Parrot & Large Bird Food Calculator
Calculate the correct daily food quantity for your parrot or large pet bird. Covers the split between pellets, fresh fruit and vegetables, and safe treat quantities.
Parrot Nutrition Guide
Why Seed-Only Diets Are Harmful
Seed-only diets are the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in pet parrots. Seeds are nutritionally incomplete — high in fat, low in vitamin A (causes respiratory infections and reproductive problems), calcium (causes bone disease), and most other essential micronutrients. A parrot on a seed-only diet is equivalent to a human eating only chips — technically edible but chronically deficient. Parrots on seed-only diets typically live 10-15 years when their potential lifespan i
The Pellet-Based Diet
High-quality extruded pellets (Harrison's Bird Foods, Roudybush, Zupreem Natural) provide complete, balanced nutrition without the selective eating problem of seed mixes. Aim for pellets to constitute 50-70% of the diet. Transitioning from seeds to pellets requires patience — most parrots initially refuse pellets. Transition methods: mix pellets with seed gradually increasing the pellet ratio, or offer pellets in the morning (when most hungry) and seed in the evening. Most parrots transition wit
Fresh Foods — What Is Safe
Safe vegetables (excellent choices): leafy greens (kale, Swiss chard, rocket, spinach in moderation — high oxalates), sweet peppers, broccoli, carrots, courgette, cucumber. Safe fruits (feed in moderation — high sugar): berries, apple (no seeds), mango, papaya, pomegranate. Sprouted seeds and legumes provide excellent nutrition and texture variety. Safe grains: cooked whole grains, quinoa, brown rice. Absolutely avoid: avocado (toxic to birds), apple seeds (cyanide), onion and garlic, chocolate,
Obesity in Captive Parrots
Obesity is the most common nutritional problem in captive parrots — caused by high-fat seed diets combined with insufficient exercise. Signs: excessive weight, lipomas (fatty tumours under skin), difficulty breathing, lethargy. At-risk species for obesity: Amazon parrots (extremely prone), rose-breasted cockatoos, budgerigars. Prevention: pellet-based diet, appropriate seed/nut treats only (5-10% of diet), daily out-of-cage exercise (minimum 2-3 hours flight time), foraging opportunities (hiding
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