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.
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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!
Hi, my wife and I are about to adopt a Blue and Gold macw from a friend that has gotten sick and unable to care for the bird any more. She said that she feeds the bird meat sometimes in small portions, what is your thought on that? Also, where can I find the mixed nuts that you feed your macaws? All the pet stores around here only carry mixed seed and nuts.
A parrot can and even should have a bite or two of well-cooked meat now and then. A few times per week is fine but be sure it is well cooked, rare meat can make a parrot ill.
For a real treat for your new Blue and Gold, offer him a chicken leg bone or any other bone from well-done meat and let him crack it and eat the marrow from it. Marrow is high in fat, so it must be limited to only a couple of times per month, but it is rich in nutrients and parrots love it.
Your new large parrot will be able to crack bones himself, but small and medium parrots have to have bones cracked for them. They still love the marrow and it is a great treat in limited quantities.
Sorry, I forgot to answer your question about the nuts. You have a few choices.
You can order from a good online source. They are readily available that way.
If you can’t do that for some reason, you can purchase mixed nuts at many grocers in the shell by the pound.