what other food can you feed african greys other than food intended for them?

Question

my uncle wants to know to try to give the parrot a more variety of food

Answer 1

My grey loves low fat granola, I like to make my own to include seeds and fruits that are good for her. I try to keep everything organic. Her favorite fruit is watermelon. She loves red pepper slices, green beans, her very favorite veggie is swiss chard, the stalks that are bright red, pink and yellow, she could eat those all day, just the stalks though, not the leaves. She likes the seeds in kiwi slices, and pommegranites. She likes scrambled egg made in the micro-wave so that there's no oil or butter, a little pasta, chicken and brown rice. She loves Paella and Spanish rice with black beans.

Answer 2

Its true that some varieties of avacado are toxic to parrots so best avoided. You'v ehad some good answers and I'd just add that if your uncle has a garden he can grow apple pips and cut the stems to chew on, that way he'll know they haven't been sprayed. If he can let them grow a few years he can cut chunks of wood, drill holes in and stuff the holes with food like they do in zoos. He could also use it to make climbing frames, perches etc. Natural wood makes much better perches than smooth broom handles, the variety of surface keeps the birds feet in better condition than wood thats all the same diameter. You can also glue sandpaper to the bottom edge to keep their nails trim!
He could also grow sunflowers. Birds and small animals love tearing the heads to pieces to get the seeds, it gives them something to do. If you give hard boiled eggs just crack the shell the first time and leave the shell on for the bird to peel.
A pets life is really boring and you shouldn't give all the food ready prepared, it adds interest and variety if they have to do something.

Answer 3

avoid cheap seedmix with too many sunflowers. They will cause fatty liver disease and hypocalcaemia. I have posted a good link below with some great tips. I feed mine, sprouted wheat, soaked and spriouted sunflower seeds (once they start to germinate, they change from a bad food to a very good one), try vegetables like carrots, brocolli, also frozen defrosted peas or sweetcorn. From the supermarket buy those little packs with baby corn and mange touts.
There is too much to go through the whole list on here but howabout getting him a nice xmas pressie of a book called 'guide to a well behaved parrot' by Matite sue athan. It's only £7 and contains loads of great info not only about training the bird but diet too. It's a fantastic book and when I bred parrots I would give each new owner a copy of the book for free.
My own birds get things that I grow, like flowers (I'm organic), hawthorn berries, rowan berries, rosehips, boiled and mashed carrot, swede or sweet potatoes.

Answer 4

a birds diet shouldn't consist mainly of seed. They should be given 3-4 fruits a day and 4-5 veggies a day. Fruit has a higher sugar content so veggies are better. If you want a variety, give them that and anything that you eat. JUST NO CHOCOLATE or AVOCADO! :But i have a Senegal parrot, and a Derbyan parakeet. They both are on the larger side and i give them part of my dinner. They can eat chicken and turkey ( i know, it seems like cannibalism but its digest-able). Birds are like children. you don't only feed one type of food to your kids so don't for your bird. variety is better!!!!

Answer 5

I feed my african grey on a wide variety of food stuffs. In the wild they're omnivorous and would eat grubs and insects as well as fruits, seeds and greens.

The main basis of his diet is african mix Kaytee Exact as it's a much better base food than seed mixes which are high in fat and can be very dusty. It's nutritionally sound to feed Kaytee Exact on its own to a parrot, but as they're intelligent and curious, they like a wide range of foods like we do.

I tend to supplement my bird's diet with a little ham, whole shell-on hard boiled egg, fruit, vegetables, unsalted nuts and he even has a little of what we eat for example he likes a chip now and then or a bit of cooked pasta. He seems to eat when we eat so enjoys being involved with meal times. In addition foods are presented in different ways to stimulate his interest so I'll leave the shells on nuts and eggs and hide treats so he has to use his brain.

Basically, I feed my parrot a wide range of foods but strictly avoid chocolate, salted items, avocado and anything with alcohol in it. It seems to work because he's 8 and has a lovely plumage, behaves well and our avian vet says he's in good condition.

You will notice a definite improvement in behaviour if your uncle converts him from a seed mix. The high fat seeds can be addictive and cause highs and lows in the parrot's mood. Poor, unvaried diet can also contribute to feather plucking.

Kez

Answer 6

Grays will eat a wide variety of foods. Almost any vegetable is good except avocado. Whole grain bread is good, including corn bread. Fruit is healthy. One of my birds used to love pomegranite. Hard boiled egg with the shell provides protein and calcium. Cooked beans , brown rice and pasta are really good for them. Birds like variety just like people!

Answer 7

Fresh fruits and veggies. Some people give them table food. meats, pastas. Avoid avocados, chocolate and grape seeds. These have toxic potential. No more than 20% of the diet for seeds. Have a Grey Holiday.

Answer 8

Fresh sweet potatoes and cilantro oranges and apples kale and mustard greens grapes and raisins the list goes on and on. Try doing a search on fresh foods an african grey can eat.

Answer 9

I have a small parrot and it gets a variety of fruit and a taste of just about everything that I have.

Answer 10

You can feed the most things but alcohol, caffine, chocolate, avacado, salted nuts, large amounts of soft cheese.

I have four parrots and they love the following - eggs boiled or scrambled, chicken, a little hard cheese, unsalted nuts, carrots, strawberries, yogurt (a little bit) whole grain pastas, long stemmed rice or wild rice, whole grain baguels or toasts or breads, whole wheat crackers.