What does St. Patrick’s Day have to do with feeding your bird veggies? Nothing! Absolutely nothing yet did remind me to write about what fresh foods you should be giving your bird.
Feeding a varied diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is crucial to the wellbeing of your pet bird.
If you’re scratching your head about what kinds of fresh foods to incorporate into your feathered friend’s diet, wonder no more. Here are five vitamin-rich foods that will keep your little pal looking and feeling her best.
- Blueberries
Antioxidant-rich blueberries help keep your bird’s feathers shiny and beautiful. They’re packed with Vitamins C and K and provide an extra boost to the immune system’s function. You can offer your bird berries a couple of times each week in small amounts, but don’t overdo it. Berries have a high natural sugar content and too much sugar can cause health problems.
- Leafy Greens
Not only are they great for us, but these are also great for birds too. In fact, leafy greens are a staple of the diets of wild parrots, who indulge in plenty of them in addition to the fruits and nuts they dine on.
Leafy greens, including spinach, bok choy, kale, beet greens, collard greens, dandelion greens and mustard greens, Swiss chard, and romaine lettuce, are nutrient-rich and keep skin and feathers healthy. Keep your bird’s diet balanced by adding greens to the mix.
- Beans and Sprouts
Beans and sprouts are protein powerhouses. If your parrot is reluctant to eat beans, mix them in with fruit and other bird foods she is familiar with; this will make them more enticing. If she’s still not interested, sprouts are a great, nutritious alternative, and you can make them yourself!
Take a few seeds from your bird’s normal seed mix, fold them into a wet paper towel, and place the towel on a windowsill. In a couple of days, voila! Fresh sprouts. Lorikeets especially are known to love sprouts! Avoid lima bean, navy bean, and fava bean sprouts as they are toxic if not cooked.
- Carrots
Fresh, raw carrots support healthy eyes and a strong jaw. These vitamin-packed treats should be thoroughly washed before you offer them to your bird (this applies to all fresh fruits and fresh vegetables).
Buy organic carrots if possible, as doing so will prevent exposure to chemicals and pesticides. Don’t be afraid to give the whole carrot to your bird. They will eat carrot tops too!
- Melon
A wide variety of melons, including watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and their relative, pumpkins, are packed with fiber, which is great for your bird’s digestive tract. Additionally, these tasty treats are immune system-friendly, as they’re high in Vitamin C content. Remove pulp and seeds and cut the melon into chunks before you offer it to your bird.
Some other good fruits and vegetables to add to a good diet include apples (not the apple seeds though since they contain cyanide), sweet potato, Brussel sprouts, green beans, bell peppers, snow peas, and red beets! Some grains can also be good to add like cooked brown rice, quinoa, oats, wheat, barley, and pasta. Toxic foods for birds include high in salt, fat, and sugar. Keep these junk foods away from your avian friends!
What fruits and veggies do you feed your companion bird? Let us know in the comments section!
**adapted from PetMD**
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