Last Updated on May 12, 2023 by Catherine Tobsing

Do you have a pet bird or are you thinking of getting one? If so, it’s important to know what kind of food is best for your feathered friend. 

In this blog article, we will explore pet bird diets and discuss the types of foods that they should eat in order to stay healthy and happy.

When considering getting a pet bird, it’s important to know what they eat. 

After all, providing your feathered friend with the right nutrition is key to keeping them healthy and happy! 

The good news is that there are plenty of options when it comes to feeding pet birds. Most species will enjoy a combination of fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes

It’s also important to provide vitamin-enriched pellets or crumbles as part of their diet which we’ll be delving into shortly

Some say pellets should make up about 70% of your bird’s daily food intake, I say it depends on the bird.

Something I advocate against is anthropomorphism or trying to apply human/mammal traits to birds – don’t

Chop has no protein – smoothies have loads of sugar – essential oils can clog respiratory passages – CBD has no benefit – don’t get me started – or read this where I illustrate precisely how much chop is in the web’s most popular recipe.

What is The True Lifespan of Parrots in Captivity?

Fruits such as apples (minus the seeds and core), and bananas are great for adding variety to your bird’s diet – just be sure not to give too much fruit as this can cause digestive issues in some species.

Vegetables like carrots (shredded, whole, or grated), and cooked sweet potatoes are also popular choices amongst our feathered friends! 

Oranges can cause birdie heartburn while lying in the crop for 6 hours and the small strands that celery yields can be problematic to digest.

For a more detailed list of good and bad food for birds, click here

Seeds can be an excellent source of protein for birds.

Some say a seed diet should only make up around 10-15% of their total dietary intake due to its high-fat content – sunflower seeds being one exception which has lower levels than other varieties so can be given more often in moderation!

Nuts like almonds or walnuts provide essential fatty acids while grains such as oats offer carbohydrates; both should also only be offered sparingly due to potential health risks associated with overfeeding these items.

Legumes like beans contain lots of vitamins A & C plus iron so they’re another great addition if you want your birdie to feel fit and full o’ life! 

To learn more about nuts for pet birds click here

Finally don’t forget water – fresh clean drinking water must always be available for your pet bird at all times; this helps keep them hydrated throughout the day which is especially important during hot weather months when dehydration becomes more likely if not monitored closely enough by owners/carers alike.

All our birds get vitamin water Avi-Era from Lafeber mixed into filtered tap water and replaced roughly every 12 hours.

All in all, there’s no shortage of what you can feed a pet bird but remember that each species has its own specific dietary requirements so do research beforehand before deciding on any particular type(s)of food item(s). 

Let’s talk variety

 A varied diet is essential for providing them with most of the vitamins and minerals they need. 

This means offering a range of different foods such as seeds, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and grains. Calcium-rich foods like cuttlebone or mineral blocks are available here.

A myth in the bird community is that full-spectrum lighting helps with the production of vitamin D. 

It does not.

We get calls on a regular basis asking for the proper type of lighting for avian Vitamin D production.

I’ll respond with a question, “How do you know your bird is vitamin D deficient?”

I know they don’t know because vitamin D in birds can only be tested for at the university-level environment – learn more about that here.

Can I Test My Pet Bird for Vitamin D?

When it comes to seeds, there are many types available including sunflower seed mixes or millet sprays which can provide important nutrients like protein and fat. 

Many will say it’s important not to overfeed on these items as too much fat in their diet can lead to health problems down the line such as obesity or fatty liver disease – so stick with small amounts each day! 

I submit to you an entire species named GRASS PARAKEETS that have survived on guess what for like 100,000,000 years?

Learn more about how all seed diets for pet birds are part of natures design

Finally, grains such as oats should form part of their daily intake; just make sure these have been cooked before serving up otherwise digestion issues could occur later on down the line… 

All in all, there’s plenty out there when it comes to feeding your feathered friend – just remember 

Now let’s explore pellets

If you’re a parrot owner, or just curious about what your feathered friend should be eating, then this article is for you.

We’ll discuss the different types of pellet foods available on the market and how they can benefit your pet bird. 

We’ll also provide some tips on how to choose the right type of pellet food for your parrot’s needs.

Some say the perfect food for your parrot is the pellet. Parrot food pellets are a great way to provide your pet with all of the essential nutrients they need in one convenient package.

Parrots have specific dietary needs that can be difficult to meet when feeding them traditional birdseed or other types of bird foods. 

Parrot food pellets are specifically designed to provide birds with balanced nutrition and contain all of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats necessary for their health and well-being.

Find Parrot Food Pellets on Windy City Parrot Here

They also come in a variety of flavors that appeal to most parrots’ taste buds!

Feathered factoid: Humans have 9000 taste buds, and parrots have 300.

Parrot food pellets are made from high-quality ingredients such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts which help ensure that your pet is getting all of the essential nutrients they need on a daily basis.

The ingredients used in these products vary depending on the manufacturer but typically include things like corn meal, wheat germ oil, alfalfa meal, and soybean meal among others. 

Don’t Tell Your Bird  She’s Eating Pellets So She Can Eat Her Pellets

Additionally, many brands add additional vitamins or minerals such as calcium carbonate or vitamin E into their formulas which helps make sure your feathered friend is receiving everything they need nutritionally speaking! 

What should all this cost?

You may be wondering how much it would cost to feed a FID.

The good news is that feeding a bird doesn’t have to break the bank!

Depending on the type of bird and its diet, there are several affordable options for providing your feathered friend with nutritious meals. 

When it comes to food for birds, seed mixes are one of the most popular choices. 

These blends typically contain a variety of seeds like millet, sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds as well as other ingredients such as dried fruits or nuts. Seed mixes can cost anywhere from $3-$15 per pound depending on the brand and quality of ingredients used. 

In addition to seed mix diets, many birds also enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, oranges or carrots in their daily meals. Fruits and veggies should make up about 10-20% of your pet’s diet but they don’t need to be expensive either – just head down to your local grocery store or farmer’s market for some fresh produce at an affordable price! 

For those looking for something more specialized than seed mix diets or fresh produce alone, there are plenty of commercial foods available too – these range from pellets made specifically for parrots all the way through softbills that require special insectivore formulas designed just for them!

Prices vary widely here but generally speaking, these types of foods will cost around $10-$30 per pound depending on what type you buy (e.g., organic vs non-organic). 

Finally, if you want an even healthier option then why not consider making homemade meals? 

With a base of $1.99 pound kale or chopped up fruit/vegetables – this kind of supplemental meal can provide balanced nutrition without breaking the bank either since most ingredients can be found at any supermarket quite cheaply!

It’s what we use.

All in all when it comes down to feeding our feathered friends there really isn’t one single answer – instead, we must look at each individual species’ needs before deciding what kind (and how much) food they should eat every day so that they stay healthy happy pets long into their lives!

Written by Mitch Rezman
Approved by Catherine Tobsing