Diet at Bonsai Birds

[AndreaFahy]

This is the basic diet used for our personal flock and the adoption flock, let me know about any questions or if you'd like additional info.* Our diet recommendations do change periodically as our research develops in avian nutrition and health.* I will try to keep this thread current.


At Bonsai Birds we believe in a very natural diet.* There is not enough, if any, solid research on parrot diet in the wild, thus I don't feel any "perfect" formulated diet could possibly meet the needs of our birds b/c we don't thoroughly know their needs!* So we aim to provide different nutrients, supplements and a huge variety.* You don't aim for a daily balance necesarrily, but an overall balance.


My percentages are just an approximate guide

Soaked then cooked:
(40%) vegetables
(30%) grains, seeds
(15%) beans
(10%) fruits
(5%) other - nuts, supplements, etc.


Vegetables
Be respectful of seasonal and organic and local AS OFTEN as possible.* We usually try for five or more per week, chopped and ready to use each morning.* For two little birds just buy the smallest ones possible and eat it yourself too!!* Some examples to follow:

Collard
Jalapeno
Mustard
Kale
Dandelion
Cilantro
Carrot tops
Endive
Escarole
Turnip greens
Water cress
Romaine
Bok Choy
Lettuce mix
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussel sprouts
Zucchini
Chayote squash
Snap peas
Cucumber
Kohlrabi
Green beans
Carrots
Squash
Sweet Potato
Pumpkin
Parsnip
Beets
Jicama
Celery
Corn
Chili pepper
Red pepper
Cauliflower
Potato (limited)
Radish
Tomato
Green pepper
Asparagus

Grains and Seeds
Organic.* Currently using the following:
millet
oats
barley
red lentils
quinoa
brown rice
parrot seed mix
sesame seeds
Lots of other choices though, this is just what I have been able to get so far (I buy 25# at a time for our flocks and our customers)

Legumes / Beans
Organic or natural
Currently using a "13 bean soup mix"

Fruits
Again, seasonal, local and organic as often as possible.* Just 2-3 in the daily meal.
Papaya
Mango
Cantelope
Apricot
Peach
Oranges
Apples
Banana
Mango
Papaya
Cranberry
Blueberry
Raspberry
Strawberry
Grapes
Cherries (pitted)
Dried fruit (unsulfured)
Lemon
Kiwi
Pineapple
Melons
Pears
Blackberry
Peaches
Passion Fruit

Other: Additions & Supplements
Nuts (no peanuts)
apple cider vinegar
dende oil
flax seed
ground eggshell (washed and baked first)
organic pellets, Harrison's or Totally Organics

We do not utilize animal proteins but acheive protein through feeding the beans/legumes.* Dr. Wolf from the avian section of the University of Hanover and a nutrition expert for parrots strongly advises against feeding any animal proteins to parrots. They increase the uric acid and will lead to gout. They do not need it nutritionally and it can harm them.

The hardest part of this is just STARTING the routine.* Once you start it's no big deal.* And the birds LOVE to be a part of food prep :)

We use the apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle to put a light spray on the morning meal, this has excellent anti-bacterial properties.

If you make a big batch, you can freeze individual portions into ice cube trays to defrost per morning.* This is a cool way to do it, prepare a big batch and not have to worry about it for a while.* I prefer to make enough for about three, maybe four days.* But I am currently feeding 32 birds.

It is ideal to feed a quantity / volume that your bird will actually finish, but any extras are fed to either the outside birds and squirells at the shop or at home to our domestic flock of chickens and geese.

We do carry and sell most of the grains, beans, supplements.* These are not yet added to our webstore, but we can do e-mail / phone orders or in shop sales for now.

Post a new topic if you have questions about any of this!

[SushiGURL]

Thanks for this, I'm sure alot of people could use this :)
Especially because now i know what veggies are safe.

[Babyluv12]

Great info- I too have used the apple cider forever! I have some mixed with a little water I use to clean and wipe down everything and I also add a drop to their water once a week- works as a preventative!

[AndreaFahy]

Glad the info is enjoyed thus far. And yes, ACV is a great product for human and bird alike! We also add to the drinking water periodically. You can add a drop per dish like Babyluv, or 1 teaspoon per pint of water; once a week or once monthly.

[ronsig]

I appreciate the list. I offer my birds the best organic fruits and vegetables I can find, and they just reject it. I tried tricks like pushing seeds into strawberries. They would rather look for old stuff on the carpet....
But - after 2 years of trying they are eating red and green lettuce now. :p

Schnappi was a sickly bird from the beginning, and her food choices probably didn't help. I tried the ACV, but she had sneezing fits no matter how little I added to the water.
The vet told me to switch to Harrison Pellets, and Schnappi is doing better now. Maybe she is getting nutrients there that she didn't have before. Her feathers look much better. We had to visit the vet once a month last winter, but now she is doing fine...
I will continue to offer fruits and vegetables and keep my fingers crossed...

Do you know anything about flouride in the water? It is added here, and I always wonder how safe it is for little birds. To be on the safe side, we get water from another town. I wonder if we are just too careful.

Thanks for all your help,

Sigrid :budgie: :budge:

[misslinda]

Thank You Andrea for the lists.:) Do you steam just the veggies that you would not normally eat raw yourself, and the one you would eat raw, can also be eaten raw by your budgie?
Also, can the same veggie and fruit list work for Cockatiels?
Can Budgies and/or Cockatiels eat the seeds in grapes?
Linda

[Angie]

What a great post. So far the only veggies mine well touch is broccoli heads attached to the side of the cage. If I put in in the bowl they ignore it. lol
But its a start.

[Zazu_Love]

Wow great info! My guys like their veggies cooked and mashed (except broccoli) , but the freezing idea is a great one. I love, love, love apple cider vinegar! My whole family, birds included drink it. It helps with soooo much :) Never thought to spray it on the veggies though, good idea. I give my budgies bottled reverse osmosis water, just in case, they are much more sensitive to chemicals that we are. Then I mix in ACV and trace minerals.

Thanks again!

[Babyluv12]

Do you steam just the veggies that you would not normally eat raw yourself, and the one you would eat raw, can also be eaten raw by your budgie?
Also, can the same veggie and fruit list work for Cockatiels?
Can Budgies and/or Cockatiels eat the seeds in grapes?
Linda

They like carrots, corn stemed but other things raw- like peas, broccolli..etc..my tiel eats grapes with me sometimes but I but I am always paranoid and take out the seed part.. The same list works for tiels.

[Babyluv12]

Do you know anything about flouride in the water? It is added here, and I always wonder how safe it is for little birds. To be on the safe side, we get water from another town. I wonder if we are just too careful.


Mine get bottled drinking water.

[karen]

Great list. Thanks Andrea. I have a question - why not peanuts? I purchased a "healthy bird cookbook" written by someone affiliated with Lafeaber and the book lists peanuts as a good food for birds. They are recommended as the nuts highest in protein. I make cornbread with chopped fruit, veggies, and finely chopped peanuts for my birds using all organic ingredients. I cut it into 1 inch cubes which I freeze. I toast the cubes to thaw them and then crumble the bread in the birds' dishes - they love it. I had never seen peanuts as a food to avoid before and was wondering why you mentioned that in your list.

Thanks,

[AndreaFahy]

Most peanuts that I see are really gross, they have that black mold / fungus on them. Even in a lot of seed mixes they are this way. I worry about aspergillus which is fungus that can be harmful to parrots. If I were to offer peanuts, they would be human grade, but sometimes those look gross too. Many pet foods are manufactured of ingredients unfit for human consumption, eg. these peanuts. I use chopped nuts in breads as well, but usually pecans or walnuts and of course, human grade, preferably organic as often as possible! And while peanuts are high in protein, they are also rather high in fat. I prefer to go a notch down in protein and not have as much fat being fed.

Thanks for asking :)