Feeding times?

[LJ4RockPebbler]

Took my regent parrot to the vet for a checkup being that I got him 2 days ago. The vet mentioned that his diet should be 80% pellets mixed in with other fruits and veggies. He also mentioned that his food should be in his cage all day. I read that they should be fed in the morning and evening. Wha t s appropriate? Thanks

[Pajarita]

Avian vets do not study nutrition so, in reality, their advice is just as valid as anybody else's who doesn't have any kind of degree in avian nutrition - not that the degree means much, either, as mostly they study fowl nutrition which is completely different from psittacine starting from the basis that fowl (chickens, turkeys, etc) ground forage all day long while canopy birds eat twice a day.

Feeding 80% pellets in a free-feeding way will end you up with a bird that is eating way too much protein. Over time, this could result in your bird developing gout, fatty liver, and cardiovascular issues.

I did (and still do) my own research about it and decided to trust nature and not what somebody who has no experience or learning about the subject tells me so I feed twice a day, gloop and fresh produce for breakfast and seeds for dinner. I strongly suggest you do your own research into the species (and that means scientific sources like field biologists, ornithologists, etc -not owners or breeders that post in a website) and its dietary ecology and make your own decision.

[marie83]

We all do what we feel is best but independent research is best to helping us decided how to approach the feeding topic. I started off by doing what the books told me to do.

Personally at the current time I feed my own version of gloop which has a few different grains in and loads of types of veggies and a few herb leaves- I'm changing this around bit by bit atm so it contains a bigger variety of grains as I source them. I also feed 2-3 different types of fruit/vegetables in the morning with the gloop. I don't leave food in all day for them but they have the opportunity to earn food later on either from training and taming sessions or from foraging toys if we are out.
In the evening they get fed just before birdy bedtime and they get pellets for the evening meal or seed. Sometimes they get a sprout mix in the evenings as well as or instead of the seed or pellets depending on the time of year.

[LJ4RockPebbler]

Dumb question, what kind of seeds are we talking about? I see lots of different types of seeds at the pet stores. One more dumb question, do birds prefer sunflower seeds with or without the shell. Please be patient with me

[marie83]

I just use a basic cockatiel mix but I can't find a sunflower seed free version locally so I handpick them all out which takes ages lol.

[Pajarita]

All parrots LOVE sunflower seeds, whether they are in the shell or not. They are high in protein and fat and that's the big attraction to them - but it's also what makes them not too healthy. Personally, for a regent, I would use a good budgie mix and add just a sprinkle of safflower seed to it.

[Pajarita]

All parrots LOVE sunflower seeds, whether they are in the shell or not. They are high in protein and fat and that's the big attraction to them - but it's also what makes them not too healthy. Personally, for a regent, I would use a good budgie mix and add just a sprinkle of safflower seed to it.

[LJ4RockPebbler]

Thank you guys