www.healthybird.net/store - 506-532-3757 -Joanne Cormier
YOUR ONE-STOP AVIAN SHOPPING
PARROT CAREGIVER’S PRAYER
Please give me the patience to tolerate their loudness, The stamina to endure their messiness, The knowledge to evaluate their moodiness, The wisdom to understand their fearfulness, The serenity to accept their destructiveness, The creativity to encourage their playfulness, The time to enjoy their uniqueness, Give me to child-like awe to marvel at their wildness so that I might never forget the delight of their parrotness. – Just for today and the next fifty years.
Water - The body is composed of approximately 80% water! Every cell is dependent upon water for it’s very existence. It is necessary for energy production, transportation of nutrients, and to help regulate body temperature. It is well known that a body can survive longer without food than without water. Under extreme conditions, it is possible to lose 50% of muscle mass and almost 100% of fat stores, but a 15% fluid loss could lead to death. A source of CLEAN water is essential for your bird’s well being. Be sure to keep water containers clean and to change the water at least daily. More frequent changes are needed if the bird drops it’s food in the water, since food will contaminate the water quickly. Also, place food and water cups in areas where droppings will not fall into them. For example keep them out from under perches.
Proteins are essential for the health and maintenance of all body issues. They play a key role in normal growth, reproduction and resistance to infection. Proteins are made up of small sub units called amino acids. Every species has it’s own requirements for certain amino acids. These essential amino acids cannot be manufactured by the body and must be provided by the diet. Common sources of proteins include bean, nuts, eggs, meat and dairy products.
Carbohydrates are the body’s primary fuel. They are found in plants and include starches and simple sugars. Carbohydrates that are not immediately needed by the body are stored in the liver and muscles. Fiber, often found in carbohydrates, helps maintain normal intestinal function and prevent constipation. Common sources of carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and cereal grains.
Fats are the most concentrated energy source. They provide more than twice as much energy per unit than either protein or carbohydrates. Fats insulate and store energy for the body and are also required for the normal absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Common sources of Fats include nuts, seeds, and many dairy products.
Minerals play a crucial role in the maintenance and strength of bone, normal cell function, nerve conduction and muscle contraction. They are also important in maintaining the proper balance of body fluids. Minerals are required in only minute amounts, but the balance between different minerals is crucial. If this balance is disrupted, it can lead to serious problems. Therefore, supplementation, if needed at all is is best done with a complete, balanced mineral supplement.
Grit: While not a food grit is something people think all birds need. They do not, If it is overeaten, grit impaction can occur in the digestive system. Chickens and turkeys eat whole seeds and require small bits of sand to grind off the coating of the seed in order to digest it. Parrots, on the other hand, crack their seeds before they eat them. This eliminates the need for “grinding stones” in the gizzard. Finches, doves and canaries do require extremely small amounts of grit in order to digest their food. Two pieces per week is probably adequate for these birds.
A danger exists in overfeeding grit to birds. From boredom or sickness, birds sometimes eat too much grit and they can develop an impaction in the digestive tract. For the same reason, you should not use sand-covered cage liner or sand-covered perch wrappers even if it is not called “grit”. Birds can eat this sand as well.
A varied diet largely made up of live foods will give you the healthiest bird. By live foods we mean vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Dead foods are foods that don’t spoil quickly (i.e. packaged seeds & nuts). That might seem like a simplistic description, but it is actually quite accurate. A healthy, correct diet can add DECADES to your birds’ lives. Yes. Decades. Vegetables: Carrots (cooked slightly for better assimilation of beta carotene), string beans, corn, squash, peas, broccoli, zucchini, snow peas, sunflower sprouts, pea shoots, sprouted seeds and beans (excellent for protein) are all favourites. If your bird is reluctant to try these things, try sprouting their seed mix. It will be familiar to them and seeds are much healthier when sprouting (lower in fat, higher in amino acids for instance). Grains: You can sprout many grains at home. A good cooked mash is given to our parrots every morning. You can find a wide variety on our site. Fruits: High in sugar, don’t substitute fruit for vegetables. Vegetables always should make up the largest portion of the diet. Fruits do not really need to make up a significant part of the diet. Grapes are relished by most parrots. I strongly recommend organic fruits only or else use a special vegetable/fruit wash that can remove pesticides and bacteria. Absolutely positively do not feed your birds strawberries unless they are organic or thoroughly washed with a special fruit or vegetable wash. The cancer-causing pesticides used on them should have been outlawed long ago, but continual lobbying by growers has slowed down the process. Humans should not eat them either.
Seeds: Get a good, fresh seed mix. If you aren’t sure it’s good and fresh, try sprouting it. If the seeds don’t sprout in a few days, the seeds are dead. They have no nutritional value. I give a daily supply of seeds, but never so much that the birds ignore their veggies. I believe in allowing free access to seeds because they don’t spoil and can be left in the cage all day.
Pellets: There are many pellets on the market. There have been great reports on every one and terrible stories about everyone. To the vets who say, “Birds don’t just eat seeds in the wild,” I must reply, “And they eat NO pellets in the wild.” However, I do still feed pellets as a supplement. Having said this, I also supplement my birds with a daily vitamin and extra protein if they are breeding as pellets DO NOT give all that is needed in their diet. Don’t feed the bird food from your mouth and don’t bite off a piece for them. There’s too much bacteria in your mouth and you can make your bird sick. Food Preparation: Use the same precautions you use for your human family members. Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria, and other food-borne pathogens can and do affect parrots. 
Any food or drink containing theobromine is forbidden. Chocolate, cocoa, coffee, and tea contain theobromine, which can cause over excitability, cardiopathy, and death. Absolutely positively do NOT give your bird wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverages. Their livers cannot handle it. Avocado is poisonous.
For more information on Parrot Nutrition, Foods and their values, Balanced Diets, please read the numerous Articles at www.healthybird.net/store/articles or contact us at info@healthybird.net
The remarkable intelligence of parrots requires that they have a varied and stimulating environment. Parrots that have been severely neglected have been known to literally “go insane,” rocking in the cage, mutilating themselves horribly, or falling into a deep depression. If you do not think you will have time for your bird, do not buy a bird. If you find you can’t give the bird the proper attention, find it a good home (and don’t ask someone to pay you what you paid for a healthy, happy young bird) where it will get the proper attention. This is a living, breathing, thinking, feeling creature. Any cruelty you show it (and simply neglect is cruelty) will come back your way somehow.
Research the needs and proper cage requirements for the size of parrot you are getting. Bar spacing and cage size is very important. Your parrot will be spending a great deal of time of their life in this space, so PLEASE get them appropriately sized home. It would be cruel not to.
If you travel a lot and intend on taking your parrot with you, travel cages are available in a wide variety of sizes. NEVER take your parrot outside without a travel cage or on a leash. Get a wide variety of safe toys for your parrot. Rotate them regularly. They will get bored with the same old ragged toy. Remove and throw away toys that have become soiled or dangerous (ropes that have become frayed can be very dangerous; you can come home to a strangled bird. Perch and toy size requirements also depend on the size of your bird. I recommend at least three different kinds of perches in the cage. A parrot is on their feet 24/7, taking proper care of their foot needs is important.
Parrots need interaction. They are flock creatures by nature. They should be in a communal area of the home so they feel they are part of the family. Also, the more time you can give them outside of their cage, the better adjusted they will be. A playstand, gym, tabletop stand is an ideal way to have your parrot feel as if they are a family member, especially one that can be moved from room to room. 
PARROT SAFETY
Please visit our one of our sites, either www.lovebirds.ca to read ‘AVIAN SAFETY’ or this is also on www.healthybird.net/store under the Articles section. As the list grows everyday as more products are produced, it is by no means complete, but we do have listed an extensive list of toxic items, plants, woods and trees . if you are at all unsure, research first! A parrot’s respiratory system is very delicate and it only takes minutes to compromise it and lose your beloved family member to one of these toxins.
No Teflon
No aerosols
toxic paint fumes
Cat bacteria is very toxic to birds
No fumes
Research plants and trees as many are toxic
Toxic – Zinc items
All lead
Toxic – Stained glass leading
Toxic – Shaving lotion
Toxic – wax
Toxic – smoke
Toxic – insecticides
Toxic – moth balls
