Diet Basics For Most Parrots
(other than Cockatiels, Grass Keets, Large Macaws, Lories, and Toucans)


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The majority of your bird's diet should consist of greens and vegetables. The vegetables grown above ground are more in keeping with their natural diet and should be 15-30% of their diet. The greens included in this list should be dandelion, turnip greens, collards, mustard greens, romaine, watercress, romaine, cabbage, bok choy, endive and boston bib lettuce, swiss chard and spinach. 
The next 10-15 % of the diet should include vegetables such asparagus, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, corn, peas, squash, peppers and brussel sprouts. 

The next 10-15% of the diet should include berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries and raspberries. 

Another 5-10% of the diet should include other fruits such as apples, bananas, cherries, papaya, mango, canteloupe and oranges. Generally, the more colorful the fruit, the more nutritious it is. 

Dry seeds should be limited to 10-15% millet, and canary seed and sprouted seed and grains. Only 5-10% should include oil seeds such as sunflower and safflower, palm fruit and nuts. 

5-10% of diet should be animal protein such as eggs, poultry, ground beef or mealworms, silkworms, or crickets. 

Fiber should be 5-10% of diet, which includes orange tubers such as sweet potatoes and carrots. These are very important foods to be included because they are excellent sources of Vitamin A and minerals. In this category, certain grains may be included such as cooked quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice, wheat germ and oats. 

2-4 % of diet should include supplements such as plant powders, essential fatty acids, probiotics and enzymes. 

Foods given in very limited amounts would be grapes, pasta, cereal, bread and potatoes. 

Foods to be avoided: onions, chocolate, mushrooms and avocado, as these are toxic. 

Other foods to be avoided are junk food such as anything containing sugar and fatty foods.