There are different species of parrots out there. And when it comes to their nutrition, it is very important that you know about it before you take one home as a pet. Remember that they eat different things depending on what they can find where they live. But in captivity, it is crucial that the owner knows exactly what to feed them.
Parrots in the Wild
In the wild, a parrot’s diet is mostly made up of nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables, leafy plants, grasses, and even insects. And when taken care of by humans, if a parrot doesn’t get the right food, its health could be compromised. That is why if you are planning to get a parrot soon, then know what they can and can’t eat first.
Feeding Parrots At Home
Making sure that the parrot gets a good variety of foods is the best way to keep it healthy and happy. But what should you give your parrots to eat? When it comes to fruits and vegetables, can parrots eat raw zucchini? Basically, they should be given a good mixture of food. Remember that when you prepare your food, you only use human-grade ingredients, that’s the same with parrots.
- Your parrot can eat almost any other vegetable that you can but it’s best to give it a variety. You can add broccoli, butternut squash, peppers, sweet corn, mushrooms, as well as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and courgettes. Parrots all love these and it’s also a great source of nutrition, especially Vitamin D.
- Leafy Greens. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are greatly found in leafy greens, are important for keeping your parrot’s skin and feathers healthy. So you can add leafy greens to your parrots’ diet like dandelion, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, and mustard greens.
- Fruit is sweet, so don’t feed your parrot too much of it. If you don’t buy organic, make sure to wash your fruits well to get rid of any chemicals before preparing them for your parrots’ meal. The best fruits for parrots are bananas, grapes, melons, oranges, zucchini, and a lot more. But they will eat almost any fruit, except for avocados which are poisonous to birds. They are good for your bird’s health because of the vitamins and minerals, fiber, and nutrients that you can find on them.
When feeding parrots, it is very important that you take the time to get to know what your parrots will like and what they will need in their diet. There are plenty of guides on the internet where you can learn from. Just make sure that you know which food to feed them and what to avoid or to be given in moderation before you take the parrot home.