I recently put up a poll in the Bella Online Forum asking what everyone feeds their pet birds.
The number one answer given was vegetables. One hundred percent of the people who took the time to vote in this poll chose vegetables, with fruits following a close 2nd with 94% of the votes.
The next two choices were pellets with 88% of the votes and birdie bread (or other things baked strictly for the bird) at 81%.
Then came seeds with 75% and whatever I eat (I’m hoping that this category only included healthy whatevers) with 69%.
Next on the list was Other at 63% and I asked people responding to specify what the Other was and I received some great answers. Here is what some of them said.
“My others are quinoa, brown rice, Beak Appetit, Crazy Corn or cooked beans and lentils.” and
“I feed a cooked bean/grain/veggie mix almost daily. The beans are a 14 bean mix (beans, lentils, etc) then I add more Pinto beans, Lima Beans and often times a few more. For the grains I often use Amaranth, Quinoi, Wheat, Bulgar. I use frozen mixed veggies and frozen corn. I also add brown rice and a type of macaroni or cous cous. When its served I will often add more fresh veggies and a couple times a week add scrambled egg. I sprinkle the bean mix with Parrot Deli (a mix of Organic-Alfalfa Pwdr, Carrot Pwdr, Garlic Pwder and Beet Pwdr. I also put either Flax Oil or Hemp Oil on the mixture. Sometimes I put Hemp Hearts into the bean mix.” and
“I feed a high-quality seed mix with nuts, veggies, and fruits - I dehydrate my own. Also birdie breads, Itty Bitty Birdie Bites©, fresh veggies and fruits, and sprouts - I make my own mix that includes legumes, seeds, and grains. And I have to say that feeding sprouts has improved the condition of my flock enormously, moreso than any other dietary changes I've ever made. They also get some of what we have, when it's healthy. As much variety as possible of real foods, with the only "man-made" foods being those I create for them in my own kitchen, so I know exactly what they contain. “
Last on the list was sprouts with only 50% of the respondents choosing to feed their birds sprouts.
Everyone responding appeared to have voted for many of the choices available, which is a good indication that their birds are getting a variety of foods. Of course the people who responded are a very small percentage of bird owners.
After many years of pet bird ownership, I have decided to write e-books about the care of some of these wonderful birds.
Comparative Avian Nutrition
