What to feed lovebird parrots?
In order for lovebirds to please with their chirping, to be strong and healthy, the breeder should take care of their balanced diet. We offer you to find out what the best food for lovebirds should be and how else you can supplement the diet of a feathered pet.
Contents
How to feed lovebird parrots: the basis of the diet
Compilation of the diet of poultry should begin with grain components. In nature, parrots feed on a wide variety of grains. Therefore, to provide the required amount of useful trace elements and vitamins, it is enough to purchase a ready-made mixture. Manufacturers today offer many different mixes of grains.
But remember that food that is intended for budgerigars is not suitable for lovebirds. For these feathered pets, you need to choose mixes that have a mark “for medium-sized parrots.”
When buying, be sure to pay attention to the expiration date of the feed. Grains must be fresh. It is better to buy food in vacuum packaging. It will cost a little more, but at the same time you will be convinced of the good condition of the grains. They will not be afraid of moisture or other environment.
The daily portion of such food should be measured based on the manufacturer’s comments on the packaging. Usually for an adult bird, no more than 4 teaspoons per day is enough.
To supplement the diet of a parrot with vitamins B and E, you can cook germinated grains of wheat and barley for it. Fresh seedlings appear quickly. Just rinse them with warm water, then leave them in water for 10 hours. Then it remains only to leave the grains in a special sieve. If the air temperature is about 20-25 degrees Celsius, seedlings will appear in 10-12 hours.
In the form of a treat, you can supplement the diet with sunflower seeds and nuts. But be careful not to overdo it. The high fat content in this treat can harm your pet. Nuts and seeds should make up no more than 15% of the diet. If you are afraid to overfeed your pet, it is better to abandon such delights altogether.
What can I feed a lovebird parrot: greens, fruits, vegetables
As an addition to the main product of the diet, experts recommend vegetables, fruits and herbs. Fresh leaves of dandelions, clover, young nettle, alfalfa, currant are allowed in unlimited quantities.
They can be prepared even for the winter period. Prepare herbal flour from fresh herbs. Plants should first be dried in an oven on a slow setting or in a well-ventilated area. When the greens can be ground, make flour out of it. Pack the prepared mixture in paper envelopes and store in a cool, dry place. In winter, this mix of herbs can be added to grain feed.
Also, do not forget about fruits and vegetables that are healthy for parrots. They can be given to lovebirds both fresh and boiled.
How to feed a lovebird parrot at home
It should be remembered that the parrot’s ability to fly forces it to high-energy internal processes. And they are carried out only at a high body temperature – 38,5-43,5 ° C. That is why food in parrots is digested in a couple of hours. The metabolism is intensive, after which it is necessary to replenish the supply of nutrients again. If a bird is doomed to even a short fast, it may die.
High protein foods are especially recommended for lovebirds. This is animal food.
- Milk is an excellent source of calcium. Dip slices of bread in milk and serve to the birds. You can also cook milk porridge.
- A chicken egg can be given to parrots only in a boiled form. It should be grated or crushed with a fork. Some breeders mix the egg with oatmeal cookies, breadcrumbs, or semolina.
- Fresh crumbly cottage cheese is also suitable as food for lovebirds. It can be sweetened with honey or mixed with semolina. However, the remains of cottage cheese must be removed from the cage, as it can quickly turn sour.
Food for lovebirds: ingredients
Pay attention to the ingredients of the grain mix. Parrot food usually consists of the seeds of several plants. In particular, the following mixture is possible: 100 g – canary seed, 200 g – oatmeal, 100 g – millet, 100 g – sunflower.
Lovebirds often have different appetites, so the amount of food per day must be determined independently from the experience gained. Observe the behavior of your feathered pet.
The most valuable ingredient in the grain mix for lovebirds is red, grey, yellow and white millet. With pleasure they eat white millet. However, other types of fresh and shiny grains should also be included in the diet.
What can you feed a lovebird besides food: mineral supplements
An important component of the diet of lovebirds is mineral supplementation. And it doesn’t matter what exactly the breeder feeds his parrot.
Crushed egg shells help to fill the lack of useful microelements. But before grinding it should be calcined in the oven or boiled.
Chalk will be an important addition. It contains many minerals and calcium. But in no case do not offer building chalk to the bird because of the high content of toxic components in it. Only fodder chalk is suitable for parrots. It is sold at any pet store.