What do parrots eat?

Question

Is it ok to feed them saltine crackers? I'm not sure what type of parrot I have, but it's almost completely green. Please help!

Answer 1

Parrot food is really specialized to the type of bird. Typically petco will sell a variety of seed brands based on the bird. If you are unsure of the parrot type, take a picture of the bird and send it to an online parrot website. They might help you in identifying the bird.

www.parrotforum.net

heres some things your bird can eat. I own two macaws so this is what i feed them.

1. Greens, chopped (Swiss chard, mustard greens, fresh herbs, French sorrel, cilantro, parsley, kale, collard greens, carrot tops, endive, escarole….)

2. Vegetables, chopped (celery, bell pepper, zucchini, crookneck squash, cucumber, sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi, cabbage, shredded carrot, beets, green beans, etc.)

3. Broccoli cooked lightly in microwave (5 to 10 minutes) and chopped (or fresh).

4. Vitamin A vegetables lightly cooked and chopped (banana squash, yams, carrots, etc).

5. Cooked or uncooked pasta

6. Cooked beans (soaked overnight, then cooked for 20 min). The 17 bean mixes are great for this, or you can use your own mixture. Soybeans, including the popular Soak ‘n Cook mixes, must be cooked separately for not less than one hour.

7. Corn on the cob (sliced, then quartered), when in season

8. Apples, chopped.

9. Citrus fruits, chopped (peel included)

10. Grapes, whole (seeds are fine)

11. Frozen mixed vegetables

http://www.featherpicking.com/Feeding%20...

Answer 2

Polly might want a cracker, but it's not a healthy choice.   Saltines are over-processed and covered with salt.   They have nothing that will benefit your bird.

You should be trying to figure out the species of your parrot.  The proper diet, depends on the species.  

Green in extremely vague.  It's definitely not a cockatiel, cockatoo or African grey.

It could be a parrotlet, budgie (budgerigars), lovebird, Indian ringneck, quaker/monk parrot, caique, or other species.

For most parrots, the healthiest diet includes high-quality pellets, fresh foods like vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts and other proteins, with a small amount of seed.

There are many things that you should not feed to birds, including sweets (especially chocolate), junk food, fast food.  If it's not considered "health food" for humans, it's not healthy for birds.

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/birds/a/p...

Best of luck to you.

Answer 3

Crackers should be a treat, not the mainstay of a parrots diet.

We use pellets as the main part of the diet, about 75% and add treats  and veggies. Mine love broccoli and carrots and apples and bananas, I use seed I harvest from bell peppers sunflowers, cantelope, I don't like commercially produced seeds but will use some from the health store, flax seed pumpkin seed.  You should post a picture of your new friend and then we can help identify it. Sounds like it might be a Quaker parrot or an Amazon. Could be a conure.

Answer 4

My bird loves crackers, bread and potoate chips.

but mainly bird food. she only gets special treat once in awhile.

Answer 5

Was the parrot given to you? Did you buy it?(if you bought it, you should not have if you didn't do your research and properly prepare yourself for this kind of commitment). You need to get to a pet store as soon as possible so the representative can suggest good brands of parrot food with a lot of variety. Please find a parrot club to join so they can further assist you with properly caring for your parrot. They are a lot like children and need to be cared for as such. Saltine crackers are not a good staple diet for a parrot.

Answer 6

A parrot will eat just about anything you give him. They love sunflower seeds, but that is just a tip of the pen. Crackers are fine. Vegetables raw.or cooked. fruit. Your local pet store will be glad you good suggestions on their diet as will your vet.