What to Feed Your African Grey?

What to feed your African Grey? African Grey parrots are largely considered omnivorous due to lack of fixed food preferences. Its food preferences are mostly based on its natural habitat.  Thankfully, today’s supplements have opened new and healthy options for pet owners. What to feed your African Grey? Contrary to popular belief, birds do not live by seed alone! A seed only diet can be extremely dangerous because it can result in nutrient deficiency and diseases due to its limited nutrients, vitamins and minerals which could shorten the life expectancy of your parrot. What to feed your African Grey? Greys need a good quality pellet diet for it to be healthy. Like humans, parrots need a balanced diet. You should be able to feed your bird with fresh vegetables especially green leafy ones as well as fruit and grain daily.

Types of Food for Your African Grey

What to feed your African Grey? African Grey Parrots love to eat seeds! Palm fruit seeds are highly recommended on a Grey parrot’s diet plan. However as mentioned earlier, you still need to offer a proper balance of fruits and vegetables because that will keep the bird’s metabolic system strong. African greys need 3-4 teaspoons per day of a pellet or seed-based, fortified parrot diet.

Vegetables are a rich source of natural fiber for the body. As compared to other birds, there are a few vegetables which is essential for an African Grey, these vegetables not only provide fiber but also nutrition. Just make sure they are properly washed before feeding to your pet.

Fruits are healthy and sweet, they are a natural source of sugars for the parrots. Below are list of fruits that are highly recommended by veterinarians. Keep in mind that you need to get your vet’s approval before trying a new fruit for your African Grey Parrot. This may include melons, dried dates, figs, gooseberries, mango and papaya; grapes, guava, honeydew, kiwi, apples; banana; blackcurrant; blueberry; cantaloupe; cherry; pear; pineapple; pomegranate; raspberry; strawberry

Healthy Supplements

What to feed your African Grey? The only supplement necessary in feeding your parrot is Calcium. As mentioned before, grey birds need the most amount of Calcium than any other kinds of parrots. Calcium is usually found in the form of a cuttlebone or Calcium treat that is attached inside your bird cage. You can also offer a powdered supplement such as packaged oyster shell which can be added directly to your pet’s food. Follow the instructions on the supplement package. Calcium is vital for muscle contraction, blood clotting, heart functions, bone growth and strength. The bird should be exposed to UVB light for at least 3-4 hours a day, for optimal physiologic use of the calcium you are giving your bird.

Vitamin is definitely an important part of any diet because it fulfills body requirements but as a precaution most Grey parrots on a pelleted diet do not require additional vitamins therefore a regular medical consultation to your veterinary is highly advised to ensure that your bird is getting proper diet. Some Greys are prone to vitamin A deficiencies but you should not provide vitamins without an expert’s prescription.

Fatty acids are part of a balanced diet combined with minerals, vitamins and calcium. Fatty acid intake serves as an effective skin and feather care agent. It also provides the ability to develop a better immune system so that it may survive possible common diseases among the bird family. It also plays an important role in reducing the risk of heart attacks as well as lowering the cholesterol level.

What Not to Feed Your Pet

Some foods are specifically toxic for your African Grey Parrot. Make sure that your bird never gets to eat one of the toxic items below and ensure that an avian veterinary checks your bird every now and then. These harmful foods is as important as selecting the right supplements and food items for your bird. The following list of plants, fruits and beans are toxic for African Grey Parrots include avocado; azalea; baneberry; beans; coffee, coffee Bean; eucalyptus; grass hyacinth; marijuana (Hemp); oak; red maple; tobacco; umbrella plant; white cedar, berry and yellow Jasmine among others.

Best Food Brands for Your African Greys

Sleek & Sassy Garden Large Hookbill

What to feed your African Grey? This brand came out to the market in 1983. For many decades, this brand is still famous in the field of bird food. Among them, Sleek & Sassy Garden Large Hookbill seems to be one of the most popular products of this brand. So many pet owners choose it for their African Grey because of the nutritious ingredients. All the elements are natural without sulfites or even artificial colors. Therefore, you could feel comfortable to purchase this item for your lovely friends.

The Sleek & Sassy Garden Large Hookbill food is a mixture of vegetables and fruits which provide the animals enough nutrition and power. In addition to this, blended food also contains the amino acid, vitamin, and mineral, which are suitable for the activities of parrot.

All the materials are natural including trophic seeds: Whole Grains, Legumes, Seeds, Papaya, Banana, Red Chili Peppers, Pineapple, Carrots, Sweet Potato, and many other seeds. It is really an advanced mixture. In addition to this, this product also has enzymes in the list of ingredients. The enzymes can exist in the oxygen environment. So, if there is no oxygen on the package, the enzymes’ elements will be killed, and the nutritional value will be reduced.

As a result, this brand does not blow the nitrogen to the package or abstract oxygen to prolong the expiry date. They keep the oxygen inside the bag to maximize nutrition. The food should be kept on the freezer device, and you need to put it back to the fridge after use. If you are preserving it in the refrigerator and then put them at the room temperature for a long time, the food will create moisture and reduce the quality. In addition, remember to remove the left-over food in the jailbird every day.

 Zeigler Parrot Maintenance

This food is suitable for not only the parrot but also the cockatoos. The company removed all the seed hulls so that the parrot can eat all the seeds easily. The ingredients in the food are good for body conditioning. They are amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. Besides, these natural materials also play an important role in the feathering process.

The minerals and vitamin C in Zeiglers Parrot Maintenance have the function of developing and recovering the tissue. Besides, the flavour is really attractive because of the scent of the fruit. The nitrogen is added to the package in order to maintain the freshness. This product was researched and developed by the U.S animal food specialist.

According to many parrot breeders, the Zeiglers Parrot Maintenance provides enough nutrition for the growth of parrot. If you fed your pet with this type of food, usually, it will thrive well. The seeds are kept in a sealed box so that the food gets the perfect preservation. You just need to take out enough dosage for your bird.

Volkman Avian Science Super African Grey

Volkman Avian Science Super African Grey is the exclusive food for parrots. This is the nutritious dub, which is good for the growth of the bird. With high-quality seeds, it is one of the best-rate foods according to many reviewers. People say that it is the prior choice for birds in the larger size. This product is a mixture of seeds and dehydrated vegetables and fruits.

The ingredients contain many types of natural seeds: Safflower Seed, Choline Chloride, Coconut, Dehydrated Carrot, Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Sun-Cured Peaches, and many other types of ingredients. This food has a special formula for the birds. This mixture is suitable for the specific needs of this animal. The product has a fruity flavour, which is delicious and attracts the birds. The company freshly packs these seeds. Before packing, the ingredients are triple cleaned to remove the pother so that we have a type of pure foodstuffs.

Besides the vitamins and calcium, the producer implements the cuttlebone for more nutrition, and that brings a healthy life for pets. However, besides the natural flavours, this food also contains artificial ones. The preservative is also added to prolong the expiry date. About the dosage, for the young bird, one tablespoon per day is reasonable. 2 to 4 spoons are good for the medium animals each day.

For parrot in particularly, 1/8 cup to 1/4 cup each is good for the small ones. Feeding the full-grown parrots with 1/4 to 1/2 cup one day is perfect. With the natural elements from vegetables and fruits, Volkman Avian Science Super African Grey provides the African greys with the essential nutrition and power for their operation and development.

Kaytee Spray Millet

What to feed your African Grey? Kaytee Spray Millet is the ideal choice for the young birds which are weaning and learning to eat. This food contains the nutritious elements which are suggested to add to the diet of birds. All the ingredients are natural, and there is no artificial material.

Kaytee Spray Millet is reviewed as the best food for African Greys, and almost the birds love this favorite flavor. With the natural millet, this product is recommended to use for the fledglings in the process of weaning. However, it is also the perfect choice for all young birds and full-grown ones.

It is a palatable food so that it can attract all types of animals. The main ingredient is millet. Besides, with the other nutritious vitamins, minerals, and so on, your small friends are provided with enough power for daily activity.

About feeding, it is better to put the food bowl in an easily accessible position. Furthermore, remember to keep the seeds far from the cage bottom to avoid contamination. If you can, try to clean the bowl once a week. Feeding your pets with Kaytee Spray Millet usually in a long time can make them healthier. Many bird owners said that this type of food is really effective in fattening their pets.

Kaytee Fiesta Bird Food

Among many bird food brands in the market, Kaytee is one of the most famous and popular brands. About the Kaytee Fiesta Bird Food For Parrots, it contains a range of essential ingredients which are good for heart health. By adding Omega 3’S and antioxidants to the food, this product brings an impressive result in health generally and even enhances the immune ability. These elements are good for the brand as well. Furthermore, the food also provides important materials to have healthy skin and a beautiful feather.

Don’t Forget the Water!

Hydration is just as important for birds as it is for human beings especially during hot weather conditions, lack of water can lead to dehydration which can cause these birds to collapse. Your African Greys should be given access to clean, fresh and cool water. Do not use tap water because can cause the bird to be ill, as well as distilled water, instead use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water. If in case, tap water is used, treat it with a de-chlorinating treatment. Inability to provide fresh water to pet birds can cause upset stomach with unbearable stomachache.

Whether the meal consists of raw or cooked food, vegetables or meat African Greys have a habit of drinking water after every meal which helps their digestion process. All water given to birds for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals.

Keep In Mind

What to feed your African Grey? Dairy products or cheese are not harmful, but you should feed your parrot in a limited amount. The reason is that the digestive system of birds cannot handle lactose. If you feed your birds with over nutrition, it causes obese, and it is not good for animals. In summary, consumers may feel confused with a lot of food types for African greys in the market. However, by considering the kind of parrot, the nutrition needs and the health issue of your pets, we believe that you can find out the best food for African greys.