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Re: Feeding birds HELP Please!
Posted by Lori on 4/16/09

Thanks GL, I've found the same information and will continue
what and how we have been feeding for past 27 years.Thankyou
Reason why I dont trust certain "vet's"

On 4/15/09, GreyLady wrote:
> Lori. Sure heard that about the economy. I'll be
interested
> to hear what others have to say also. First off, on the
> feeding of dog or cat food to a parrot, I'm personally
> against it. This opinion comes both from my own research
and
> from talking to vets. Most of those foods are much too high
> in protein for birds. Also, they can contain Ecoli.
> Apparently it's in amounts that are easily handled by a dog
> or cat's system but not a parrots. Some think you can get
by
> with it if you microwave it first. I'm not yet willng to
> take the chance but here is an exerpt from one of Judy
> Leach's articles:
>
> E-coli
>
> This bacteria is not fatal if it is recognized and treated.
> It causes droppings to have the look of diarrhea and to have
> a strong odor. This bacteria can be remedied by mixing 1/8
> tsp. of Vetisulid per 8 ounces of water for 10-14 days.
>
> The E-coli bacteria is normal in human saliva. It can be
> transmitted to a parrot by "wet" kisses and by letting them
> eat out of your mouth. E-coli is also normal, and common, in
> the saliva of monkeys and dogs. Therefore, it is also found
> in dog food and some monkey biscuits. If this food is given
> to parrots, it should be microwaved for at least 15-30
> seconds, depending on quantity, to kill E-coli bacteria,
> before feeding it to your birds.
>
> Actually, it would be better to get your bird on to a good
> extruded pellet formulated for birds than a food that was
> developed for another type of animal. (End of article.)
>
> As for what I feed, it varies just a bit because my flock
> ranges from Tiels to a Macaw. They all get a good quality
> seed mix that does not contain any sunflower seeds but
still,
> that is 20&37; or less, of their entire daily diet. For my
> Tiels, the rest is Lafeber pellets. For the rest of the
> flock, they get a portion of Vita Kraft Super Fruit
> Cocktail. That is the single most expensive part of their
> diet. Last time I priced it in a store, it was over $10 for
> a 20 oz. container. I buy it in bulk multiples of 6, (24 at
> a time) and I get it for About $7. each. Except for the
> Tiels, they get Pretty Bird pellets, formulated for the type
> of bird. (African, Macaw, etc.) They also get whole
> walnuts, unshelled almonds and a couple Nutriberries each
> day. Their "people" food meals are mostly whatever we are
> having. Pasta, eggs, cooked bean and rice mixes and so on.
> They also get fresh fruits or veggies 3 times a week. Mine
> like some of the cooked meals on the market so to save
money,
> I get them but also mix in some of my own ingredients to
make
> the mix go further. I hate cooking so I make a big batch at
> once, separate a daily portion into sandwich size zip locks,
> mash flat and stack in the freezer. Here is one recipe that
> was given to me that works well but obviously you can use
> different items, mix and match, to keep up their interest.
>
> RECIPE
> If you are making rice and beans for the family, set aside
> some for your bird — minus any salt or other spices you've
> added. Mix it together with peppers, chili peppers and corn
> to make an attractive, homemade meal for your bird.
> The key to this recipe is the mixture of textures and
colors.
> Your bird will love the soft rice and beans with the added
> crunch of peppers and corn. Colorful foods can be as
> stimulating mentally as they are healthy. In an article on
> the benefits of cranberries, Jill Patt, DVM of the Arizona
> Mesa Animal Hospital noted that colors are a key part of the
> overall benefit of healthy food. “Birds enjoy colors, so a
> mixture is not only healthy but is beneficial mentally,”
said
> Patt.
>
> Ingredients
> 1 cup whole-grain rice
> ¼ cup 16-bean mix
> Colorful peppers (orange, red, green, yellow)
> Chili pepper (fresh or dried)
> Corn
> Chayenne
>
> Cook rice and beans as instructed by their packaging. For
> added color, use a 16-bean mix. Included in the mix are
> various beans (red, lima, white, kidney, etc), split peas
and
> lentils. Let cool. When rice is cooled, sprinkle with
> chayenne pepper.
>
> Thoroughly wash your peppers and corn, and when chopping,
> remove all seeds. Add sliced peppers in whatever style you
> like (chunks or strips), depending on the size of your bird.
> If not dried, slice chili peppers and add to the mixture.
Mix
> with cold corn either in chunks or, for added fun, in tiny
> cobs.
>
> Immediately wash your hands after handling chili pepper. It
> can cause irritation to your eyes or mouth if you are not
> careful!
>
> This recipe makes about 3 cups, which you can keep fresh in
> your refrigerator for roughly three days. Your birds will
> enjoy it cold, too!
>
> Hope that helps.
> GL
>
>
>
>

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Feeding birds HELP Please!, 4/15/09, by Lori.
• Re: Feeding birds HELP Please!, 4/15/09, by GreyLady.
• Re: Feeding birds HELP Please!, 4/16/09, by Lori.
• Re: Feeding birds HELP Please!, 5/01/09, by val.
• Re: Feeding birds HELP Please!, 7/28/09, by Marcie.