What should I feed my African grey parrot?
What should I feed my African grey parrot although wild African grey parrots have access to seeds all year round, the types of seeds they feed on change throughout the year as different plants come into season. The commercial seed mixes offered to many captive parrots tend to be high in fat and deficient in many nutrients. If these mixes are fed as the only source of food, African grey parrots could become ill and ultimately die prematurely. To make matters worse, birds will often pick through a large bowl of commercial seed mix and selectively eat one or two “favorite” types of seeds, limiting their nutrient intake even further. They often preferentially choose peanuts and sunflower seeds that are particularly high in fat and deficient in calcium, vitamin A, and other nutrients. Their selective appetite can further predispose them toPelleted Diets
Commercially available pelleted diets have been developed to meet most of a bird’s nutritional needs. Different formulations are available for different life stages and for the management of certain diseases. There are many good brands of pelleted foods in the marketplace. To suit the preferences of different birds, pellets come in different flavors, colors, shapes, and sizes.
Vegetables, mes, and greens should account for approximately 20-25% of your bird’s daily diet. Pale vegetables with a high water composition, such as iceberg lettuce and celery, offer very little nutritional value. Avocado is report to be potentially toxic and should never be fed to birds. Orange red and yellow vegetables such as squash, peppers, carrots and sweet potatoes contain vitamin A. A nutrient essential to a bird’s immune system, kidneys, skin, and feathers, and are ideal choices. Fruits contain a high amount of water and sugars and should be 10% or less of your bird’s daily diet.
Water
Fresh, clean water must be available at all times. Depending
of your tap water, you may consider the use of filtered or bottled water.