How to Feed a Parrot

Polly needs more than just crackers to meet her nutritional requirements. Be creative in the menu you offer and follow these basic rules.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bird Food/water Bowls
• Parrot Food
• Parrot Treat

1. Feed your parrot a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, cooked meats and grains. Go ahead and share whatever healthful food you're eating with your parrot.

2. Determine the proper amount by feeding your parrot small portions of several foods. If there's food left over, decrease the amount the next time. Continue doing so until your parrot eats all of the food. Remember this portion size.

3. Offer your parrot a variety of small servings of different foods, not a lot of one food.

4. Keep your parrot's food fresh, as bacteria and mold can grow on food left in the cage and make her sick.

5. Give your parrot fresh water daily.

6. Feed your parrot treats like seeds and nuts sparingly since these foods have few nutrients for parrots.

7. Avoid chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, kidney beans, lima beans and avocados. These foods are dangerous for parrots.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash the food and water bowls twice a day.

• Serving your parrot a diet high in fat, calories or cholesterol is dangerous.

• Overfeeding can make your parrot ill.

• Underfeeding can starve your parrot. If your parrot loses weight, she's being underfed.

• Parrots like to mix their food with their water. Be sure to clean all food out of the water bowl.