CHOP with a variety of soaked seeds, numerous vegetables, several kinds of fruit, topped with edible flowers (Nasturtiums pesticide free) photo by Nancy Forrester
YUMMY!
This feeding information is for people who have adopted parrots from me or intend to do so in the future. It is to help you understand our parrot's feeding routine and the diet they are used to eating as they adjust to their new homes. Go to OUR PARROTS page for each of our parrot's food preferences and eating idiosyncrasies!
NUTRITIAN FOR OUR FLOCK HAS IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS
2023 BREAKFAST IS WET "CHOP" or "MASH"
2023 DINNER IS "DRIED INGREDIANTS" INCLUDING TOPS PELLETS
2023 BREAKFAST IS WET "CHOP" or "MASH"
2023 DINNER IS "DRIED INGREDIANTS" INCLUDING TOPS PELLETS
IT HAS BEEN A 30 YEAR (1993 to 2023) LEARNING JOURNEY ON WHEN, WHAT & HOW TO FEED OUR PARROTS (PICKY EATERS, JUNK FOOD ADDICTS). Every aspect about what parrots will and won't eat is complicated and nutritional ideas change as science makes strides).
I HAVE WRITTEN A LITTLE HISTORY OF MY CHALLENGES WITH OUR FLOCK AND THE CHANGES I HAVE MADE AS A CAREGIVER DEVOTED TO PROVIDING HEALTY FOODS TO OUR BIRDS
My quest to find out how, what and when to feed a parrot with normal eating habits as well as fussy parrots who won't try helthy food or new things began in 1993, when a caged parrot was dumped in "Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden" (MY SITE-SPECIFIC ART/ENVIRONMAENTAL EDUCATIONAL RAINFOREST created by me in Key West). The bird was snuck into my garden and abandoned by a cruel human (no note, no clue). I was shocked. I knew zero about parrots. I did not and still do not believe in the parrot trade. I ardently believe that all parrots deserve to be born in the wild, nurtured by mama and papa parrot who are naturally skilled at teaching their highly intelligent and social offspring to fly free, forage for food, escape predators and thrive in the countries of their origin. In a perfect world parrots inhabit these green spaces. In our less than perfect world they are a commodity bred by breeders for money, sold in pet stores to people who impulse by them. I often hear this refrain pertaining to a pet parrots. "I HAD TO GET RID OF IT! So, someone got rid of their parrot like a piece of garbage in my curated garden. THIS "HAPPENING" (the arrival of an abandoned parrot in my garden) afforded me the opportunity to add its plight, my shock and my ignorance about all things related to parrots to my Environmental Storytelling. I did not know "THIS HAPPENING" WAS "A BLESSING IN THE MAKING"
I HAVE WRITTEN A LITTLE HISTORY OF MY CHALLENGES WITH OUR FLOCK AND THE CHANGES I HAVE MADE AS A CAREGIVER DEVOTED TO PROVIDING HEALTY FOODS TO OUR BIRDS
My quest to find out how, what and when to feed a parrot with normal eating habits as well as fussy parrots who won't try helthy food or new things began in 1993, when a caged parrot was dumped in "Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden" (MY SITE-SPECIFIC ART/ENVIRONMAENTAL EDUCATIONAL RAINFOREST created by me in Key West). The bird was snuck into my garden and abandoned by a cruel human (no note, no clue). I was shocked. I knew zero about parrots. I did not and still do not believe in the parrot trade. I ardently believe that all parrots deserve to be born in the wild, nurtured by mama and papa parrot who are naturally skilled at teaching their highly intelligent and social offspring to fly free, forage for food, escape predators and thrive in the countries of their origin. In a perfect world parrots inhabit these green spaces. In our less than perfect world they are a commodity bred by breeders for money, sold in pet stores to people who impulse by them. I often hear this refrain pertaining to a pet parrots. "I HAD TO GET RID OF IT! So, someone got rid of their parrot like a piece of garbage in my curated garden. THIS "HAPPENING" (the arrival of an abandoned parrot in my garden) afforded me the opportunity to add its plight, my shock and my ignorance about all things related to parrots to my Environmental Storytelling. I did not know "THIS HAPPENING" WAS "A BLESSING IN THE MAKING"
1993 "EGADS AND LITTLE CATFISHES"!!
I suddenly had a parrot in a cage, an exotic living being dependent on me. It needed sustenance, water and food? What edibles should I offer it thru the cage bars or drop into its cage bowl?
WHAT TO FEED?
In 1993 I had little access to information about parrot nutrition or care. I bought several books on the subject
In 1993 I HAD NO INTERNET TUTORIALS. They did not become visible to the general public until the early 1990s.
In 1997 I HAD NO INTERNET SOCIAL MEDIA. It did not kick in until 1997.
30 years ago, when seeking advice on what to feed, I went to Keys Pet Mart a local pet store in the Winn Dixie Overseas Market complex. This was where I purchased my cat and dog food. I was aware that the owners had sold parrots. Perhaps they were phasing out the of selling of parrots because "BUY A BIRD" was not blaring in your face like it was at couple of other places in town who always had a large variety of baby parrots for sale in their store front windows. I think The Keys Pet Mart owners' style of selling was more educated. They were a parrot savvy couple (I depended on their advice. I grew to love them). They had sold parrots, they offered wing and nail trim services and a variety of parrot supplies including, cages, toys bagged seeds and dried parrot pellets, brands a like EXACT and ZUPREEM which I bought and feed to my birds.
When people came to my garden and saw I had a parrot more were offered. A flock grew. These parrots were good communicators. They taught food etiquette. Whenever and whatever I ate they spoke and displayed clear body language to indicate communal food sharing was expected. They taught me that WHEN I eat, I must SHARE and we all eat together!
Back then my birds ate what I ate mostly cooked food, processed food, warm food. We had breakfast lunch and dinner together. For example, if I had traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner with the trimmings, they expected the same. If they accompanied me to a restaurant, they shared what I ate. Mr. Peaches loved the spicy salsa and chips at Old Town Mexican Cafe. I shared everything, meat, shrimp, fish. My birds had a lot of rib bone and chicken thigh marrow, peanuts, bread with butter, cheese (foods that are now recognized as not good for parrots).
WHAT TO FEED?
In 1993 I had little access to information about parrot nutrition or care. I bought several books on the subject
In 1993 I HAD NO INTERNET TUTORIALS. They did not become visible to the general public until the early 1990s.
In 1997 I HAD NO INTERNET SOCIAL MEDIA. It did not kick in until 1997.
30 years ago, when seeking advice on what to feed, I went to Keys Pet Mart a local pet store in the Winn Dixie Overseas Market complex. This was where I purchased my cat and dog food. I was aware that the owners had sold parrots. Perhaps they were phasing out the of selling of parrots because "BUY A BIRD" was not blaring in your face like it was at couple of other places in town who always had a large variety of baby parrots for sale in their store front windows. I think The Keys Pet Mart owners' style of selling was more educated. They were a parrot savvy couple (I depended on their advice. I grew to love them). They had sold parrots, they offered wing and nail trim services and a variety of parrot supplies including, cages, toys bagged seeds and dried parrot pellets, brands a like EXACT and ZUPREEM which I bought and feed to my birds.
When people came to my garden and saw I had a parrot more were offered. A flock grew. These parrots were good communicators. They taught food etiquette. Whenever and whatever I ate they spoke and displayed clear body language to indicate communal food sharing was expected. They taught me that WHEN I eat, I must SHARE and we all eat together!
Back then my birds ate what I ate mostly cooked food, processed food, warm food. We had breakfast lunch and dinner together. For example, if I had traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner with the trimmings, they expected the same. If they accompanied me to a restaurant, they shared what I ate. Mr. Peaches loved the spicy salsa and chips at Old Town Mexican Cafe. I shared everything, meat, shrimp, fish. My birds had a lot of rib bone and chicken thigh marrow, peanuts, bread with butter, cheese (foods that are now recognized as not good for parrots).
PART OF MY PARROT /FOOD NUTRICIAN PRACTICES COME FROM MY ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY
It is imperative for me to honor and support Earths Soil, Water and Living Bio systems.
It is imperative for me to honor and support Earths Soil, Water and Living Bio systems.
Quality of Food Matters. As a lifelong environmental artist and activist, I (Nancy Forrester) buy and feed organic produce to myself and our parrots. I do this freely and gladly as one of the easiest things I can do to show respect and express my gratitude to my Home Planet Earth. This decision gives me have a small degree of control concerning the health of our living systems. An environmental practice that allows me to have a positive effect on Earths destiny. I am sad disappointed to report that when I rehome parrots most people are not willing to do this. I worry that going from years of eating organically grown food to foods with pesticides will shorten their lives, especially when it comes to non-organic apples and grapes and potatoes. (three of the most serious offenders' when it comes to harboring the most toxins.
MAJOR PARADYGM SHIFT
MET LARA JOSEPH, SHE INTRODUCED ME TO DR JASON CREAN'S WORK
I had the good fortune of meeting Lara Joseph of the Animal Behavior Center. Because of her friendship and my membership in her Facebook Group The Parrot Project I met DR JASON CREAN a leader in parrot nutriciaml
When studying parrot nutrition and other bird and science related topics, I follow Dr. Jason Crean
DR. CREAN IS AN AVICULTURIST, AVIAN NUTRITIONIST, BIOLOGIST and EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATOR
Dr. Crean has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching by President Obama, the High School Science Teacher of the Year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as awards from the National Science Teachers Association, National Association of Biology Teachers, Illinois Science Teachers Association, Golden Apple Foundation, among others.
click here (20+) Dr Jason Crean, Consultant | Facebook
I, (NANCY FORRESTER) HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME MEMBER OF DR JASON CREAN'S FACEBOOK GROUP CALLED AVIAN RAW WHOLE FOOD NUTRITIAN (nearly 20,000 members) I highly recommend joining this group. If have any questions about food safety I go here. My questions are always answered
LINK TO DR CREAN'S Facebook group, Avian Raw Whole Food Nutrician
click here (20+) Avian Raw Whole Food Nutrition | Facebook
Statement about the Facebook group by and about Dr. Crean
"This is aviculturist and biologist Jason Crean's private group that deals exclusively with raw whole food nutrition in the feeding of birds. Anyone can be accepted into the group or refused without reason and is purely at the discretion of the group owner. This group was created to accompany the information disseminated by Jason Crean in his lectures to avian groups across the country. The philosophy of the group is simple: feeding an abundance of raw, whole foods is what our birds need to thrive and this is a place for sharing different methods in which to do so. We cannot offer advice on sick birds as this is not a veterinary forum."
HOW OFTEN DO I FEED OUR BIRDS
Twice a day.
Water bowls are refreshed twice daily or more often if needed. Some birds transfer their food to their water bowls to mix with water when ingesting. Their bowls are changed when their water gets cloudy with food particles.
WHAT TIME OF DAY DO OUR PARROTS EAT BREAKFAST 8 AM - SUPPER 3 PM
8 AM WET FOODS (CHOP) Fresh food mornings. All parrots regardless of species must have fresh whole food daily in the form of vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, soaked seeds and more.
Parrots are hungry first thing in morning after a long night's sleep with no food. Therefore morning is ideal time to offer the food most necessary to their health that which is most nutritious are the raw whole foods.
3 PM MIX OF DRIED FOODS
Birds should only have dried foods after they have consumed fresh foods earlier in the day.
Dry Feeding (late afternoon/evening. After you pull what is left of their morning feeding, we offer a dry mix of food to round out their nutrient requirement. This includes dry seeds, grains, freeze dried fruits and vegetables, dried herbs, teas and all varieties of hard nuts in the shell
8 AM WET FOODS (CHOP) Fresh food mornings. All parrots regardless of species must have fresh whole food daily in the form of vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, soaked seeds and more.
Parrots are hungry first thing in morning after a long night's sleep with no food. Therefore morning is ideal time to offer the food most necessary to their health that which is most nutritious are the raw whole foods.
3 PM MIX OF DRIED FOODS
Birds should only have dried foods after they have consumed fresh foods earlier in the day.
Dry Feeding (late afternoon/evening. After you pull what is left of their morning feeding, we offer a dry mix of food to round out their nutrient requirement. This includes dry seeds, grains, freeze dried fruits and vegetables, dried herbs, teas and all varieties of hard nuts in the shell
WHAT DO I CHOP
BREAKFAST 8 AM FRESH WET CHOPPED FOODS. (Everyday, I hand chop soft bodied juicy vegetables, leafy greens and fresh fruit because these items do not freeze well. These items are added to my pre soaked seed mixture and a thawed-out portion of root vegetables. I am always mindful to include sweet fresh fruit in lesser amounts to the vegetables because birds like their high sugar content. I also add fresh herbs, teas and edible flowers to this CHOP when I have them. (NO avocado, NO seeds of apple or pear , NO pits of cherries, apricots, peaches and plums.
BREAKFAST 8 AM FRESH WET CHOPPED FOODS. (Everyday, I hand chop soft bodied juicy vegetables, leafy greens and fresh fruit because these items do not freeze well. These items are added to my pre soaked seed mixture and a thawed-out portion of root vegetables. I am always mindful to include sweet fresh fruit in lesser amounts to the vegetables because birds like their high sugar content. I also add fresh herbs, teas and edible flowers to this CHOP when I have them. (NO avocado, NO seeds of apple or pear , NO pits of cherries, apricots, peaches and plums.
SOFT BODIED VEGETABLES
Pictures of a few of the soft veggies I hand chop on a daily basis.
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Zucchini
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Corn
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Brussel spouts
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Broccoli
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Sugar peas
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Snow peas
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Celery
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Peppers
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Red peppers
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Cucumber
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Yellow squash
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Green peppers
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Caulilower
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Tomatoe
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Green beans
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ROOT VEGETABLES AND WINTER SQUASH
Pictures of a few of the hard foods I prechopp and freeze
Root vegetables and winter squashes are pre chopped by hand or chipped in a food processor. When making a batch of food I include at least seven different types of these foods, I freeze this mixture of 7 or so in plastic bags. Each bag equals part of a single days feeding. These bags remain nourishing for up to 2 months in the freezer. I remove the bag from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator the day before using.
Root vegetables and winter squashes are pre chopped by hand or chipped in a food processor. When making a batch of food I include at least seven different types of these foods, I freeze this mixture of 7 or so in plastic bags. Each bag equals part of a single days feeding. These bags remain nourishing for up to 2 months in the freezer. I remove the bag from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator the day before using.
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Carrot
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Red beet
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Turnip
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Parsnip
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Radish
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Rainbow carrots
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Acorn squash
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Butternut squash
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Sweet potatoe
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Hubard squash
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Golden beet
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Yam
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Ginger
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Turmeric
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Daikon radish
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LEAFY GREENS HERBS EDIBLE FLOWERS
Pictures of a few of the soft bodied leafy greens, herbs and flowers I hand chop everyday.
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Red chard
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Red cabbage
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Bok Choi
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Chinese cabbage
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Collards
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Curly kale
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Red kale
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Dandelion
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Aloe
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Rsinbow chard
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Green chard
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White cabbage
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Hibiscus
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Nasturtiums
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Watercress
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Dill
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Oregano
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Rosmary
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Basil
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Sage
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FRUIT
Pictures of different kinds of soft bodied fruit that I add by hand each day.
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Bananas
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Kiwi
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Blackberries
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Jackfruit
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Breadfruit
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Orange
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Golden berries
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Cherry
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Dragon Fruit
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Apple
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Grapefruit
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Plum
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Peaches
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Pomegranate
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Watermelon
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ABOVE ARE PICTURES OF SOME COMMON SAFE INGREDIANTS FOR CREATING WHOLE RAW FOOD CHOP OR MASH
The Steps I take every day to create a whole food CHOP or MASH
I SOAKED SEEDS FOR 10 HOURS EVERY THREE DAYS
I buy a packaged mix of seeds and beans from China Prarie. I add this 10 hour soaked mixture to my CHOP every day.soaked seeds and beans mixed in their mash/chop everyday. I use a vessel from china prairie to soak, If I fill this vessel 2/3 full it makes makes enough for soaked sedds and beans three days of feeding.
Step1 Rince the dry items in cool clean water
Step 2 Soak the dried items completely, Submerge the dry items in cool clean water for 10 to 12 hours.
Step 3 During this 10 hour soaking process drain and rinse the seeds 2 to 3 times daily.
You have the option to spout same, I do not do this.Sprouting is a three day process
Step 4 Make mash or chop In a large bowl mix the soaked seeds together putting Greywood Manor Avian Teas in first followed by sprouts and chopped fresh greens and other vegetables. Produce suggestions, Kale, collards greens carrots various peppers, summer squashes, red cabbage, snap peas, snow peas, brussel sprouts, brocoli, brocolinii and any mico greens or herbs Making a mash or chop that can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or frozen for less than two months at a time is best. Mash or chop should contain the following.
Soaked items overnight including some seeds,chopped nuts, lentils, split peas etc
Sprouted items ( see below for directions) including sunflower and smaller seeds.
Vegetahles cut or shredded accofrding to the size of your bird or preferences. Including leafy greens, squashes peppers and more
Fruits are not added to the mash or chop to avoid excess moisture but are feed daily as wellin addition to the mash
Step 5 Feed. Offer enough that they will consume within a few hours and feel free to vary the fresh additives in the way of fresh vegetables, flowers and herbs dried or wet teas
www.chinaprairie.com
3 PM DINNER VARIETY OF DRIED FOODS.
Picture of typical of our dinner meal of dried food in a 6-inch food bowl for large parrots (macaws)
3 PM DINNER DRIED FOODS. A mixture of TOPS brand organic pellets (large size), Dried pumpkin seeds, freeze dried coconut chips, small amount of Israeli sunflower seeds in the shell, this mix often includes mix includes other frieze dried foods, dried herbs, cinnamon sticks, cardamon, anise, flowers, dried teas and a small number of seeds when available. Added to each parrots mix each daily is one Lefeber's Nutriberries (tropical fruit flavor), three pistachios, three pine nuts, several unsulfurated unsweetened banana chips and a whole nut in hard shell (variety varies day to day including some nuts without shells like cashews, occasiona;ly freeze dried meal worms (no peanuts) https://www.anuts.com
I BUY TOPPS PELLETS (large pellet size) from either Chewy.com or on Amazon Prime
I BUY THESE NUTS. Black walnuts, chestnuts, hard shelled pecans, soft shelled pecans, almonds, hazel nuts, pine nuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts (cooked unsalted organic peanuts very limited use) from nuts.com , or anuts.com
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Brazil nut
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Almond
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Walnut
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Brazil nut
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Pinenut
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Pistachio
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Hazel nut
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Macedemia nut
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Black walnut
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Cashew
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Hard shell Pecan
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Paper shell pecan
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FREEZE DRIED ADDITIVES TO THE DRY MIX
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Coconut chips
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Banana chips
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Dried pumpkin seeds
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HERBS AND TEAS
FOOD TREATS FOR TRAINING
Every bird here has a unique idea of what their favorite food is. We identify that food, try to offer it only in very small pieces as an incentive or reward for learning skills. most birds are eager to learn not just for the treats but for the here are excited to work for shelled Pinenuts, roasted unsalted organic peanuts (never raw always cooked roasted and unsalted, small pieces of almonds, goldfish.