Food Prep

[lifesazoo33]

[Hello again everyone,
I was just wondering if anyone prepares food in advance for the week ahead for their birds. By this, I am only talking fresh food. I am currently at school, so my parents have been taking care of my Fritz (Jardine's) and are currently only able to give him fresh fruit and veggies in either the evening (when he is usually more interested in playing with them than eating them) or on weekends (due to their schedule).
If you do prepare foods in advance, how do you keep them fresh and for how long?
Also, quick and easy recipes that you find your parrot adores would be awesome to have too

Thanks in advance from myself and Fritz!

[Andromeda]

I find it easier (and more cost effective) to prepare batches of chopped fresh fruits and vegetables and portion them out and freeze them so you can defrost them one portion at a time as needed.

I also posted my own recipe for bird cornbread that I make for my birds and they love it. It's easy to make and it's healthy because it has no added sugar, no milk products, and no oil. It also has no eggs. I played around with the measurements until the consistency was right. I cut it up into small pieces and freeze it and just defrost a piece daily. It makes about 60 servings. I serve it around 7:00 - 7:30 PM and my Poi kind of throws tantrum for it if I'm late by growling and cramming his body down into his food dish.

Birdie cornbread recipe

[lifesazoo33]

Freezing it is a great idea. I don't know why I didn't think about it. I freeze fruits that are becoming very ripe for my dogs as treats (so much healthier than dog treats for them, and a nice treat in the summer), so it makes perfect sense to freeze bird food as well. I might need to invest in a fridge just for the animals

my Poi kind of throws tantrum for it if I'm late by growling and cramming his body down into his food dish.

This is hilarious, and I can totally picture it. Sounds like something that Fritz would do for sure. He definitely has us wrapped around his little foot. Hopefully if we vary up the schedule enough, he won't be as cranky as your Poi is if he misses his bread

Thanks again

[marie83]

I portion the non-fresh stuff up in advance but do fresh right before serving as it loses its nutritional value fast. You can freeze it but remember not everythings suitable for that so check online for freezing instructions.

[terri]

Its funny theres this topic on here today.Ive always wanted to try freezing things .Its my day off and its my project for today.If it works I want to get a freezer for my bird room [I think I read Michael has that ] I found my recipe ,and its foods they have all eaten.[Im letting it cool now]I hope to have made enough for a 1months supply.Also I have a mini muffin pan Im going to make birdy bread [its the perfect size] Im going to 1/2 it or 1/3 it .So Im excited to come across Andromedas recipe [Im writing it down now] . I want to get a higher quality pellet and with my nine birds Im hoping this will be more cost effective. I always worry to that they will get bored with their food. So Im going from pellets some seed and fruits and vegs everyday.To this mixture and less of the pellets and seed so I can buy a better quality dry food

[Pralina]

Funny I came across this post. I am currently looking for a small freezer for my parrot food! I would like an upright rather than a chest freezer, as it is easily accessible.... but I can't seem to find a nice one.
Does anyone own a freezer that you could suggest (for bird food needs)?

Usually I freeze my pellets, my birdie bread (from a mini muffin pan), the mashes I make from vegetables (from ice cube trays), all bird stuff basically, chopped up veggies too...
my fridge's freezer can't take it anymore! I really need one only for my bird food!!!

[spiral71]

on 24 parrot.com there is a recepie for layered salad for multiple parrots it uses the juice of citus fruits to keep the mix fresh. i dont know if that will be any use but its just a thought

pralina i have the same problem i only have a small freezer i dont freeze harrisons at the moment but buy smaller bags because of this but i freeze my seed mix in a plastic airtight container. My kitchen is tiny and i live alone but i think in a way its good because i eat a wider range of freah vetables since i got my parrot.

i eat fish and eggs but have strong vetarian leanings but i am not vetarian anymore. i read somewhere that are not recomened for people who live alone because you need to socalise them and they need to eat lots of vegtables anf friut al the time.

my bird manages ok when i give her frazen vegtables she likes frozen sweet potato but not frozen carrot. i think this has something to do with the watery texture of frozen carrots. i can't say i blame her!

[Pralina]

i eat fish and eggs but have strong vetarian leanings but i am not vetarian anymore.

same kind of thing here.... actually i would be called a "flexitarian"
i was vegetarian for almost 2 years... but i travel a lot, and its very hard sometimes to get no meat at all abroad... after i got sick from eating meat all of a sudden (my body couldn't digest it anymore) my doctor and my nutritionist told me that it could be very dangerous for me (especially as per my metabolism, I am very thin)... so i basically never eat meat at home, but when i go out we go to high quality restaurants and when we have to eat meat we choose the best piece (even though more expensive) to get the protein, but not the nasty stuff ....
and when we travel our stomachs are really having a better time if someone invites us over and cooks us meaty dinner....

anyhow as per , we have 5 birds and we are only 2 humans (with jobs)
and we find that the best socializing for our ringneck is the other birds....
Akilles is sooo curious, that anytime another one of our birds comes to us, for food, or for socializing with us, he flies in on us too and asks for some... same with training! so basically the flock helps!

[Pralina]

on 24 parrot.com there is a recepie for layered salad for multiple parrots it uses the juice of citus fruits to keep the mix fresh. i dont know if that will be any use but its just a thought

i don't know this website either!!

[marie83]

The citrus I believe stops browning, the commonly use lemon juice in fruit salads. I don't think it preserves nutrients though.