What's the healthier treat?

[cml]

Ive been using mainly organic sunflower seed kernels as training treats, and I was thinking about instead using chopped up organic almonds, of the same size instead. Almonds have so far been the super-treat for good training progress .

So what's healthier, finely chopped almonds, or sunflower seeds?

[GreenWing]

My vote is chopped almonds as the healthier treat. Unsalted roasted pumpkin seeds is great, too. I view sunflower seeds as an like an ice cream cone to a parrot -- great for training and special ocassions ^^

[cml]

My vote is chopped almonds as the healthier treat. Unsalted roasted pumpkin seeds is great, too. I view sunflower seeds as an like an ice cream cone to a parrot -- great for training and special ocassions ^^

Cool, they prefer almonds anyway, so if its indeed is healthier for treats, chopped up almonds it is.
Pumpkin seeds is a nono, they spit them out .

EDIT: Clarification, I am talking about treats for trick training etc .

[Pajarita]

Pistachios or cashews.

[cml]

Here's what a little research has shown me:
(compiled from many different sources to check that its valid)

Almonds (per 100g):
20g protein, 13g carbs, 52g fat

Sunflower seeds (per 100g):
23g protein, 13g carbs, 50g fat

Cashew nuts (per 100g):
15g protein 26g carbs 47g fat

Pistaschio nuts (100g):
21g protein 22g carbs ,49g fat

This tells me that all options are equally bad ^^, but that there isnt much of a difference between the four mentioned in this thread.

To me, there's way too much carbs in the nuts, and a little too much protein in the sunflower seeds, so its probably gonna be almonds but no option of the above is ideal.

Any other ideas for treats (no fresh fruit, veggies etc, thats dinner )?

[Michael]

Pellets

[Pajarita]

But it's not only carbs, protein and total fat that you need to take into consideration. For example, pistachios are high in cholesterol-lowering plant sterols and have more potassium than most nuts - and cashews have twice as much iron as beef plus are a not only a rich source of calcium and magnesium, they are also perfectly balanced to maximize absorption into bones.

[cml]

Pellets

Aye, its possible but my birds, while loving pellets for breakfast or dinner, will spit them out if offered as a treat when training.

Roudybush maintenance has 11g protein, 7g fat and unknown quantities of carbs in their pellets.

(infact, Ive googled around and Roudybush are very opaque about the carbs, I wonder why? Michael you advocate roudybush so perhaps you know?).

But it's not only carbs, protein and total fat that you need to take into consideration. For example, pistachios are high in cholesterol-lowering plant sterols and have more potassium than most nuts - and cashews have twice as much iron as beef plus are a not only a rich source of calcium and magnesium, they are also perfectly balanced to maximize absorption into bones.

Aye, that can very well be beneficial. I actually try to stay away from nuts though, if at all possible. The birds get their nutrition from a staple pellet diet, and fresh veggies and fruit.I am actually allergic of most nuts so I avoid them if I can. I know there are nuts in the pellets, but thats easily handled. Thats another reason why I dont want to use nuts , almonds are fine though.

[Michael]

(infact, Ive googled around and Roudybush are very opaque about the carbs, I wonder why? Michael you advocate roudybush so perhaps you know?).

Frankly it doesn't matter because they aren't fed too much of it. You are facing problems with overfeeding and maintaining motivation. I don't have either issue and end up giving the healthiest treat (what I would have fed anyway, pellets). Your birds spit them out because they are barely hungry and don't need any more food. Mine devour them because they are working for their dinner. I regulate quantity/intake with challenging scenarios (that are still achievable) like a lot of indoor flying. If the birds want more, they can have more. But they gotta work really hard for it so it's not on a whim. They're becoming strong fliers. They would never be otherwise if food just sat in front of them in a bowl and they had no purpose to fly. I've stopped feeding Kili entirely a bunch of months ago. I realized that it's not my responsibility but rather hers. My responsibility is to provide the opportunities for her to feed herself! She likes it better, she eats healthier, she exercises more, etc. Truman is getting there too. He gets at least half his food flying for it but I eventually get bored and throw the rest in his bowl. I'll be having an article about this stuff soon so stay tuned.

[Pajarita]

Actually, You don't really know how much protein is in any Roudybush pellet because all they give you is the minimum amount it could have but no maximum so it's anybody's guess.