Lovebird diet

[Steven]

Hello all,

My love bird is 4 and a half months old, I bought him/her when he/she was 3 months. He received mix seeds, but I am pushing him onto a pellet diet (NutriBird G14 tropical by Verselle-laga). I have to crush the pellets other wise he doesn't eat them. He is also a bit fussy with them so I give him some seeds (a love bird mix).

I offer vegetables but he will only eat the broccoli. He has some oyster shell and cuttlefish bone that I got from a fisherman...straight from the cuttlefish, so they havnt been floating around in the sea soaking up petrochemicals...and I heated them to kill any bacteria.

He doesn't touch his vitamin or calcium block at all. Should I be supplementing with a vitamin formula?

Also, an are there any vegetable or fruits that are especially good for him which I should try to get him to eat? Maybe some sprouted seeds?

Any advice at all regarding diet would be most appreciated as this is my weakest area of knowledge.

 

[MJGB - MikeJenGaryBeckyBoo]

To transition him onto more veg, you can try things like sweet potato, squash, broccoli, green beans for example. These can all be fed raw or cooked. That's a start anyway! There are other threads on here that go into more detail. As long as you NEVER feed him onions, leeks, avocado, mushrooms or chocolate.

 

[Steven]

Thanks very much!

I didn't know onion and leeks are bad...so now I now.

I have been reading though the threads on this forum and I'm learning a lot. I will give him some sweet potato and also try lentils...he has previously tried to eat lentils when I had them for lunch...but i didn't let him eat them because I wanted to be sure they are safe....

I also cannot eat mushrooms.....they give me gout!

 

[dianaT]

Hi many years ago when we kept and bred Lovebirds apart from seeds, powdered vits (not daily though) they did enjoy millet spray, a little fruit & veggies also loved to have a chick of apple they could just bite and flick everywhere!

 

[Wendy Cooper-Wolfe]

Have a look at the thread on sprouting seeds to. Dora loves sprouted lentils.

 

[DizzyBlue]

Also no salt or milk to add to the list of not to feed. Cinnamon must only every be Ceylon variety no other varieties.

Here are the heaps and heaps of things you can give

Vegetables

Vegetables should be given daily, the following are all safe for your Parrot. Beetroot Beet greens Bok choy (Pak Choy) Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Carrot Carrot Tops Cavolo Nero Celery Celeriac Chard Chickweed (Stellaria media) Chinese Cabbage Courgette Cress Cucumber Dandelion greens...

theparrotclub.co.uk

Fruit And Berries

The following are all safe and make a welcome treat for your Parrot. Fruit Apple Apricot Banana Clementine Coconut Date Damson Fig Grape Greengage Orange Kiwi Lychee Mandarin Mango (Peel thoroughly before serving and only give when fully ripe) Melon Papaya (Peel thoroughly before serving and...

theparrotclub.co.uk

Beans / Pulses / Lentils

Here are a few other bits and pieces you can feed to your birdie remember all in moderation and it's to add variety to their diet and definitely no salt or baked beans either! Suggested grains list for cooking Amaranth Buckwheat Barley Brown Rice Chickpeas Corn (dry, popcorn type) Kamut Millet...

theparrotclub.co.uk

Herbs And Spices

The following are all safe to offer your Parrot in moderation. Herbs Basil Calendula Coriander Dill Fennel Oregano Parsley Rosemary Thyme Spices Anise Cayenne pepper Chilli Cinnamon Cumin Ginger Fenugreek Paprika Turmeric

theparrotclub.co.uk

And how to sprout

How To Sprout - Step By Step Guide

Recently I’ve been asked by two members how to sprout… the basics. So here is a step by step, image heavy thread for those of us new to sprouting. Sprouted grains, seeds and legumes are a powerhouse of nutrients. Fed whilst still growing, there is no loss of precious vitamins, minerals and...

theparrotclub.co.uk

 

[Steven]

Thanks very much...the sprouting seeds thread is very good indeed.....I'm going to try this. Today he ate a few lentils, and last night be tried to drink some wine (obviously I didn't let him). He also is supplementing his diet with the skin on my fingers.

 

[DizzyBlue]

If you eat chicken next time you have it break a very little bit off and offer it.
Mine eat it occasionally during mating season.

 

[Steven]

I ate a beef burger an he went insane....he definitely wanted to eat it but I didn't let him...too fatty. He's really starting to develop a personality now. If i have a siesta (its very very hot here) he knows to go quiet and leave me alone, but as soon as I wake up, he gives me a clear signal that he wants to be let out his cage for the rest of the day.

 

[DizzyBlue]

No red meat or pork ever.
Oh the other think to avoid is the greenery of tomato plants your bird is allowed the tomato itself but not the plant or green stalk.