While working with over 30 Macaws and about 50 other parrots of different species on a daily basis one of the most common questions I get is “What do you feed your birds?“  People are always amazed at how beautiful the birds at our park are and my response is two fold, first and most important is diet and second, sunshine/exercise.

I often see Macaws and other parrots who look as though they are not properly cared for despite how loving their family may be and I usually find this is attributed to the diet.  Most families are encouraged to feed their birds a pellet type diet supplemented with fresh foods and without knowing better they do this thinking that they are doing what is best for the bird.  Pellet diets are similar to the process and enriched foods we consume in our daily lives, the same foods that cause obesity, disease and poor nutrition in humans.

When choosing the best diet for your bird research what they would eat in the wild and then provide them with a diet as close to that as possible.  Our Macaws for instance are only fed mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, hazel nuts and brazil nuts) all unshelled, fresh fruits and fresh veggies.

We alternate a schedule of nuts one day, followed by veggies the next, then nuts again, followed by fruit the next feeding.  We find that by alternating days and not combining fruits, veggies or nuts on the same day we prevent them from picking out only the items they want so that in the end they eat a well balanced diet.

My challenge to anyone who ask me about a bird’s diet is to make the change to a natural diet and I guarantee within two weeks you won’t believe your eyes.  The improvement in you bird in just two weeks will amaze you.

I can’t tell you how many skeptical bird owners have come back to me after that two week period and just couldn’t get over the changes in their bird.  Some even said that their friends thought they had gotten rid of their old bird and gotten a new one.  Now that is a major change!  So take the challenge and see what a difference nature can make for you and your bird.

—————————————————————————————————–
About the Author: Allison Sorensen is the Director at Uncle Sandy’s Macaw Bird Park and shares her home with a wonderful husband, two great boys, a dog, rabbit and multiple birds(depending on the day). The park began back in 1992 and has grown rapidly about three years ago when 7 macaws exposed to a virus during research tests were about to be euthanized even though they had not contracted the disease the park step in a gave them a home. Today, over 80 parrots are loved and cared for at the park and some are available for adoption. Learn more about Uncle Sandy’s Macaw Bird Park at http://www.macawbirdpark.com and come visit if you are in the Pensacola, FL area. Volunteers are always welcome!