I'm Confussed

[Ozii]

I am confussed at what to feed Peaches, I read that sunflower seeds are bad for them, but there are some that come with the parrot food, so surely, its not bad? also I am reading alot of things that a conductioning themselves, which is annoying me, so what fruit can I feed her? is Mango, grapes, apples, etc ok? I know what not to give them apart from the ones in one place saying its ok, and another saying its not.

Thanks for your help.

[Michael]

It's not that one sunflower seed here and there is bad. It's just that some people keep them on nothing but a sunflower or mixed seed diet. That is bad. Think of sunflower seeds as cake. Not too terrible once in a while but surely not something to eat all the time and live on.

A quality pellet diet is the best basis for 50-80% of the parrot's intake. Fruits and vegetables can be offered in moderation to dilute the nutrition in the pellets to reduce hormonal behavior and for variety. Nuts, seeds, and fruits probably shouldn't exceed 10-20% diet for most parrot species.

[Ozii]

Thanks, Peaches loves her sunflower seeds, if you give them to her by hand, she is your friend for life. She does have fruit which I have managed to read that is ok.

[gabbagabbawill]

Sunflower seeds are a good treat, especially when used for training, but not great to feed them all the time... they contain lots of fat and very little of anything else in terms of nutrition (maybe a little protien)! This can cause fatty liver disease over the long term.

Fruit and veggies (don't forget veggies) have good amounts of natural vitamins, however, fruit contains a lot of sugar and water, and can fill up your bird without giving them a whole lot of nutrients either.

A nutritious pelleted diet will be the best thing over the long term and easiest way to make sure your bird is getting a square meal. Top this off with 10-20% fruit and nuts, and your bird will be happy and healthy!

[entrancedbymyGCC]

A pelleted diet is ideal, but if a bird comes to you confirmed on a seed diet, don't try to switch them over cold turkey unless you are prepared to weigh them every day. I try to get Scooter, who came on a packaged fortified seed diet, to eat more pellets and other components and less seed. It's been almost two years now and I've only had limited success. However he does eat fresh foods well. I don't find that he "fills up" on the fresh food, but he does produce more urine than typical as a result of the addtional water consumption.

In terms of foods you can feed, there are a ton of websites with contradictory information for sure. Almost anything you find on a good list, you can find on a bad list somewhere.

I've posted here about my own personal take on the subject. My advice is to find an authority you trust -- perhaps your avian vet -- and follow their advice. Most foods humans can eat, birds can also eat in weight-proportional portions. Alcohol, caffiene, avocado and chocolate are pretty much universally on the "avoid" list. Most of the rest of it is subject to argument. It's not a bad idea to buy organic or peel "dirty dozen" produce. My motto is "variety is the spice of life" and I try to feed a variety of seasonal produce. Unless something is so exotic I don't have any idea about it, I'll feed it to my birds in the same form I'd eat it. If I'm feeding to often, I'll try to find out if it's particuarly high or low in specific nutrients, and will aim to balance that out.

[Ozii]

Thanks for the advise .