Food for parrots: characteristics, composition, recommendations for selection

The health of pets directly depends on their living conditions and nutrition. The latter factor is considered decisive for many animals, including parrots. Therefore, caring owners include only the best food for parrots, included in the 2021 rating, in the diet of their chirping pets.

Expert's choice:

Name	Price
1. NaturaList	from 350 rub.
2. Triol	up to 500 rub.
3. Lolo Basic	from 200 rub.
4. Fiory Parrocchetti	from 1500 rub.
5. Vitakraft Menu Vital	from 350 rub.

mini food rating for parrots

What food do parrots need?

balanced food for a parrot
It is important that the birds' diet is balanced. But this is only possible if all factors influencing the choice are taken into account. Experts recommend relying on:

• dimensions of the pet;
• composition indicated on the packaging;
• type of mixture;
• individual needs.

Let's look at each item on the list in more detail.

Bird size

Parrots
Food for parrots is not the same. Manufacturers produce it in three types, depending on the size of the birds. This factor is extremely important, since it is strictly forbidden to feed small parrots with formulations for large birds and vice versa. Such an oversight can lead to the death of the pet.

The differences between the feeds are as follows:

• for small birds, the composition includes B vitamins and finely ground natural oats, which makes it easy to chew and swallow food without harm to the digestive system;
• medium-sized birds also prefer small pellets, but they contain a higher concentration of cereals;
• large parrots are given food with an abundance of nuts, dried fruits and natural grains, which helps to grow beautiful plumage and maintain health.

Composition of food for parrots

Food for budgies can be:

• one-component;
• multicomponent.

It is not advisable to purchase the first one. It makes your pet's diet poor and provokes the development of diseases.

Important! If you accidentally bought a one-component composition, you should not throw it away. Try diluting it with other ingredients to create a relatively balanced meal.

The more elements in the feed, the more beneficial it is for the bird. Therefore, multi-component formulas are more expensive and more in demand.

It’s good if they include:

• grains;
• cereals;
• vitamins;
• dried fruits;
• dried vegetables;
• mixtures of nuts;
• vitamins and more.

Important! Loss of feather color or loss of plumage indicates a lack of nutrients in the nutritional system built by the owner. You can correct the situation by adjusting your diet.

Type of feed

Feed manufacturers produce several varieties:

• soft;
• fruit and vegetable;
• branchy.

Soft ones are sold in the form of porridge. The grains are germinated and in this form are used for food or steamed.

Fruits and vegetables can be:

• fresh;
• dried.

In any case, they are finely ground and only included in the feed. Parrots prefer:

• cabbage;
• broccoli;
• beets;
• a pineapple;
• peach.

Birds and berries also eat well.

Branch feeds are tree branches. Not all of them are suitable for feathered pets.

Allowed for food:

• birch;
• maple;
• aspen;
• Linden;
• Rowan.

Important! You cannot limit yourself to one type of food. This leads to micronutrient deficiency and indigestion. They must be alternated with each other, without giving clear preference to any of the types.

Special Needs

Like any other animal, parrots have stressful and special periods. For example, molting or bearing chicks. At such moments, it is necessary to additionally introduce special complementary foods.

Manufacturers release it with a description of the problem it is intended to solve.

The best special foods

These are foods that contain higher levels of specific additives, such as vitamins, minerals and protein. They need such food for parrots at certain points in their life (for example, during the period of growth or molting).

Vitakraft Menu for kids

The mixture contains grains, seeds, eggs, calcium, yeast and healthy fats. With regular consumption of food, the parrot fully develops and grows quickly.

Advantages of Vitakraft Menu for kids:

• a large number of useful components;
• no harmful additives;
• pure product without foreign impurities;
• is used sparingly;
• convenient packaging.

The downside is that Vitakraft Menu for kids is not so easy to find on sale. Some parrot owners are concerned about iodine in chick food, but the amount is safe for young animals.

Rio "During the molting period"

This is food for small and medium-sized parrots to facilitate the molting period. Birds have a hard time going through the process of changing their plumage; they become irritable, capricious and refuse to eat.

Advantages of Rio "During the molting period":

• the presence of sesame, Abyssinian nougat, calcium and algae accelerates the molting process;
• the mixture is clean, free of debris and dust;
• many useful substances;
• It is used sparingly (about 12 g per day);
• affordable price.

The food packaging does not have a zipper, so it may become damp. Another disadvantage is the lack of a mixture for large parrots in the line.

Daily value (for small, medium, large birds)

Type of food
You should not overfeed birds. For small and medium-sized parrots, two teaspoons of food mixture is enough. Large birds can be given three tablespoons of food.

But the finished mixture must be supplemented:

• vegetables;
• fruits;
• cottage cheese;
• greens.

When planning your diet, it is important to consider the time of year. In winter, birds need a little more food.

A traditional formula for daily nutrition should have a balanced composition. And the overwhelming concentration in it is given to the grain mixture - up to 70% . It is preferable that millet be included in the grains. No more than 10% is given to oats and the remainder to various types of seeds.

Important! It's best to serve food after dark. This will allow the parrot to eat immediately after waking up, regardless of whether the owner is sleeping or awake.

The best treats for parrots

Loving owners always want to please their pets. For example, with the help of treats. They produce treats in the form of sticks or mixtures and contain additives that are beneficial to the health of the bird.

PRESTIGE STICKS – sticks with wild berries VERSELE-LAGA

A treat for budgies and medium-sized birds. Contains cereals, berries (rose hips, cranberries, elderberries) and honey. With the help of treats, you can easily diversify your pet’s diet, being completely confident in the benefits of the offered treat.

Pros:

• convenient fastening, the stick can be attached to the wall or ceiling of the cage;
• The birds eat it with pleasure.

The only drawback is the relatively high price.

Delicacy "Abyssinian noug" Rio

This type of healthy delicacy consists of one component - Abyssinian nougat seeds. This delicacy is especially recommended for females during the breeding season, as it is believed that it prevents the retention of eggs in the oviduct.

Pros:

• healthy treat;
• parrots readily eat;
• affordable price, and the jars last a long time.

Buyers did not notice any drawbacks to this supplement to the basic diet of parrots.

What food is best for parrots

Choosing food is a responsible matter. In the process, it is important to take into account the basic parameters - pet size, composition, type, and also pay attention to the absence of:

• flavorings;
• preservatives.

Most often, parrot owners prefer the following ready-made mixtures:

• Padovan Grandmix Cocorite – stands out for its balanced formula, which is suitable for birds of different sizes;
• RIO Moulting period is the best option, enriched with calcium and vitamin complexes;
• Versele-Laga Prestige Big Parakeet - a combination type mixture with a high content of nuts, suitable for medium-sized birds;
• Fiory Pappagalli is a high-quality option designed for large birds.

Signs of quality food

Pay attention to the packaging: it must be sealed with a zip fastener. The detailed composition is indicated on the reverse side. Fruits need to be granulated. Ornithologists do not recommend using feed mixtures that are manufactured in the Russian Federation.

The optimal solution is to make granules that contain all the necessary components, but the bird cannot sort the feed mixture and select the tidbits. The innovation is not in demand among Russian parrot lovers; it is difficult to find in pet stores.

Popular parrot food manufacturers

In order not to make a mistake with food and not harm the health of your pet birds, you need to focus on the best manufacturers included in our rating:

• Cunpic is a Spanish company that produces a wide range of pet products, including eco-friendly bird food;
• Prestige - Belgian food "Prestige" has a multi-component composition and is considered optimal for parrots;
• Padovan Grandmix Cocorite - an Italian company produces premium products, mineral mixtures for medium and large parrots are especially popular among buyers;
• Baka - the Russian brand “Vaka” is well known to animal lovers; its food for parrots, judging by reviews, is affordable and of good quality;
• JR Farm – Bavarian food cannot be considered cheap, but its composition is impeccable;
• Trill is a purely medicinal product containing an increased concentration of vitamins and minerals;
• Rio , a joint Russian-German company, produces a wide range of products, including a line of food for birds of different sizes, including cockatiels;
• Vitakraft menu vital - a manufacturer from Bremen known for balanced feed with an environmentally friendly composition;
• XtraVital - a company from the Netherlands produces various products for pets, but specializes in food;
• Fiory is an Italian premium brand well known for its high quality products.

The best mixtures for feeding medium-sized parrots

Medium-sized parrots are aratingas, caiques, kakarikis, cockatiels, necklaces, and lorises. They, like small birds, eat grains, fruits, and plant shoots. The daily feeding rate is 30-35 g.

Rio – food for medium breed parrots

Grain mixture for daily feeding, consists of cereals and seeds. Ingredients: three types of millet, canary seed, buckwheat, oats, flax and sunflower seeds. In addition, dried rowan, pieces of dried carrots, and seaweed were added. Calcium gluconate is added to preserve plumage and bone strength.

Pros:

• good, clean grain feed;
• balanced composition;
• parrots eat with pleasure.

There were no significant disadvantages, but many did not like the packaging without a zip fastener.

Vitakraft Menu Vital for medium sized parrots

German-made food is one of the best foods for maintaining the immunity of birds. Contains a variety of grains, nuts, seeds, vitamin and mineral granules, honey.

The food fully satisfies the birds' daily nutritional needs. Available in sealed bags weighing 3 kg. The food belongs to the premium class, so it is not cheap.

Pros:

• balanced composition;
• clean grain, no debris or dust;
• parrots eat willingly, there are no leftovers that cannot be eaten.

The downside is that the food is not always available in pet stores. The high price also causes dissatisfaction among buyers.

Fiory African – mixture for medium parrots

The mixture is intended for daily feeding. It contains two types of millet, corn, wheat, and buckwheat. Hemp seeds are added to saturate the diet with healthy fatty acids, and algae is included to improve the functioning of the immune system.

Calcium gluconate is used to strengthen the beak and claws, and sweet raisins are added as a treat. The food is packaged in vacuum bags, so the mixture is well stored.

Pros:

• good composition;
• there are no spoiled grains;
• parrots eat well.

But the food is not without its drawbacks; buyers noted the following disadvantages:

• cookies are added to the composition, they are quite hard, many parrots cannot peck them, so you have to break them or soak them;
• contains a lot of sunflower seeds, and they can provoke the development of obesity and the formation of lipomas;
• The mixture is not perfectly clean; sometimes there are sticks that need to be selected.

Padovan GRANDMIX Parrocchetti main food for medium-sized parrots

A mixture of cereals and seeds is intended for daily feeding. The composition is standard, most of it comes from two types of millet. In addition, peanuts and coconut are added to the mixture. Crushed shells are added to maintain the strength of the beak and bones.

Dry fruits – apples, pineapple – are used as a vitamin supplement. An additional ingredient is cookies. The feed provides all the poultry's body needs for nutrients and minerals.

Advantages of food noted by parrot owners:

• well-chosen composition, no need to buy additional mineral supplements;
• birds like it;
• convenient packaging.

Not everyone liked the fact that the biscuits included in the recipe were made with artificial colors. These colorful crumbs look beautiful, but many parrots don't eat them.

Feed mixtures for artificial feeding of chicks of “juice-eating” parrots

1. "Artificial nectar." For one liter of boiled water add 65 g of rolled oats, 50 g of honey, 30 g of pollen (or bee bread), 5 g of brewer's yeast, 3-5 tablets of calcium gluconate, 2-3 drops of trivit. All components are thoroughly mixed and the nectar is ready.
2. Dry food. 1 kilogram of the mixture approximately contains: 430 g of pollen (breadbread), 360 g of oat flakes, 140 g of glucose, 50 g of brewer's yeast, 20 g of glycerophosphate. The mixture is thoroughly mixed. Adult birds can be fed dry food. When feeding the chicks with a syringe, the mixture is diluted with water to the desired consistency.

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Cliffy Cocktail Mix Esotici

This mixture was developed by specialists from Ornithology in Italy, so the food contains all the necessary and nutritional elements. The food composition contains grains, cereals, fruits, vegetables, bakery products and honey. Mineral salts, nutrients and a precise balance provide a complete diet for your birds.

Pros:

1. Clean and high-quality food;
2. A complete diet for different types of parrots;
3. Economic expense;
4. Parrots love them very much.

Minuses:

1. Contains bread.

What to feed birds when hatching chicks

As a rule, the female feeds the small chicks with special milk, which is formed in her stomach and crop. During this period, sprouted grains should be added to her diet, which promotes the formation of “milk.” When the chicks grow a little, the female gives the chicks softened grain. After the chicks leave the nest, the male feeds the chicks. The birds themselves know what to feed the budgerigar chicks; this is inherent in them by nature and they usually cope well with this task.

Porridge

Porridge for parrots is also very healthy. This is not only a source of many microelements, but also a means that will help birds normalize their metabolism if it is disturbed. Cook porridge only in water, without adding sugar or salt.

You can cook complex mixtures consisting of several cereals, as well as mono-porridge for budgies from buckwheat, oatmeal, and brown rice. You can add legumes, as well as grated fruits or vegetables to the porridge. The finished cereal can be cooked viscous or crumbly. In this case, listen to the food tastes of your pet.

You can store the cooked porridge in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.

What else should a budgerigar's diet include?

You definitely need to know what to feed your feathered pet so that it does not develop unpleasant health problems.

Nutrition is considered the basis for the full development of a parrot, for this reason, if you are planning to have this bird, then carefully prepare for this.

In addition to food, the diet of a budgerigar should include the following components:

• corn. This is the basis of bird nutrition. Grain can be purchased at a veterinary store in ready-made form. It is also found in well-known brands of food;
• greenery. In addition to the main diet, your pet should be given greens. It can be tops of carrots, radishes, you can also give grass from the garden;
• vegetables, fruits, berries. These components must be included in the parrot’s diet. But first you should find out which ones can be given to the bird and which ones cannot;
• sprouted wheat. This product contains all the necessary substances required for the development of poultry;
• eggs. You are allowed to give 3-5 grams per day; if measured by eye, these are pea-sized pieces. In preparation for reproduction, this amount should be increased three times;
• feathered pets require water. It needs to be changed every day;
• twigs. Tree branches and twigs are placed in the cage so that the pet can chew on them from time to time.

Nutrient and Energy Requirements

Recipes for feed mixtures for budgies were developed based on observations of the nutrition of wild birds. The industry produces ready-to-eat feed. But even manufacturers recommend that the parrot receive at least 20% of its energy from additional food. In addition, bird owners should not be deprived of the pleasure of watching their pet eat something tasty or unusual. Because of this, birds are bought. There are the following types of feed:

1. Basic.
2. Auxiliary.
3. Juicy.
4. Treats.

A pair of budgies

How to choose and buy a grain mixture for a parrot?

1. The online pet store “Kakadushka” has implemented a convenient system of automatic assistance in selecting products using filters. To select a grain mixture, you need to go to the appropriate section of the Feed website.
2. First of all, you need to choose the type of your parrot - large (for example, Gray, cockatoo or Amazon), medium (for example, cockatiel) or wavy.
3. Now on the website you will see only those foods that are suitable for the selected species of birds. Then you can use additional filters - specify the manufacturer or type of diet you are interested in.
4. After these steps, the site will display suitable grain mixtures. Now all you have to do is choose and buy.

What do they eat in the wild?

Parrots in nature eat everything they see: they peck grains and berries, nibble grass and young shoots of bushes, and do not disdain caterpillars and beetles. You might think they just want to fill their stomachs, but that's not the case. Smart birds are very picky about what they eat; they will never eat dangerous fruits, plants, or insects. They have a well-developed instinct of self-preservation.

A person who has tamed a bird wants to know what parrots of different species eat in their natural environment. And this interest is understandable - this is the only way to organize a diet for your pet at home that is close to natural.

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Animal food for parrots

A balanced diet is impossible without animal protein, since it is necessary for normal life, if not for all, then at least for most living beings, including people and parrots.

As a rule, parrots are fed boiled chicken eggs and cottage cheese, since these products contain a minimum of harmful substances and a maximum amount of healthy animal proteins.

The ideal option is a chicken egg grated with carrots, beets or any other vegetables or herbs, as this fills the egg with useful substances and makes it as nutritious as possible.

Be sure to ensure that the products are not expired, so as not to harm the health of the parrot. All products must be fresh.

Approximate diet

Daily food portions are measured in teaspoons. Vegetables and fruits are given in abundance. Approximate recipes for feed mixtures for parrots at different periods of life are presented in the table.

Feed	Physiological state
	peace	mating season	incubation	oviposition	young animals
Grain mixture	1…2
Sprouted grain	0,5…1,0	1	1
Vegetables	+	+	+	+
Fruits	+	+	+	+
Greenery	+	+	+	+
Branch food	+	+	+	+
Sepia, mineral stone	+	+	+	+
Egg-carrot mixture	+	0.5 every other day
Porridge	0,5

Basic selection rules

Pet stores offer customers a large number of bird foods specifically designed for budgies. They differ in composition, cost, weight or other characteristics.

The appearance and health of the bird depends on the right choice, so the following recommendations are taken into account:

• 
  the composition should contain not only standard cereals, represented by millet and oats, but also other useful additives, for example, seeds, vegetable or fruit pieces, as well as minerals;

• you cannot buy a product that contains peanuts, as it may be contaminated with aflatoxin, which leads to the destruction of the parrots’ liver;
• sweet additives, represented by pieces of dates or other fruits, should not exceed 20%, otherwise their excessive consumption will lead to weight gain in the bird and will also harm the kidneys;
• it is advisable not to choose mixtures sold in cardboard packages, since under poor storage conditions the products could become damp, which negatively affects their beneficial properties;
• there is no need to save on your pet’s health, so it is recommended not to buy food in bulk, even though it has an affordable price;
• Only food is purchased in reliable and undamaged packaging.

Manufacturers indicate the expiration date on the packaging, so you should not buy expired products.

Fiory pappagallini

An Italian brand of parrot food creates a special mixture containing small seeds, millet, oats, flax, canary grass and safflower, which is a useful component for the birds' digestion and helps maintain the bright color of their plumage. Thanks to the complex, the food is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and organic selenium.

Pros:

1. A large storehouse of minerals, vitamins and other useful components;
2. Contains yucca extract, which gives the food a pleasant aroma;
3. Only natural ingredients are used.

Minuses:

1. High price.

GRANDMIX Cocorite

The Italian company GRANDMIX produces high-quality food for parrots. In principle, the mixture is suitable not only for them, but also for other types of poultry. The feed is based on millet, where its percentage reaches 68%. There is also a mixture of canary seed, hulled oats, dried fruits: pear, apple, apricot; crushed mineral shells act as a mineral storehouse.

Pros:

1. Fine grain fraction;
2. Affordable price;
3. The food is suitable for a variety of parrots and other types of poultry.

Minuses:

1. Contains cookies and food coloring.

Branches

The gastronomic preferences of budgies and aratingas depend on the season; in the summer they love fruits and berries, and in the spring they need branches of fruit trees. In spring, it is important to fill the bird’s cage with birch and other deciduous branches.

The branches of elm and hawthorn, covered with delicate, young bark, will also not leave any budgie or aratinga indifferent. The branches are washed in warm water, and sometimes in boiling water.

In the cold season, you can keep the twig in water for some period until buds appear on it.