Make Feeding Your Macaw Easy Top Suggestions

By: Ryleigh Cantrell Click author's name for more of his/her articles

As humans we often eat to much of the wrong things. Don't let that happen to your macaw or any other bird.

Your birds diet just as your own diet should consist of many different foods and many should be used in moderation. Feeding your macaw or parrot a variety of fresh wholesome unprocessed foods should do the trick. Raw and cooked included.

I use a good high quality commercial parrot mixture in my birds cage at all times. I change the old mixture out with fresher every morning. Everything else I feed I consider to be treats or supplemental. I don't feed treats until I notice my bird has been into the pellet mixture. My B & G macaw can be stubborn, occasionally he won't eat any mixture until we have had our morning workout eventually he will eat.

Nuts and sunflower seeds I consider to be treats. I feed them sparingly one at a time. Generally as rewards for this that or another thing and once in a while because I'm a nice guy. Macaws need a little more fat, nuts and sunflower seeds are how my bird gets his.

Fresh, frozen vegetables, green, yellow, white and red are good for your bird. Don't feed your bird anything coming from a can. Canned goods are not all that good for humans. They are full of chemical preservatives. This includes packaged and processed meals, t.v. dinners etc.

High on my veggie list are carrots, brocoli, lettuce, cauliflower, bell peppers, even a raw jalepeno on occasion, sweet potatoe and potatoe because I eat these foods myself. Feed them raw and cooked. Rice, beans, peas should all be cooked thoroughly.

Once or maybe twice a week my bird will be given a piece of well cooked chicken or turkey but never with any added oils. Macaws have been known to add flesh to their diets in the wild. So I do so once or twice a week.

Fruits are excellent for birds. I don't feed citrus. I don't eat it myself. I however eat apples, bananas, fresh peaches, cherries and grapes. My parrot does too. Also I never give my bird the skins or seeds from apples, peaches. Only a sliver of the fleshy parts from a fruit I intend to eat myself. Make certain all small fruits like cherries, grapes, etc are well washed before feeding.

Some things you should avoid feeding your pet bird.

1.Chips, candies: Should be avoided due to the salt, cooking oils, refined sugar.

2.Caffeine

3.Avocados: Some have been found to be toxic, primarily the skins and pits.

4.Salt

5.Mushrooms: Some may be toxic to birds.

6.Raw peanuts: Can harbor a fungus, feed only roasted and unsalted.

7.Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to dogs don't feed it to your pet bird.

8.Milk other dairy: Never saw a bird milk a cow and some humans can't consume milk. Birds don't digest dairy.

My rule is. If I know that eating a certain food calls for moderation. That I should avoid eating a certain food altogether like fried foods, sweets. Then when thinking about the size difference between myself and my pet bird it becomes a bit obvious that I should avoid feeding those foods to my pet. When it comes to your parrot well washed organic, cooked and raw food should be your goal. For your pet birds variety is certainly the spice of life.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Ryleigh Cantrell has owned his blue and gold Macaw (Shadow) since 1978. There are two guesses as to the birds name.The two are inseperable. To learn more about blue and gold macaws.