[rec.birds] INDOOR: Food and how to get a good variety

dkletter@adobe.COM (The Wighat) (12/11/89)

I own a yellow-nape amazon parrot who is in great health, but I'd like
keep it that way. I've read a lot on varying (sp?) the diet so that
different vegetables and things get introduced next to the regular staple
of seed and water. My question is what have people tried (that are high
in vitamins and nutrition or anything else this nebish needs =) that have
been successful and those that have not.

I've tried many vegetables: peas, corn on the cob, broccoli, lettuce etc.
but she really seems to only like the peas and corn the most. I've tried
getting her excited about dried chili peppers (high in vitamin A) but she
usually throws them to the ground or ignores them.

Other things I've tried are cheeses (she loves but I only give in very
small quantites because of the FAT) crackers, breads, rice, bananas,
apples (she's not so hot about these), oranges, pineapples, and Cracklin'
Oat Bran which I'm not too happy about doing-the third ingredient is sugar
and then comes brown sugar. Unfortunately, she's hooked on those.

Any other suggestions for foods to give and those to avoid (for various
reasons)? Most of these foods are given at our mealtime because I feel
guilty eating a pizza and listening to her whining and continually calling
out "Heeeeelllooo?" a million times. I am concerned that this is not an
OK practice because she has a set feeding time and the rest of the times 
are all what I'd call snack times. She does get out and get a lot of
exercise but I don't think that this kind of routine will do her any
good in the long run.

I'll post a summary later on.

Thanks.--d

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