check it out through a reputable source such as Phoenix
Landing.org/parrotcare.html or an avian veterinarian. Blueberries, cranberries and goji contain helpful antioxi-
dants, phytochemicals, vitamins C and K, and fiber, and have a low sugar content compared with their nutritional value. Other fruits like papaya and cantaloupe are high in vitamin A. Providing good fresh food isn’t necessarily time-con- suming nor difficult. Parrot Nation proprietor Patricia Sund, of Hollywood, Florida, leads the “chop” revolution, teaching this efficient approach for delivering vegetables, leafy greens, grains and healthy seeds to pet birds—whose care is gener- ally time-intensive throughout their long lifespans—to bird clubs and rescue groups around the country. By gathering ingredients and preparing a large batch,
an owner can freeze multiple healthy servings in containers to thaw and feed to parrots over an extended period. Reci- pes vary, based on the fresh produce available according to growing seasons, regional crops and individual bird tastes.
Food as Enrichment Because 50 to 70 percent of a wild parrot’s time is spent forag- ing, according to Brooks, companion parrots need that kind of activity for mental and physical stimulation. “Foraging keeps them busy, is fun and gives them a job,” remarks Lisa Bono, a certified avian trainer and educator and owner of The Platinum Parrot, in Barnegat, New Jersey. Besides finding food, forag- ing also keeps a bird’s beak in shape and its mind occupied in finding things to play with, she says. “A busy beak means a busy mind, and less time to develop undesirable behaviors like screaming or feather-destructive habits.” Bono says the popular African grey parrot likes playing
with durable and versatile beak and claw toys, plus shred- ding and tearing bird-safe materials like untanned leather, small plain cardboard boxes, and uncolored and unwaxed paper cups—simple items that can double as destructible “dishes” for parrot foods. Robin Shewokis, of The Leather Elves, in Weymouth,
Massachusetts, and a board member of the International As- sociation of Avian Trainers and Ed- ucators, adds, “Any toy can be turned into a foraging device by merely placing some food in or on it; with fresh foods, be careful to avoid spoilage. Be creative: Switch the place- ment of food and water bowls for a simple parrot puzzle. Put a
paper towel over the food dish on another day. Have fun with it. You can put a lot of love and thought into a food’s presentation.”
T Sandy Lender is the publisher of In
Your Flock, a companion parrot maga- zine. She lives in Southwest Florida with seven parrots that she feeds variet- ies of homemade chop. Reach her at
Publisher@InYourFlock.com.
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