Part I: Comparing Wild and Captive Parrot Environments.

Shannon Fujimoto Nakaya, DVM

Wild Parrots

Images

Pet Parrots

Wild Parrots

  • Fly 2 to 3 miles between feeding sites

Pet Parrots

  • Food is served

Wild Parrots

  • Forage 4 to 6 hours per day

Pet Parrots

  • Pelleted diets can provide all of the caloric needs of a bird in less than 1 hour
  • Seeds contain even greater caloric density and seed-based diets tend to cause obesity and malnutrition

Wild Parrots

  • Spend time with each food item

Pet Parrots

  • Pelleted diets are nutritionally more complete, but relatively uninteresting

Wild Parrots

  • Feed on greater than 60 plant species including fruits, blossoms, leaves, seeds, and nuts

Pet Parrots tend to become:

  • Picky eaters
  • Seed junkies
  • Fearful or phobic of new foods

Wild Parrots

  • Nutritional status and longevity unknown
  • Obesity rarely observed
  • Rarely appear bored
  • Feather damaging behaviors rarely observed

Problems Seen in Pet Parrots

  • Obesity
  • Boredom
  • Feather damaging behaviors
  • Other problem behaviors


Part II: Foraging Enrichments for Pet Parrots.

Images

Rationale


Let your bird do the shredding.

Fresh Vegetables are Great Food

  • Lots of variety to choose from
  • Good source of vitamins and minerals
  • Good source of dietary fiber
  • Low fat
  • Relatively easy to get
Generally, if you can eat it fresh, so can your birds. Exceptions:
  • NO AVOCADO. Avocadoes are toxic to birds.
  • Probably best to avoid raw onions
  • Pits from cherries, plums, and apple seeds (I know these are not vegetables, but the tip still holds) contain cyanide-like compounds

Bird-shredded vegetables at the bottom of the cage

Rationale

  • Increases the amount of time your pet parrot is kept occupied
  • Tip: You do not need to chop your bird's vegetables into bite size pieces. Let your bird do the work.
  • Provides a protective effect against boredom
  • Provides a protective effect against feather damaging behaviors
  • Provides a protective effect against "problem" behaviors

Foraging toys

  • Designed to challenge birds to "work" for their "treats"
  • Stimulates the bird's brain
  • You can view more objects like this at www.thebirdbrain.com

Or you can try this!

  • Make your own piñata
  • Wrap treats in balls of paper

Cooked beans and grains are also interesting and nutritious food for birds

Or you can try this!

  • Set up feeding stations in different parts of their environment
  • Play "hide and seek" with treats

Got other ideas to share?


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Last revised: October 12, 2005
Text and images © 2004-2005 by Shannon Fujimoto Nakaya