My family was having crabs at home the other day. I realized I should get my lovebird some cuttlefish bones. Then I thought, why don’t I clean some of the crab shell and offer them? I think that’s not a bad idea?

Thoughts on bone in, water packed, no salt added sardines? Are the super tiny bones and skin an issue? Thinking its an excellent source of calcium and a ton of other things.

does shrimp have to be cooked? I have a macaw. I know you said fish does, but I just want to be sure

My Parrot will eat chicken, egg & fish and watever i eat like other Non veg items, can any body let me know is there any side effects if a parrot consumes non-veg ?

I have an umbrella Too and he likes to have whatever I am having.. he loves icecream I didn’t think he would eat it because of the cold so I let him stay in my lap while I had some he wanted more but I was afraid of it…also I would like to know about strawberries, black berries, and other fruits of this type I haven’t given them to him because of the seed… I love your

Hi Casey, There are no ignorant questions here! This blog is all about learning and education, so never feel bad about asking a question. Parrots are technically omnivores because, apart from being plant eaters, some species also eat insects and their larva. However, meat and fish is not a natural part of their diet. The thing to keep in mind, though, is that very little of what we feed them is part of their “natural” diet. The foods that we have available to offer are often not found in their natural habitats. Avian science has determined what a parrot needs to thrive nutritionally, and we make do with what is available. It seems to get the job done. Meats are fatty, fish less so, but both are tolerated by the avian system when offered in moderation. It is an option available to offer variety from a nutritional standpoint and to occasionally spice up a boring diet. Always use lean meats and fish and prepare them by broiling, baking, steaming or poaching. Fried foods are not good for our parrots or ourselves. Patty

Hi Tobi, The dinner table is often where birds learn to experiment with new foods. A little spoiled? Who cares! Your bird is now eating a healthy diet! Good job! Patty

Hi Julie, I am not seeing the comment about grapes and olives, but grapes are fine and very much enjoyed by parrots. They contain more sugar and water than some other fruits making them of lesser nutritional value, but there are no other reasons not to offer them. Olives are very healthy and reduce bad cholesterol, the only problem with them are that they are salty and oily (although olive oil is also very healthy in moderation). The green olives are saltier than the black ones and most are preserved in brine. There are some organic brands that are packed in water. Keeping these things in mind, they are safe when served infrequently. Patty

My Mexican Double Yellowhead “COTY” is 39 years old. She had been healthy all her life. She was fed on seed, very little fruit and vegetablesand occasional chicken bones. The seed she ate was a very complete seed mixture. All of a sudden about two years ago that particular brand of seed was not sold anymore. I bought the 40 lb bags that were availabe at the feed store. Coty left bunches of seed uneaten and then started moulting a lot in the last two years, until all of a sudden she was almost featherless. I bought pellets from you. but could not make her even try them…, She doesnt particularly like vegetables or fruit that much. Seems like I have tried almost everything! I thought she would die on me! Then I started putting Baby vitamin drops (touching the eyedropper) to pieces of dry banana, which Coty loves, and in a couple of months she has regrown a lot of her feathers and she acts happy again. I still am concerned that she has malnutrition and would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you! Yolande Gottlieb

Will someone explain the no grape or olive oil comment. Our vet has no idea what that is all about either.

Janet -be patient and keep offering the good stuff. His curiosity will get the best of him eventually and he will eat it. Cut back on the seed or mix it with something you want him to eat. Like a child he wont starve himself .

I have never heard of grapes being unhealthy for birds. My Amazon eats about anything (except for chocolate and avacodo), he loves toast with peanut butter given as a treat once in a while, loves peppers, potatoes, beans, still working on other veggies as he was a rescue and my umbrella cockatoo we are still experimenting with different foods. She is a rescue also and didn’t kow what anything other than seed was when we first got her. Now, almost a year later she loves broccoli, beans, egg, fish, oranges. She is more willing to try a new food if she is taking it off my plate. A little spoiled.

Thanks for this, I was wondering as we do have a lot of fish. Sorry for the late question but how good is mango pips for the bird as my macaw loves it?

I will try the salmon. When I got Paco my cockatoo he would turn his nose up to anything that was not seed. Hes converted to your food after I used it in the muffins. He now will eat apples and oranges. He also likes pizza. So I keep trying new foods. Bananas are not on his list . Greens are still hard to get him to eat. Your right variety is the key. At least he is trying everything. By the way he loves the toys.

To Maylan Studart: What about birds that prey on other birds and their eggs like the American Kestrel, Crows and most Birds of Prey? There are a lot of birds that eat other birds

Bird eating bird? Like mammal eating mammal…most of us do so.

I have been trying for two years now to get my Keisha, a blue and gold to eat fruit, veges, and meats, and eggs. I have put stuff in muffins that I have made. I have done everything and it is offered every single day. She still will not eat any of it. I have tried putting bits of treats in toys, she finds it and throws it on the bottom of the cage or out her door! I rescued her when she was 10 and have been trying every day ever since to get her to eat varied meals. What am I doing wrong!

What do little finches like to eat besides greens. Mine won’t touch fruits.

My Amazon, aged 35, tastes everything I give her – fruit, pasta, rice, sauce, bones, fish, potatoes, clams, yoghurt (as a treat), even chicken on bone. She eats ice-cream out of a spoon she holds herserf, etc. etc. She prefers whatever comes from our plates onto her own tin plate (preferably warm or lukewarm), and eats whenever we do. this hass become such a routine that she claims her food, and whemever I woant to introduce somthing new to her, I just give it to her on her own plate, and she just can’t resist trying it out.

PS~ I forgot to add we give them a bit of whatever meat or fish we are eating as well. Eggs too. Sometimes they like it sometimes they don’t. chicken bones are very good for them to eat the marrow out of. I know it keeps them healthy. When we first adopted our ‘Too he barbered his feathers down to the skin and didn’t have any ‘dust’ on his feathers. All he would eat was seeds. Very sad boy. Now he is beautiful and a real booger as well. So if you want to adopt, but the bird doesn’t look very good, with a little care you can bring him/her around if you have patience.

Two of our parrots (parrotlet and Golfin’s ‘Too) were adopted when a few years old. They were not used to eating real ’food’ or fruit but we stuck with it. They also were able to see our other parrots, who we got as babies, eating every night when we did. It took a couple months for the ‘Too to start eating food but the little parrotlet took much longer, nearly 3 years. We didn’t give up. Every evening when we sit down to eat dinner they also get their dishes with cooked grain, veggies and a little of whatever we are eating. They all get excited when it’s dinner time now and we hear about it if we’re late! If you have a bird that is adopted or just won’t try new things, don’t give up. Our parrots are happy, healthy and active.

my little african grey hen which i inherited, at 23 yrs of age, is a very fussy eater, she loves her seeds,bones x meat,but getting her to eat fruit x veg. is a problem x also pelletts. any suggestions welcome.

I cannot afford to buy the pellet food sold online. I try to feed my cockatiel a varied diet. Is there any other healthy food for cheaper that I could possibly purchase?

great info thanks

Raggae my 11 year old Aftrican Gray gets birdie food for breakfast but at dinner time he eats whatever we do. He loves beef, chicken and seafood and yes I even give him a little cheese & yogurt. I have to say his favorite is warm soup, (especially habitant pea soup) with a soda cracker broken & soakin in it. He is happy, healthy and I have never had an issue with a vitamin defiency, plucking feathers or screaming.