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Cockatiel Sugar ~ Pet Portraits by Carole ~
Sugar Babe The Albino Cockatiel

LARGE Double Bird Cockatiel Ferret Sugar Glider 0497 $270.70

Large Bird cage Finches Cockatiels sugar glider Ferret $237.39

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368 Vintage Blue Cockatiel Tea Pot, Creamer & Sugar $225.00

Lot of 3 Large Bird Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet Cages 2484 White $189.95

Lot of 3 Large Bird Cages Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet 2483 Black $180.45

Large Bird Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet WStand $109.95

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Large Bird Cage cockatiel ferret sugar glider BC 2493 $104.45

Large Bird Cage cockatiel ferret sugar glider BC 2494 White $104.45

Large Bird Cage Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet 2483S Black $74.88

Large Bird Cage Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet $74.88

large Bird Cage cockatiel sugar glider finch parakeet 2483 Black $74.88

Large Bird Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet 2483 $74.88

Large Bird Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet 2484 $72.95

Large Bird Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet 2484 White $72.95

Large Bird Cage Cockatiel Sugar Glider Finch Parakeet 2484S White $72.88

There are a many different shapes, sizes and colors of parrots but they all require a balanced healthy diet to live a long and healthy life. In the wild or the parrots natural habitat obviously this isn’t a problem as parrots have evolved over hundreds and hundreds of years to thrive on the food found naturally and in abundance. The story changes a lot however when we talk about parrots that are kept as pets by people like you and me. So the million dollar question is: how do I replicate a parrots diet when I don’t live in Central Africa, South America or Australia?

Well the first thing to realise is that the experts in parrot nutrition have not reached a conclusion or at least a conclusion on which they all agree, on what is the optimum diet that a pet parrot should be fed. The one area on which they do agree is that for the vast majority of parrot species, a seed only diet is detrimental to the parrots health. Seeds lack important nutrients for birds such as Vitamin A and Calcium and are also contain a high fat content. Seeds should only make up around one tenth of the diet although Budgies and Cockatoos which are natural seed eaters could consume up to one quarter of seed as part of their diet.

Certainly more recently, over the last 20 years or so, a more nutritious component of a parrots diet has been more commonly used and that is pellet food. These pellets contain minerals and vitamins the parrots require as well as vegetables, grain and fruit, so a much more beneficial food supplement. However this isn’t the quick fix that it may first appear to be as parrots just like us humans can get bored with eating the same food day in day out and this is due to their high intelligence and susceptibility to boredom without variety. So the best combination is to provide pellet food for one half to two thirds of your parrots diet, so the major food group contributor.

For the remaining half to one third of your parrots dietary requirements you should provide a variety of nuts, fresh vegetables and fruit. The fresh produce should be prepared into large chunks or chopped so that the bird can grab it, chew and gnaw it A wide selection of vegetables are ideal for feeding your parrot and some popular suggestions are:- cauliflower, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, cucumber and corn to name just a few. With fruit you can try bananas, grapes, apples, oranges and peaches but also remember that parrots have evolved to eat fruit that grows in their natural habitat and so will be tropical. You should also mix in various tropical fruits into your parrots diet, such as:- kiwi, melon, pineapple and mangoes. The only thing you should be careful of are certain fruit pips, as largely they can be fed to your parrot but there are a few that are actually toxic for your parrot. Certain other foods should also be avoided as they are detrimental to your parrot and these include:- caffeine, mushrooms, chocolate/cocoa, guacamole and avocado. You should also avoid foodstuffs with a high salt and sugar content as well as foods that are high in colorings preservatives and additives.

Robert Markman is a parrot diet expert and has been caring for parrots for over 18 years. For more great information on the parrot diet visit www.parrotadviceguide.com