuts. He loves them. I also was told to give him yogurt and fresh fruit. I have discovered Kale likes table foods. I have to lock his cage when company comes. I have covered his cage because children thinks he's in pain because he wants out to climb up the chair and snatch what ever he wants. It's very annoying and at the point I try not to have guest over until I can get him under control. He has pellets but he only eat certain colors at different times. Any suggestions?

[Wolf]

Some of the worst pellets to get are the colored ones as they usually have too much sugar and the dyes themselves are not good for them. Take note of the veggies that Kale goes for on your plate, If you eat them all, just put a little back on the plate and let him have it. Avoid sugar, avocadoes, onions, spinach, garlic, rhubarb, chocolate and milk, they can eat just about any thing else that you do. Oh, also avoid giving them salt. These and fruits are much better for them than pellets.
You can also feed them cooked beans ( never uncooked ),pasta old fashioned oatmeal, cooked whole grains, rice, and sprouts ( especially good for them ). You can feed a limited amount of high quality pellets but if they eat a large variety of fruit and veggies they have no need of them.
They especially like sitting down to dinner with you and sharing the meal with you. It is a bonding behavior and it is how they eat in the flock. This is also the best way to introduce new foods to them. They will try them a lot easier and quicker if they watch you eating and enjoying them.
I hope this helps and were the type of suggestions that you were looking for.

[Pajarita]

Yep, Wolf's right on the money. Sharing food is an instinctual social activity and bonding behavior for parrots. This is because, when they are born, they are highly altricial and need to learn behaviors as well as what to eat and what not to eat from their parents so nature 'hard-wired' this need to eat with their family. And it's a GREAT help to us, parrot keepers, because it allows us to introduce new foods to them. You are now his family so, of course, he wants to eat with you and eat what you eat. So, your problem is not really a problem, you just need to find the way to satisfy his need without it been an inconvenience to you. What I would do is cook my veggies without any salt (you can add it after they are cooked and, in reality, this is much healthier for you because you need much less salt this way) and separate a bit for him so he can have his own portion. If you are eating something that cannot be cooked without salt, just make him something similar. For example, let's say you are eating something like mashed potatoes in which the potatoes need to be boiled with salt so you can't share them with him, you can boil cauliflower until it's very, very soft and then puree it in a blender or food processor (you can add a bit of olive oil to it, good source of Omega 3). It looks just like mashed potatoes and it actually tastes very good AND you can freeze it in little baggies and thaw it in the microwave so you only need to do the work once in a while.

Parrot keeping requires a lot of thinking, planning and improvising...

[Budgieguy]

Welcome to the the forums!