Veggies, veggies, veggies – feed your bird lots of veggies!!! You probably keep hearing that everywhere these days! Now that people are becoming more enlightened about diet and nutritional needs, there is a growing awareness of the need to provide adequate veggies daily for our companion birds. Unfortunately, too often people aren’t told what veggies to feed, or how to feed them. Although all are good, some are much more nutrient dense than others.
The diet I advocate is 50% whole grains, legumes, veggies and fruit – and at least half of that should be the veggies. Stay away from lettuce – it’s mostly water and low in vitamins and minerals. The one exception is Romaine – occasionally feeding dark green Romaine leaves is fine. When evaluating veggies, look for deep color – the darker the green or deeper the orange of the flesh, the more Beta Carotene available. And, of course, Beta Carotene is what the body converts into Vitamin A, which is one of the main nutrients lacking in the average bird’s diet. Not only parrots can benefit from daily veggies, but softbills as well. Finches and canaries fed daily greens and other veggies show a remarkable increase in overall health and longevity. The only veggie proven toxic to birds is avocado which should never be fed. Although there’s some controversy about onions, due to the N-propyl disulfide they contain, small amounts of raw or cooked onions are fine for birds.
Veggies can be fed raw or lightly steamed, depending basically on your bird’s preference. Water soluble vitamins, such as B and C, are reduced by cooking, however. On the other hand, pumpkin, winter squash and sweet potatoes are better served baked, as cooking makes more Vitamin A available. Carrots also benefit from light cooking. Greens are best served raw, while broccoli can be fed raw or lightly steamed.
Here’s a partial list of healthy veggies you can include in your bird’s daily diet: carrots, broccoli, snow peas, green beans, kale, Swiss chard, cucumbers, asparagus, corn, pumpkin, acorn squash, zucchini, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, beets, garlic, potatoes, lima beans, spinach, turnips, rutabaga, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes, celery, peas, parsley – the list goes on and on.
Generally, veggies provide lots of vitamins, such as Vitamin A and C, and minerals like calcium magnesium, and potassium. They provide good “occupational therapy” and help keep parrots entertained. They are easily digested and help reduce stress in birds. Veggies provide some protein as well. Including daily servings of several different veggies in your bird’s diet will go a long way in improving his health and building his immune system. Better feathering and more vibrant floors will be your reward, as well as having a happier, more contented companion.
by Marilu Anderson, Bird Nutrition and Behavior Consultant
Phone: (503) 771-BIRD
www.yourparrotplace.comÂÂ
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