Why Meat is a No No

[GreenWing]

I wouldn't say it's entirely a no-no with an exception of salmon: I think salmon is okay in moderation, and by that I do mean infrequently. If you think about the Omega fatty acids and vitamin B AND D from just a bit, and it's cooked well in an iron skillet, which gives the bird iron, I think in this case the benefits are pretty great.

BUT other than that, yes, I agree. Some parronts feed their birds mealworms, but I don't.

[ParrotsForLife]

I wouldn't say it's entirely a no-no with an exception of salmon: I think salmon is okay in moderation, and by that I do mean infrequently. If you think about the Omega fatty acids and vitamin B AND D from just a bit, and it's cooked well in an iron skillet, which gives the bird iron, I think in this case the benefits are pretty great.

BUT other than that, yes, I agree. Some parronts feed their birds mealworms, but I don't.

Nothing wrong with mealworms its entirely different from Animal protein, Too much iron can be bad too and I'd say they get enough from a good diet.I don't see any benefits of feeding meat anyways and you never know what has been put into feed these days.

[Bird woman]

Very true brandon BW

[ParrotsForLife]

*Food I said feed

[Pajarita]

Yes, a lot of bird keepers argue about salmon but I don't really see the benefit of feeding it and I'll tell you why. For one thing, I don't like the farmed salmon because of the bacteria and the PCB levels but why feed something as unnatural to their diet as fish for Omega 3 when all you have to do is feed the parrot flax and/or hemp seeds and/or walnuts, instead?

[GreenWing]

I disagree, and an avian vet will even say it's okay. I also live in Portland, OR and salmon is super fresh out here.

[ParrotsForLife]

I disagree, and an avian vet will even say it's okay. I also live in Portland, OR and salmon is super fresh out here.

Just a tip you shouldn't believe in every single thing a vet tells you especially when theres facts out there, You just have to do your own research.Doctors are the same, What has the freshness of the salmon got to do with anything? The fact is they don't need meat whether you think its good or bad.

[Pajarita]

I am all and 100% for avian vets BUT they don't study parrot nutrition or behavior so, in reality, unless your avian vet has had multiple parrots for a long time and has done in-depth research on his own, his opinion on these two subjects is as uninformed as anybody else's could be (please, don't take my word for it, buy yourself an avian medicine book and you'll see that the avian nutrition chapter is the shortest in the entire book and covers only vague generalities for the simple reason that there are birds that eat nectar, birds that eat seeds, birds that eat meat/fish, birds that eat insects, birds that eat fruit, etc -the range of different dietary ecologies is way too large to be covered in any one book). I'll tell you something else, on his last avian medicine text book, Dr. Harrison mentions finding a number of birds suffering from omega toxicity and it was caused by avian vets recommending omega supplements. Why? Because omega supplements are made for mammal consumption and they did not take into consideration (because they do NOT study parrot nutrition) that parrots should never get any omega 6 or 9. Birds don't need as much omega 3 as mammals do and they don't need any supplements on it, either, just a good vegetarian diet as they evolved to thrive on. Man, in his infinite arrogance, thinks he knows more than nature but he doesn't and, if a bird did not evolve to eat fish, you can take it to the bank that it doesn't need to. Think about it...

[Bird woman]

yes the salmon is very fresh here but Alaska salmon is best. And here we go again with the great food debate. Honestly I've read and read and have talked to 6 AVAIN specialist in my time and honestly I think there training has more to do with there views than experience. Dr. Brian SPEERS lectures around the world and teaches interns from clear across the US made a comment to me once and it was about my Rosie which had been in his hospital for a month , I asked him what she was eating and he said whatever the hell she wants at this point. That started our conversation on foods , he said that birds had a very good digestive system unlike there very sensitive respatory system and the ability to process the garbage a lot of owners feed there birds but not without consequences such at fatty liver disease and heart problems and just like people some can eat crappy for a long time while others can't Handel it at all. He was up into the Harrison's pellet thing like my vet here but also said egg and chicken was okay once in a while. My point is we all know what garbage food is !!! The best choices we can make for our birds falls solely on us and we need to make the best and most informed decision possible in this ever so changing parrot food world. I make chop fresh every 3 days and they get all they want but I also have a pellet , seed and nut mix I make for evening. And yes sometimes they get egg but always farm fresh organic free range. And if they wanted a bite of my fresh salmon I probably would not say no. BW

[GreenWing]

I disagree, and an avian vet will even say it's okay. I also live in Portland, OR and salmon is super fresh out here.

Just a tip you shouldn't believe in every single thing a vet tells you especially when theres facts out there, You just have to do your own research.Doctors are the same, What has the freshness of the salmon got to do with anything? The fact is they don't need meat whether you think its good or bad.

I researched it. I have a different perspective than you. And you won't change my mind. Of course salmon isn't the only source of such nutrients I give my parrot.

Bird Woman, thank you for the response. Glad that there's others from the Pac NW here who understands our fresh fish. I have never tried Alaskan salmon, though. And yes, Chance only gets a little bit, and it is only sometimes when I eat it.