Some birds do "ant" bath... which helps get rid of any pests that might be hiding in their feathers.... but that's not anting! I can't imagine eating ants is very tasty...My conure chases ants and eats them. Don't know if it's safe. We don't do ant traps or anything so I am pretty certain they have not been through insecticide.
No offense here, but garlic can pose a huge risk to birds. It is ok to feed rarely, but I think that with birds it’s better to be safe than sorry.I've heard papaya seeds are actually a good thing. It's the apple, cherry, etc. seeds I've read we should avoid
I also believe garlic has its benefits when fed in moderation.
Brands can vary from place to place... but would recommend searching for greek yogurt specifically (not a brand, simply a 'type' of yogurt) that's plain. Amount? Not very much at all. When I was giving my mitred medications, I was mixing his meds in with the yogurt. I used small amounts, but enough to mix the meds in and that was it. I can't say how much I gave him overall.Any specific yogurt brand ???
amount recommended???
They’re perfectly fine My boy has had them plenty of times.Hi, in the initial posting of safe fruits, I saw nectarines but not peaches. I realize that it’s next to impossible to list everything, (especially if it should be obvious), but I just bought some organic peaches and want to be sure they’re ok? Obviously not the pitts, flesh only.
Not the pit! Be very careful w/ fruits as some pits & seeds are toxic.Thanks, for replying! I did Google it, but at this point I only trust y’all.
Can I feed uncooked quinoa, hemp hearts, chia seeds, whole wheat seeds, and Kamut?I seem to be posting this more often, or referring people to it, and since I haven't added it here (got lost, tried to come back, got confused, couldn't figure it out... okay, I'm here!) thought I'd add this in, too!
The list for the grains, legumes, veggies, and fruits are mostly from the Feeding Feathers YH-group. The list of foods to avoid is from Buffalo Parrots. List of seeds, well I just looked at a few packages of bird food to get the ingredients off of. I did add a few things to the lists but didn't remove anything.
FF recommends feeding 15% pulses, 30% grains, 45% veggies, and 10% fruits. (Species specific diets and birds with special dietary needs may differ than the general recommendation). All of this can be mixed together as a 'mash' diet. Fresh foods should take up a minimum of 25% of the diet, but can take up as much as 90% with treats, pellets, nuts, and seeds taking up the rest. Sprouted seeds are healthier than dry seeds. *Some pellet companies may only recommend no more than 10% fresh foods as having any more may "unbalance" their 'balanced' diets*
Cooked grains - can also be sprouted
- Millet
- Quinoa
- Amaranth
- Whole Oats
- Hulless Barley
- Spelt or Kamut
- Teff
- Brown Rice
- Wild Rice
- Buckwheat
Cooked legumes - or sprouted with 1/4" tails
- Adzuki
- Mung
- Sprouting Peas
- Lentils
- 13 Bean Soup minus Spice Packet - not as good as others but works
Vegetables - Fed fresh, lightly steamed, or even frozen (thawed) out of the frozen section in grocery store
- Pumpkin
- Carrots
- Acorn or Butternut Squash
- Red or Green Pepper
- Kale
- Dandelion Greens
- Mustard Greens
- Collard Greens
- Turnip Greens
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Romaine or other dark leafy lettuce
- Jicama
- Peas
- Zucchini
- Green Beans
- Tomatoes
- Cabbage
- Chinese Cabbage
- Bokchoy
- Carrot Tops
- Cactus Leaf
- Okra
- Kohlrabi
- Spaghetti Squash
- Cauliflower
- Radish
- Chayote Squash
- Brussel Sprouts
- Escarole
- Endive
- Corn
- Beet Root
Fruits
- Papaya
- Mango
- Any type of berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc)
- Pomegranate
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Melons
- Nectarines
- Cherries
- Apricot
- Grapefruit
- Banana
- Pears
- Apples
- Figs
- Pineapple
- Lemons
- Limes
Other Foods
- Whole Wheat Pasta
- Whole Grain Breads
- Corn Bread
- Cooked Eggs
- Sprouted Seeds
Avoid the following foods
-Avocados
-Dairy Products(Except Yogurt)
-Fruit Rinds
-Rhubarb
-Raw Meats
-Onions
-Garlic
-Chocolate
-Salty/Sugary Foods
-Alcohol
-Fruit Pits
-Peanuts
-Uncooked Rice
-Uncooked Beans
-Seeds of: Pears, Oranges, Papaya, Grapefruit, Grapes, Apples & some Melons
-Mayonnaise products
-Caffeine
And here's an imcomplete list of seeds you could feed: safflower seed, white millet, oat groats, buckwheat, canary grass seed, sunflower seeds, hemp seed (human grade), whole wheat, rolled barley, pumpkin seeds, shelled peanuts, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios, red millet, nyger
Some people may feed quinoa dry, but it seems the general consensus is to soak and/or sprout it.Can I feed uncooked quinoa, hemp hearts, chia seeds, whole wheat seeds, and Kamut?