At Birdtricks.com, we have daily contact with many bird owners and we listen to their complaints and concerns over their bird’s diet: “My parrot won’t eat vegetables!”

When we were putting together our cookbook, Cooking For Parrots, we took these concerns to heart and tried to find solutions to the biggest and most common parrot feeding problems. It became obvious that the list of concerns is neatly divided into two categories: human considerations, and our bird’s determination NOT to cooperate with our efforts.

In the end, it ALL comes down to us because, as caregivers, it is ultimately our responsibility ...

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Obese blue fronted amazon, Storm, carrying about 30% more than his species' average weight

Companion parrots experience both advantage and disadvantage with the humans in their lives. To their advantage is the human who loves them and provides them with all their needs – feeds them the healthiest diet, offers enrichment and vet care as needed.

To their disadvantage is the human who loves them and provides them with all their wants – rushes to release them when they insist on coming out of the cage, makes excuses for unwanted behaviors ...

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Q: I know we are supposed feed our birds fruits and vegetables, but which is better for them?
 – Elena B., Modesto, CA

A: The most important things to understand about your parrot’s diet are the needs for variety and moderation in  EVERYTHING you feed them. Let me explain why…

Fruits and vegetables each have different nutritional values. They are all great in their own way, but they all have something unique to offer the overall diet.  When compared, two veggies might both be high in vitamins C and A, ...

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Q: Why won’t MY bird eat fruits and vegetables?

  – Peter L., Minneapolis, MN

 A: Getting your bird on a proper diet is the single biggest challenge faced by bird owners. The challenge itself is two-fold: 1) getting the owner to understand the meaning of the term “good diet” – to which there are many parts, and 2) getting the bird to cooperate. Neither is easy.

To begin with, the owner, especially the new owner, might only have an awareness of a seed and/or pelleted diet. Most people only learn ...

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cockatiel

I got my first parrot, a precious cockatiel, back in the 80’s. When I left the store with my new pet, I was instructed to keep the cage clean and to feed fresh seed and water daily. I remember walking away thinking about how dull that diet seemed to be.
Not long after, I added a second cockatiel. I became enchanted with their outgoing personalities and found myself studying every move they made. I noticed right away how important it was to them to interact with the family so they ...

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Q: My bird keeps wandering over to my kitchen set to chew on the wooden chairs. Everything I have tried to make him stop has failed. What can I do?
– Donna M., Casper, WY

A: Most species of parrots are cavity dwellers. In preparing the nest site, they will sometimes need to excavate a hole into a...

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