Parrots are one of the most popular birds in homes around the world, being a pet highly appreciated and respected by those who share a home with them. However, before adopting a parrot, it is advisable to consult the CITES convention, to verify that your possession as a pet is legal.
One of the most important aspects of parrot care is feeding. You know what parrots eat? It is difficult to establish a pattern that is valid for all, given the large number of species found in this category of animal world. However, in this article by Animal Expert, we will try to resolve any doubts about the feeding of parrots, both in nature and at home.
- If you have a parrot as a pet.
- You must be careful.
- The first and most important is to provide a clean and orderly environment.
- To do this.
- Is daily cleaning of its cage (which must meet a number of requirements) or the space in which the animal lives.
- In addition to its hangers.
- Its toys.
- Recommended? It is also essential to maintain the animal itself.
- Which must be clean and dewormed.
It is essential to monitor the state of the parrot’s beak, as it continues to grow throughout its life. If there is not enough natural wear, it may be necessary to polish and cut, which preferably should be done by a veterinary professional. To promote the wear of the peak of a parrot and avoid disproportionate growth, it is recommended to leave objects and toys in the cage with which to file the beak and nails. Some toys suitable for this purpose are made of natural wood or cardboard.
Although this may seem shocking, parrots are omnivorous because, although the diet of parrots and parrots is mainly based on the consumption of plant foods, they can also consume food of animal origin. It is important to note that when we talk about parrots, we cover a large number of species (more than 350) [1], each with its peculiarities that naturally affect your diet.
In general, the vast majority of birds classified as parrots, including parakeets, cockatoos and macaws, are omnivorous animals because they consume large amounts of fruits, vegetables and seeds, but also small invertebrates, such as insects.
Wild parrots inhabit warm-weather regions around the world. They are distributed in several territories of Central and South America, Australia, South Asia and Africa, where a wide variety of species adapted to different habitats are concentrated. Therefore, the feeding of the wild parrot will depend to a large extent on the resources available in its habitat, as we will see below.
A wild parrot feeds adapting to the resources present in the environment in which it lives. Basically, they survive by eating:
However, experts point to the great preference of parrots to eat seeds and nuts, as they are really delicious and very nutritious, which gives them energy to continue to look for food in nature.
In the forest, parrots have a wide variety of foods at their disposal, as they can consume a wide variety of plants. There are countless species of flowers, fruit trees, insects … then the diet of a parrot in the forest is distinguished by its versatility.
In general, like other parrots, they feed heavily on the seeds and plants available, as well as on different species of insects.
Like puppies and descendants of almost all animal species, they need a specific diet different from that of an adult of the same species.
In the case of parrots, it can be fed occasionally with homemade fruit porridge, but only in case of emergency. It is most recommended and healthy to use preparations specially designed to meet the needs of baby parrots.
These pastes contain a high percentage of protein, very important for the proper development of the offspring. You can buy them at veterinary centers or pet stores. Although the packaging indicates the specific form of preparation, they are prepared by mixing the dough with previously boiled or purified hot water (thus eliminating chlorine) and the necessary portions should be prepared for each ingestion, which occurs approximately every 2-3 hours.
To know how often to feed them, it’s best to be guided by their own instincts, because when they’re hungry, they start urinating. The dough should be creamy, neither too liquid nor too dense, otherwise the small parrot will not be able to swallow it properly.
In the case of domestic parrots, which do not encompass all species, since many are protected and their ownership is legally prohibited, we must take into account a series of data. At home, it is best to provide the parrot with a varied and controlled diet.
It is important that it is balanced, as most tend to overeat, develop overweight and obesity, which are very harmful to health. This is especially common when there are more appetizing foods, such as some nuts.
In general, the daily diet of domestic parrots should be divided as follows: 75% of fruits and vegetables, 20% of foods and only 5% of the diet should consist of prizes and rewards.
Now, depending on the type of parrot, as well as its size, its diet varies slightly.
In the case of grey parrots, the proportions vary slightly from the generics we provide in the previous section, as it is estimated that the ideal proportions are:
Australian parrots, better known as parakeets, have a diet similar to the generic mentioned above. In captivity, i.e. as pets, experts recommend feeding them with seeds (such as poultry, corn or oat pipes), supplementing the diet with the consumption of vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, cucumber or chard, given the benefits they offer, and fruits, although these are more punctual.
In addition, it should be noted that, in the case of parakeets, grapefruit is toxic to them. On the other hand, something highly recommended is to give them the pasta for puppies, even adults, in two moments, as in periods of very cold temperatures and during the breeding season, because in these cases they need more protein and energy. .
Dentro desta categoria entram os papagaios de tamanho pequeno, como os agapornis, que medem apenas cerca de 4-7 centímetros da cabeça à cauda e pesam aproximadamente 50 gramas. Outros exemplos são loris e periquitos. Os loris, por exemplo, alimentam-se exclusivamente de néctar e pólen, tendo uma dieta nectarívora.
Em cativeiro, esses animais devem ser alimentados (exceto no caso dos loris, que possuem preparações específicas) com alimentos especificamente desenvolvidos para pequenos papagaios. Nesse caso, a quantidade a ser fornecida é indicada com base no tamanho do animal, porque logicamente um papagaio pequeno não precisa da mesma quantidade de energia que um grande. Mas, em essência, a base da dieta permanece exatamente a mesma, sementes e vegetais.
O papagaio verde é um dos papagaios mais comuns em residências, por isso é importante conhecer suas necessidades nutricionais específicas. De fato, muitos especialistas argumentam que é suficiente alimentá-los com preparações comerciais de qualidade, fornecendo um extra de minerais e vitaminas com suplementos de vegetais de folhas verdes, como repolho ou acelga, além de frutas ocasionalmente.
In this way, it is possible to obtain adequate nutrition, similar to that obtained by these animals in the wild, although in this case they do so from roots, seeds and insects.
As mentioned above, the diet of parrots is very varied and can include a great diversity of foods. However, some foods should never be administered to a parrot, as they are potentially harmful and even fatal in some amounts. Foods strictly prohibited for any type of parrot are:
Talvez até aqui, sabendo que sua alimentação deva ser baseada em alimentos tão naturais quanto possível, seja senso comum que os itens acima sejam prejudiciais a eles. No entanto, existem outros itens que podem parecer bons, mas são igualmente prejudiciais:
Para mais informações, você pode consultar este outro artigo do Animal Expert sobre alimentos proibidos para papagaios, onde falamos com mais detalhes sobre o que os papagaios podem e não podem comer, bem como os sintomas de intoxicação em papagaios.
If you would like to read articles similar to What the Parrot Eats, we recommend that you visit our Home Diets section.