Nutrition and ForagingBecause its not just about what you feed them, but what they actually

eat.

Parrots Live a Long Time Or at least they should!

But far too many parrots are dying at extremely premature ages.

Potential Actual Average Life Span

Moluccan Cockatoo 92 11

Blue & Gold Macaw 48 12

Meyers 31 8

Sun Conure 30 11

Blue Front Amazon 37 10

Alexandrine Ringneck 30 6

Congo African Grey 48 8

The 2011 study, Survival on the ark: life-history trends in captive parrots -analysis of 260 species of captive parrots-

While a few individual parrots have lived for nearly a century, the majority of parrots in captivity did not live much beyond two decades, with median adult lifespans =10

years.

Birds rarely reach potential life span because:

Lack of exercise Lack of proper nutrition Lack of avian vet care Psychological and physical stress

due to captive living conditions Unusual social groupings

We have the responsibility to correct these issues.

Nutrition It’s not about Seed vs. Pellets. There are good and bad qualities of both, but neither by itself is a

healthy diet.

Seed • Seeds are the essence of life, so a QUALITY seed will provide wonderful nourishment.• Excellent source of healthy fats, fat soluble vitamins, and protein. • Sprouted seeds contain from 10 to 40 times the nutrition of unsprouted seeds.

• Seeds that do not sprout are dead and contain little to no nutritional value. • Unsprouted seeds lack many essential vitamins, especially Vit A which is critical to parrot health.• “Pet Food” quality seeds are often contaminated with pesticides, and may harbor dangerous molds and fungus.

Pellets• Pellets are a formulated diet, fortified with added vitamins, intended to provide complete nutrition. • Shelf stable for limited time, can been left in the cage for several days without spoiling. • Good as emergency food.

• Many lesser expensive brands have added dyes and preservatives, and been heated or cooked, thereby destroying essential digestive enzymes, essential fatty acids and heat soluble vitamins.• For several species of parrots pellets are too nutrient dense and can overwhelm and damage liver and kidneys.

Nutrition

Vegetables Green and orange vegetables are especially nutritious, and essential for Vitamin A. Leafy greens MOST important!

Fruit Berries are nutrition powerhouses. Tropical fruits have more nutrition (papaya, mango, pomegranate, pineapple, banana, melon). Some fruits are mainly sugar (grapes). Whole Grains Especially sprouted, or soaked before cooking. (quinoa, buckwheat, oat groats, rice, unhulled barley, kamut…)

Legumes Especially sprouted, or soaked before cooking . A natural “seed” packed with enzymes. Mung, adzuki, garbanzo, green pea, and lentil most recommended. Protein Nuts, Seeds, Eggs, poultry, Fish, yogurt. Omega Fatty Acids flax seed or oil, hemp seed or oil, pumpkin seed or oil, walnut or walnut oil.

The BEST diet for parrots is one full of whole raw organic foods

DARK LEAFY GREENS

Many species of wild parrots live in green, leafy rainforest canopies. It is thought that fibrous green foods make up the

majority of a wild parrot’s diet.Greenery provides leaves, buds, sprouts, shoots, blossoms

and stems; as well as nuts, seeds, fruit and berries. The Nutrients most commonly found DEFICIENT in parrots

can be found in leafy green foods. Leafy greens contain Vitamin A, calcium, and fiber.

Greens also contain phytochemicals which help prevent cancer & heart disease.

Green VeggiesDandelion Greens , Kale, Collard , Mustard, Beet & Turnip Greens, Parsley, Green Peppers, Fennel, Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Arugula, Romaine, & Water Cress, Alfalfa

Yellow-Orange Veggies Pumpkin, Yams / Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Acorn And Winter Squashes, Hot Peppers, Red/Yellow/Orange Peppers

The darker the flesh (not the skin) of the vegetable or fruit, the higher the beta-carotene content. It is carotene that converts into vitamin A when metabolized by the digestive system.

Veggies can be fed raw but some are more digestible if cooked (steamed or baked). However, over-cooking can destroy vitamin content.

VITAMIN A IS VERY IMPORTANT!! Here are some veggies with high vitamin A content. Vitamin A is a “fat soluble” vitamin, so be sure to include essential fatty acids in the diet as well (Omega-3)

Vegetables

Apples - pectin helps fight zinc toxicity Bananas

Berries – Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Citrus- Oranges, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Lemon Cantaloupe and other melons (without the rind)

Cherries Cranberries Kiwi Mango Nectarines, Peaches, Apricots, PlumsPapaya (including the peppery seeds)Pears Pineapple Pomegranates

FRUITS Feed a wide variety, not just the favorite few.

Many birds love fruit and will overdo it, so limit to a smaller portion of the overall diet. As with vegetables, many of the deeply colored fruits contain more nutrition, and it is good to feed a variety of tropical type fruits which parrots might be exposed to in

their native habitats.

LEGUMES Mung, Adzuki, Lentil, Garbanzo

These are the recommended legumes. MUST be sprouted or cooked.Beans can have toxic properties if not completely cooked or fully sprouted.

WHOLE GRAINSQuinoa, brown rice, wheat berries, barley, kamut, spelt, buckwheat, *amaranth, rye berries, oat groats, and millet.

Soak for best nutritional value. Can also be sprouted or cooked.* amaranth MUST be sprouted or cooked, raw seeds are toxic!

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS (EFA’s)• An unsaturated fat which supports the key functions of the body• Body does not make EFA’s, MUST be part of the diet• Best sources for Omega-3 fatty acids are: fresh whole foods, especially: walnuts and Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, dark green leafy vegetables (especially dandelions), salmon, tuna, trout, flax, hemp & chia seeds, kelp, legumes, and oats, blueberry, raspberry and kiwi seeds• Recommend Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio of 4:1• Need EFA’s to absorb Vitamin A (a fat-soluble vitamin)• 2 drops per day per 500 grams of weight• DO NOT HEAT OMEGA OIL!

PROTEIN

Quinoa, the only plant based source of complete protein. Serve raw seed, sprouted, cooked or ground into flour for baking. Eggs, NutsCombinations of various Grains and Legumes, sprouted or cooked. (2 parts grain to 1 part legumes)

Occasionally small amounts of Well-cooked Chicken, (chicken bones

are fine), Salmon or Tuna, Yogurt, Cheese

But My Parrot Will Not Eat Healthy Foods!

Then make them work

for it!

Often birds who are not great at eating vegetables from a bowl will eat vegetables when offered this way.

In both these examples the food is INSIDE the bird’s cage, and they chose to climb around to the OUTSIDE of their cages and reach through the bars to get to the food.

The harder a food is to reach, the more appeal it has to many birds, this is know as Contrafreeloading, and

is why Foraging works so well to get parrots eating healthier.

What is Foraging?“A search or the process

of searching for something, especially a

search for food and supplies or a search

among a varied collection of things.”

“Time upon time it has been observed that parrots denied their natural behaviors over the years are more prone to pulling out their feathers, vocalizing excessively, self mutilation, or forming sexual/mate bonds with their owners. This can lead to aggression towards other family members, or just plain annoyance on your part. Parrots are not people, but they are intelligent creatures. Parrots are “happiest” being parrots…” Dr. Scott Echols DVM

Why is Foraging Important?

Our Companion Parrots living in our homes have had many of the activities that would fill the life of a wild parrot taken away form them. As responsible caretakers it is our obligation to provide and encourage as many species specific and appropriate behaviors as possible.

Foraging is one of the easiest and most rewarding of these activities.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D. Animals Make Us Human…Creating the Best Life for Animals

“A good life requires 3 things, Health, Freedom from pain and negative emotions, Lots of activities that turn on PLAY and SEEKING”

Dr. Grandin explains how Seeking is a core emotion for animals (and people) and defines it as the basic impulse to search, investigate, and make sense of the environment.

Foraging, the act of looking for food or other desired items, naturally evokes a feeling of curiosity and curiosity is a direct component of Seeking.

So Foraging is not just a method of feeding, it provides your companion parrot with mental and physical challenges, recreating natural behaviors, allowing them to make choices and regain a sense of empowerment, purpose and joy to their life.

Foraging need not be a difficult or complicated puzzle. We are simply attempting to recreate for the birds in our home, the same Seeking behaviors that wild birds use.

If foraging is new to you and your bird, start slow. For birds who have never had to forage, some give up fairly easily when presented with food that is not delivered in the manner they have become accustomed to.

The majority of parrots in our homes have always eaten from a bowl, usually in the same spot in their cage everyday. The simplest change you can make is to switch the places of the food and water bowls.Add extra bowl holders in various locations around the cage, and rotate the location of the bowls everyday.

The Bowl

In your parrot’s pellet or seed bowl, mix in some wooden or large plastic beads or buttons.

Try covering the food dishes with paper. You may have to start slowly, with just a small strip of paper, so your bird learns that there is food under the paper.

Phoenix of Phoenix Landing

Gradually increase the size of the paper until the entire bowl in covered. Cover extra bowls that contain different types of things, such as fresh chop, or pellets or seeds mixed with beads, only foot toys, or smaller foraging toys.

Put food in hanging bowls or buckets that require more effort to eat out of.

With most of these containers being washable, they are great places to put chop or mash. Remember that beads or toys can be mixed in here too if using pellets, nuts or other dry foods.

Consider locations outside the cage for bowls of food, treats and toys, such as kitchen counters, windowsills or playstands.

Photo by Carina Law

Think Outside the BowlOffer whole leaves of greens. These can be woven through the bars of a cage, clipped to the side of the cage, attached to the perch or toys, or stuff into a forging cage.

Photo by Carina Law

Gather an assortment of greens, veggies, herbs and edible flowers to form a “bouquet”. Ziptie together and attach to cage.

Larger bouquets can be made with edible tree and shrub branches, for the more eager chewers.

Whole vegetables can be made into foraging toys.

Pumpkins make great foraging toys. Small pumpkins can be purchased for around $1.00 in season. At other times of the year, similar foraging opportunities can be provided using whole zucchini , butternut squash or red or green peppers.

Hang whole or large chunks of veggies or fruits on stainless steel skewers or other food holders.

These can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for several days.

Add variety and increase complexity by wrapping foods in coffee filters, papertowels, paper cup, paper bags, coin wrappers, or cupcake papers. Often you will need to start out with a high value treat, such as a nut or Nutriberry, and let your bird watch you wrap the treat.You can later use these same wrapped foods inside other foraging containers for increased variety and complexity.

Photo by Cheryl Celso

Small wrapped items can then be added into bigger foraging toys.

Kris Porter, author of Parrot Enrichment Vol.1 & 2, mixes food and toys.

“To encourage foraging activity, try incorporating food into the toys you make for your parrots.

This toy adds dried pasta shapes, melba toast rounds with almonds stuffed in the vine balls.

A toy that can be made ahead and easily stored for use later.”

Kris Porter makes birdie muffins using a stiff batter, and makes a hole in the middle before baking. She uses these muffins in her foraging toys.Here she shows the progression of increasing complexity as she teaches her birdsforaging skills.

Baskets can be made into foraging toys. When your parrot is finished foraging out all the food, toys and treats – the basket can be shredded.

Leftover baskets can be cut up and used to make foraging toys on stainless steel skewers or kabobs.

http://parrotenrichment.com/blog/2013/01/stainless-steel-skewers/

Choose unfinished baskets, such as wicker or willow. Wash with white vinegar and/or oxyclean, rinsing thoroughly and allow to dry in the sun.

Recycle empty food boxes (the glue used to make packaging for food, is nontoxic), or purchase new shipping boxes.

These are great destructible/foraging toys, fill with shredded paper, foot toys and treats. Decorate the outside as simply or fancy as you choose.

Other types of food containers can be cleaned and turned into foraging toys.

Photo by David Hull

Photo by Angela Harrison

Photo by Anna McGregor

Photo by Karin Olausson

Paper cups make wonderful foraging containers. Just make sure you choose unwaxed cups.

Gradually increase the complexity of foraging toys by adding layers of wrappings.

For example wrapped food, and foot toys placed inside a paper cup, the paper cup placed inside a stainless steel foraging cage.

Perhaps the next steps for this toys would be to stuff shredded paper inside the stainless cage, surrounding the cup, then wrap the stainless cage in a paper bag.

Photo by Karin Olausson

Photo by Sheron White Hagelston

Photo by Karin Olasson

Photo by Kathy James

Wood lends itself naturally to foraging.

The possibilities for foraging opportunities are only limited by your imagination.

There are of course many commercially available foraging toys for birds from small to large.

Back to the Food – Beyond Nuts, Pellets & NutriberriesCall it Chop or Mash, raw or cooked, many of us are now feeding our birds a variety of foods that are soft and squishy and don’t seem to lend themselves to traditional foraging, but with a little creativity these foods can be foraged for too. Remember our first steps with foraging? Covering a standard bowl with paper, hanging bowls or buckets, these can all be easily washed with very little, if any, extra effort on our part. Wet or messy foods can also be put in small disposable paper cups, and the cups covered or placed inside other containers. Dividing a meal into several very small containers and scattering them in various areas will also add a level of excitement to your parrot’s foraging. Just remember that this type of food is highly perishable and will need to be removed and discarded after just a few hours.

Chopped fruits and vegetables, mixed with cooked or sprouted grains can be wrapped in leafy greens. You may have to work up to this by placing the high value food on top of the leaf, working up to a complete wrap.

The same mixture can be wrapped in a whole grain or veggie tortilla and hung on a skewer.

Birdie breads or muffins are a little longer lasting and can be safely added to more complex toys. If making muffins, you can leave the wrapper on. Make an effort to bake healthy breads and muffins by skipping the wheat flours and corn meal mixes.

Photo by Sheron White Hagelston

Photo by David HullPhoto by Jennifer Slaughter

Photo by Nyla Copp Photo by Nyla Copp

Dehydrators have found their way into the Parrot Kitchen. Dehydrated crackers, cookie and chip recipes are bring adapted for parrots. Dehydrated foods are dried at a low temperature so as to not kill live enzymes, as happens during baking. And the removal of the moisture inhibits bacterial growth, making them stable for long periods of time. Slices of vegetables or fruits can be dried, or a mixture formed into crackers or cookie shapes.Poke a hole in them and they can be strung as toy parts.

Photo by Lisa BakalarsPhoto by Leanne Burton

Photo by Leanne Burton

Download the activity books at: http://parrotenrichment.com

Download for freeParrot Enrichment Vol. 1 & 2 by Kris Porter http://parrotenrichment.com

Parrot Enrichment Bloghttp://parrotenrichment.com/blog/

Parrot Enrichment FaceBook page http://www.facebook.com/parrotenrichment

A Bird’s Best Life Bloghttp://abirdsbestlife.wordpress.com/

The Parrot’s Workshop FaceBook grouphttp://www.facebook.com/groups/TheParrotsWorkshop/

The Parrot’s Pantry FaceBook grouphttp://www.facebook.com/groups/156496311144601/

Avian Raw Whole Food Nutrition Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/AVIANRAW/

The Happy Cockatoo, Elle’s Avian Cuisinehttp://thehappycockatoo.wordpress.com/

Natural Bird Blog (for dehydrated crackers) http://naturalbird.com/birdfood/

Phoenix Landing http://www.phoenixlanding.org/