Another open-ended question from Quora ~ sigh
“That depends”, I respond,
Actually, not all engineered food (pellets) for birds and parrots is the same, and is as far from the truth as can be.
I like to remind human-pet bird caregivers that there are no pellet trees in the rain forest.
Howards asks,
Can she have home-roasted garlic?
No Howard, birds cannot have garlic.
It is toxic to them in any form be it powdered, raw, cooked, or processed.
Jen M. writes,
Hi, we just wanted to thank you for the Hagen Tropican recommendation!
We ordered the sticks.
Our macaw just loves them and they smell amazing!
I feel so good knowing that I’m feeding them healthy food.
I had no idea that Zupreem had sugar in it and all that color can’t be good.
We also ordered the Prime Vitamin per your recommendation.
Julia M. asks,
Top of the morning! Could you tell me what a “good” diet is for a three-year-old Eclectus?
I have had him since the middle of his weaning.
Editors note ~ about 20% of parrots are sexually dimorphic meaning you can tell the sex by the bird’s color. Males are green, females are red, so Julia can use the pronoun “him” with certainty. Endnote
Jane M. is concerned,
Our Elenora cockatoo is 24 yrs old.
Hailey has lost 27 grams in one week.
Editors note ~ the species Elenora cockatoo weigh an average of 475 g, cockatiels weigh about 100g for comparison. Endnote
We weigh her weekly.
She’s really not eating and if she does, it’s only a few bites.
Judy M. is concerned,
I am wondering if I should give Alex his vitamins if he is eating Harrison’s bird bread?
First name: Peggy C.
How long has your bird been plucking?
Approximately 7 years
Species (please be specific, as an example, there are 43 species of Macaws)
Congo African Grey parrot
Your bird’s sex if (known) by DNA or feather color (dimorphic bird)?
Female
Your bird’s age?
19
I look forward to getting your email every Sunday and reading it has become as much a ritual as the old Sunday paper.
And now I have a question for you.
Thunder and Lightning are my bonded parakeets.
I’ve had them for years.
Last summer I saw more and more breeding activity, so I bought a box and let nature take its course.
Thunder laid four eggs, one of which was fertilized.
Cora Q. is concerned about,
My Green Cheek conure is having a problem molting.
His feathers are not replacing fully.
Lots of downy feathers.
Not replacing color.
It has been almost two months.
Donna L. asks:
What should I do for a hormonal male caique, 17 years old?
Screaming while holding a toy with his beak on the cage bottom or screaming while hanging on the cage bars, screaming at 2:30 AM.
Losing weight, killing any toy he can find, and just starting to pick at his chest and bottom of his foot.
Editor’s note: I suggest a magnified visual of both feet bottoms seeking any sores or irritations. Endnote
Stopped eating his pellets (Harrisons), I have combined them with other pellets, not interested. Will eat them if I soak them in water and mix them with cooked bird rice and spaghetti.
