Posted by PHBudgie on March 09, 2003 at 10:01:54:
In Reply to: Some questions on diet, etc.....>>>>>> posted by Cleopatra on March 07, 2003 at 15:11:07:
:I currently feed my green cheek conure on a mix of Fiesta parrot and Fiesta cockatiel seed mix (I like Fiesta because it has many different kinds of seeds as well as pellets, nuts, dehydrated fruits, and peppers). Since lovebirds are smaller than my conure, I would assume they would do fine on a nice mix of Fiesta cockatiel seed (the parrot formula would be too big for them but with pellets non the less!!!) as well as fruits, veggies, and nuts?
There has been quite a bit of debate on just what is the best diet for all companion parrots, remember that in years past parrot diets were based on poultry diets. While I see that you do provide fresh veggies and fruits you don't say how much in relation to the seed mix.
Parrots in the wild don't eat much dried seeds or dried greens or dried fruits that are added to many prepared seed mixtures. Manufacturers have prepared various types of pellets as an all-around enriched diet.
I have found it best to provide a varied diet to include mostly pellets (I prefer ones without added food coloring for personal reasons), fresh fruits, veggies and legumes and some seed. A generally recommended precentage is 70-80% pellets, 20% fresh foods and the remainder seed, however I personally provide less pellets and increase the fresh foods -- the amount of seed remains at about 10-20% for my birds. Sprouts, from seed and legumes, are jammed packed with nutrients and is something you will find that all birds eat in the wild. My birds, finch to cockatoo, love sprouts, as they are also a fun food to play with (throw around, stick them to the cage bars, try to reach the walls -- that sort of thing).
However, now that I've gotten the general info out of the way Budgie
