Parrot Food Type Pyramid ^TM: FRUITS & VEGGIES

All about Fruits & Veggies!

We believe fresh fruit and veggies are the second most important parrot food group. Like sprout mixes they do contain important “live food value”. Though it is often difficult to obtain truly fresh fruits or veggies and people often cook these foods before feeding.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to cooking some vegetables. Cooking can help make various nutrients more available for digestion by breaking down cell walls or more palatable but much of the live food value is diminished by the heating process.

Some people enjoy cooking for parrots but most bird sitters or emergency care people will not. Care needs to be given to not leaving the cooked food in the food bowls for extended periods after feeding to avoid growth of bacteria or fungi. Because most parrot owners are not nutritional experts, it is difficult to feed a nutritionally balanced diet of fruit and/or veggies.

We especially encourage feeding fruits and vegetables that are yellow or orange in color as sources of vitamin A and vitamin C.

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