A healthy parrot starts with a healthy diet, and the key word is variety. In the wild, parrots forage all day on many different foods. At home, a seed-only or single-food diet can leave gaps, especially in vitamin A, which birds need for healthy skin, feathers, eyes and a strong immune system.
How we start every baby
Every baby at Majestat Aviary is weaned onto a solid pellet diet as its foundation. Pellets give a balanced, steady base so your bird gets what it needs every day. Alongside the pellets, our babies are offered fresh chop and sprouts from the start, so they learn early that fresh food is something to look forward to.
What goes into our chop
Chop is a colorful mix of finely diced vegetables and fruits. Variety is key, so we rotate what goes in: butternut squash, zucchini, yellow squash, fresh corn on the cob, and strawberries and blueberries when they’re in season here in Florida.
Don’t skip the dark leafy greens
Dark leafy greens are some of the most important foods you can offer. Kale, romaine, mustard greens and dandelion greens are packed with nutrients, and deep green and orange foods are great natural sources of vitamin A. We include greens in our chop every day.
Sprouts made easy
Sprouts add fresh nutrition and texture that birds love. You don’t need to grow your own. Even if you only have one or two birds, most grocery stores now carry ready-to-eat broccoli, alfalfa and sunflower sprouts. Just rinse and sprinkle them on top of the chop.
A few quick tips
- Wash all produce well and serve chop fresh, removing leftovers after a few hours.
- Introduce new foods slowly and keep offering them. Some birds take a few tries.
- Never feed avocado, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol, which are toxic to parrots.
When your baby goes home, they’ll already know and love their pellets, chop and sprouts. Have questions about feeding your bird? Call or text 352-424-5915 or email contact@majestataviary.com.
Beth, Majestat Aviary, Floral City, FL