Dedication to diet

[Pajarita]

Sprouts are very healthy because, in the early stages of a plant (seedlings or sprouts) all its resources are concentrated in growing the new plant so a sprout has more concentrated all the 'good' things a plant has: vitamins, protein, phytonutrients, etc. But, in nature, plants don't grow from seeds all year round, they have seasons (spring is for new growth, summer is for ripening and seeding, fall is for developing root systems and winter is for resting). And the season for growing is spring. You don't find seedlings or sprouts in the fall or winter and very little during the summer so birds in the wild only eat sprouts (and tree buds) during the breeding season.

[Lady]

Thank You again. I was thinking tho, if the bird was in a tropical climate, wouldn't they then possibly find sprouts all year long? Humm, (trying to think before I type) they don't eat so much from the ground as they do in the tree tho.
I will take your last answer as to the fact that it isn't good to feed other than that certain time of the year, oh but another thought just came to mind.....would they be good it you needed to give a bird some extra nutrition as in maybe they were sick? Guess then the vet would let you know. You know when I read the information you give it seems so matter of fact and sometimes common sense, but that's only after I read it. Hopefully as time goes on it will become more common sense to folks like me!

[Pajarita]

Yes, they are great for birds that are sick, recuperating, breeding or raising young precisely because of the nutrition 'punch' they provide. And yes, again, most issues in bird husbandry are actually common sense because that's the way nature operates (there been always a good reason for everything). But, unfortunately for the birds, common sense is only good as far as which data we use so, as mammals ourselves and keepers of domesticated mammals (dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, rabbits, etc) we tend to use this information to base our methods but birds are completely different from mammals (which eat the same diet every single day of their lives) and 100% seasonal in everything related to their lives so, sometimes, in our desire to give them 'the best', we overdo it. And free-feeding and high protein intake are typical examples of our trying too hard.

[johnandfriends]

I do a 30 min prep in morning. I have about eight ingredients. Some heated other served cold. Some small chunks of fruit, veggies, sprouts, beans, rice. I have also taken to dehydrating kale and sprinkle it in the mix. There are a lot of already organic, human grade materials already chopped that you can use. Check out you local food coop or whole foods. I am never chopping. Some things are frozen to keep them longer others are in baggies in a fridge box I just pull out and start putting In a big bowl, one by one, I mix it and everyone gets a share. I some times put in a dry veggie like organic pees and corn sold as a human snack that absorbs the "wet" in the bowl. They eat the veggy first thing in morning while I am getting ready for work in a separate purch in the living room. Where all they can do is eat. I also play a light jazz in background as a morning starter, new day is upon us , etc...windows are open and sunlight coming in...and they are munching away. I also use the flock mentality, where they each see the others eating so "I am going to eat too." Then after two hours, I am ready to go to work, they go to their cage to regular pellets and some low calery, high omega 3, seed mixed in for the day. I also sprinkle some granola, very small dose. This is working so far. There is always a lot of waist, however. I have kept the veggies and other wet food out of the cages b/c of nats that would accumulate in the bird room throughout the day. Night time is some no salt apple sauce or butternut baby food as a snack. In the night snak, I sprinkle some mineral and vitimine powder. I have all hens, and no egg laying yet, feathers are good, no picking, no loud screaming, so I am feeling they think something is right? It was not always like this. I am glad for the blog for new ideas too. Hope this helps.

[Pajarita]

I might have misunderstood, but it seems to me that you need to add more protein to the macaw and the gray's diet because they require a higher quantity than the caique. And I suggest you do the protein food for dinner because winter nights are very long.

[johnandfriends]

I add boiled checken to the Macaw's morning meal and chopped hard boiled egg to the Grey. But I just am hearing about feeding this at night, so I will try. I am in Minnesota so long winter is no joke. Thanks.