What a subject! Doesn't it seem daunting? Let's take a look and see if we can't simplify it. Two old clichés will be good to remember when thinking of good nutrition: "Moderation in all things" and "Variety is the spice of life."

Our feathered friends need a balanced diet as much as we do. If we want to keep them healthy and live as long as possible we need to make sure they get the foods they need. Just like us, they are drawn to the things they like the best, but that isn't always what's best for them. By now we all have heard that an all-seed diet is not good. It deprives them of necessary nutrients and can lower their resistance to disease.

So along came pellets. Pellets are made from vegetables, grains, seeds, fruits and proteins. These are valuable parts of the balanced diet for our little guys. So, do we stop there? Heck, no!! While pellets do deliver a very good diet and we are seeing healthier birds because of them, they still need more. Since no one yet knows exactly what a nutritionally balanced diet is for a bird, no single food source is adequate. Not only from a nutritional standpoint, but from a psychological one as well. In the wild, birds spend a big portion of their day searching for food and eating it. Our domestic friends still have this need and they enjoy cracking seeds, searching through the food bowl and deciding what to eat next.

Birds are omnivorous. According to Webster this means, "1. feeding on both animals and plants. 2. eating all kinds of foods indiscriminately. 3. taking in everything." We do know our guys can't eat everything indiscriminately - no avocado, no chocolate, very little caffeine, sugar, salt. But they do need a correct balance of nutrients. This balance includes protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Water moves nutrients and removes waste.

We'll start with protein. Protein can be found in beans, vegetables, nuts, eggs, meat, and dairy products. Chicken or eggs can be very beneficial, but be sure any meats or egg products are well cooked. Beans and veggies are brightly colored and can be fun to play with, which means they will eventually make it into the mouth and be swallowed. Other possibilities are bits of tofu, cottage cheese, and water-packed tuna. Remember to give dairy products sparingly; these are hard for birds to digest when given often or in large quantities. Protein, made from amino acids, is essential in helping the birds produce feathers, strong bones, healthy skin and functioning organs.

Carbohydrates help the body produce energy and heat. Foods supplying carbohydrates are breads, pasta, rice and starchy veggies like potatoes. For active birds, like conures, carbohydrates are an important part of the diet. But remember the cliché, moderation in all things. Following on the heels of carbohydrates, are fats. Fats are also necessary in producing energy and heat, as well as aiding the body's use of vitamins.

Now we come to vitamins and minerals. Yes, they are very necessary, but once again we find moderation is needed. Too much can be as bad as too little. Fruits and vegetables provide lots of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A aids in maintaining healthy eyes, mouth, skin, feathers, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts, and respiratory system. Foods high in Vitamin A are the dark orange and dark green veggies and fruits, such as apricots, corn, squash, carrots, yams, sweet potatoes (yes, there is a difference), broccoli, spinach, parsley, dried red peppers and dandelion greens. It's a good idea to check with your avian vet before giving your little guy any vitamin supplements.

What is a balanced diet? Looking back over the categories the foods include: beans, veggies, nuts, eggs, a little chicken and well cooked lean meats, pasta, potatoes, rice, some bread, fruits, seeds and pellets. Once you know the basics it's easy to feed a balanced diet. A good soft food mixture can be used as a base.

This can include different beans, giving a variety of shapes and colors, such as black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, red beans, garbanzo beans, navy beans and black-eyed peas  Then add barley, rice, lentils, popping corn, split peas, and other grains preferred by your bird. It's simple to cook these from the dry products, freeze and store. Canned products loose their nutrients and have too much added salt. Add veggies and pasta to this mixture, spoon and serve. The variety can be changed to add interest and stave off boredom.

Birdie breads are another way to serve up a good meal. Take a box of corn bread mix, follow the directions on the box, but add things like veggies or fruit, nuts, peppers, etc. Be creative and have fun. Your guys will love it! Another idea is a whole grain munchie mixture. Mix equal amounts of the following ingredients and store in an air-tight container - be sure all ingredients are not the sugar coated variety: Chex cereals (corn, rice, bran, wheat, graham), Shredded Wheat, Puffed cereals (wheat, rice), unbuttered and unsalted pop corn, Cheerios, granola, Mueslix Cereal, and uncooked pastas (different shapes and colors.)

Those are the basics of a balanced diet. Following these simple guidelines good nutrition can be relatively easy for even the busiest schedule. Mealtime can become as much fun as play time, and just as healthy!

Dietary Sources for Birds

Vitamin A
Beef Liver1/3 ounce
Dandelion Leaves Raw1/5 Cup
Sweet Potatoes Boiled ½ Medium
Apricots Dried1/3 cup
Spinach Cooked1/3 cup
Carrots raw1 whole
Red chili peppers dried½ tbs
Broccoli cooked1 med stalk
Squash cooked¼ cup
Cantaloupe¼ med

Vitamin D
Product 19, Kellogg's¼ cup
Most, Kellogg's¼ cup
Egg, cooked1 med
Prime vitamins1 milliliter
Beef liver cooked1/3 ounce

Vitamin E
Wheat germ oil 1 tsp
Most Kellogg's¼ cup
Sweet potato½ med
Sunflower seed hulled1 tbs
Walnuts shelled4 halves
Almonds shelled2 whole
Wheat germ1 tbs
Brussels sprouts1 large
Asparagus 1 spear
Egg cooked1 large

Molybdenum
Liver, wheat germ, whole grains, dried peas, beans

Vitamin k
Turnip greens cooked1/3 cup
Cabbage cooked1/3 cup
Broccoli, cooked ¼ cup
Spinach cooked ¼ cup
Asparagus cooked 1/3 cup
Cheese1 ounce
Beef liver cooked1/3 ounce
Egg cooked1 med
Green peas cooked1/3 cup
Green beans cooked¼ cup

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Product 19, Kellogg's1 ounce
Lentils cooked and drained¼ cup
Sunflower seeds hulled ¼ cup
Red kidney beans cooked¼ cup
Brazil nuts shelled¼ cup
Sesame seeds¼ cup
Pecan Halves ¼ cup
Peanuts shelled¼ cup
Green peas boiled¼ cup
Almonds shelled¼ cup

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Beef liver1/3 ounce
Broccoli steamed1 spear
Brewers Yeast1tbs
Almonds shelled¼ cup
Cottage cheese 2% bf¼ cup
Cheddar Cheese1 ounce
Spinach cooked¼ cup
Yogurt1 ounce

Chromium
Whole grains, meat, cheese, eggs, yeast

Niacin
Tuna canned in water¼ cup
Peanuts shelled¼ cup
Chicken cooked1/8 breast
Sesame seeds¼ cups
Sunflower seeds hulled¼ cup
Brewers Yeast1 tbs
Ground Beef cooked¼ patty
Salmon canned 1 ounce
Eggs cooked1 large

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Egg yolk cooked1 yolk
Beef liver cooked1 ounce
Tuna canned1 ounce
Chicken cooked1 ounce
Corn flakes Kellogg's ¼ cup
Banana¼ med
Corn canned¼ cup
Sunflower seeds hulled1 tbs
Brussels sprouts1 large
Squash cooked¼ cup

Pantothenic Acid
Beef liver cooked1 ounce
Beef kidney cooked1 ounce
Egg cooked1 large
Grapefruit¼ med
Cauliflower raw¼ cup
Cheddar cheese 1 ounce
Corn canned¼ cup
Banana¼ med

Iodine
Seafood, some mineral blocks, Lugol's Iodine

Folic Acid
Brewers Yeast1tbs
Chicken Liver cooked1 med
Broccoli raw1 spear
Product 19 Kellogg's ¼ cup
Lentils cooked¼ cup
Chick Peas Cooked¼ cup
Orange1 med
Peanuts shelled¼ cup
Brussels Sprouts 1 large

Vitamin b12  (Cobalt)
Beef liver cooked1 ounce
Clams canned1/4 cup
Chicken liver cooked1 ounce
Salmon canned1 ounce
Tuna canned1 ounce
Beef cooked1 ounce
Egg cooked1 med
Cheddar cheese1 ounce

Biotin
Beef liver cooked1 ounce
Cauliflower¼ cup
Banana1 medium
Grapefruit¼ med
Cheddar Cheese1 ounce

Choline
Egg yolk cooked1 med
Beef cooked1 ounce
Fish cooked1 ounce

Copper
Shellfish, liver, beans, peas, beans

Vitamin C
Broccoli raw1 spear
Orange peeled1 med
Kiwi1 large
Cantaloupe¼ med
Papaya peeledHawaiian½ med
Green pepper raw½ med
Brussels sprouts cooked¼ cup
Tomato raw1 small
Mango peeled¼ med
Pear raw1 med

Calcium
Cuttlebone1 gram
Swiss Cheese1 ounce
Yogurt¼ cup
Turnip greens cooked¼ cup
Salmon canned1 ounce
Kale cooked¼ cup
Tofu1 ounce
Navy Beans¼ cup
Broccoli¼ cup

Phosphorus (increase is seldom needed)
Almonds shelled1 ounce
Peanuts shelled1 Ounce
Chicken cooked1 ounce
Lima beans cooked¼ cup
Kidney beans cooked¼ cup
Tuna canned in water1 ounce
Potato baked½ med
Beef cooked1 ounce
Broccoli steamed¼ cup

Magnesium
Chick peas cooked¼ cup
Black-eyed peas cooked¼ cup
ma beans cooked¼ cup
Broccoli¼ cup
Fig dried1 large

Sodium
Table Salt1 tsp
Cheddar Salt1 ounce
Corn canned1/4 cup
Beets canned¼ cup
Peanut butter1 tbs
Carrots canned¼ cup
Egg cooked1 large
Celery raw¼ cup
Carrots boiled¼ cup
Beets boiled¼ cup

Potassium
Potato baked1 med
Banana1 med
Cantaloupe¼ med
Lima Beans cooked¼ cup
Squash cooked¼ cup
Orange 1 med
Peanuts shelled1 ounce
Split peas cooked¼ cup
Beef cooked1 ounce

Manganese
Whole grains, nuts, dried peas, beans

Iron
Pumpkin seeds dried¼ cup
Sunflower seeds hulled¼ cup
Soybeans cooked¼ cup
Beef liver cooked1 ounce
Lentils cooked¼ cup
Spinach cooked¼ cup
Almonds shelled¼ cup
Lima beans cooked¼ CUP
Swiss chard cooked¼ cup

Zinc
Oyster cooked1 med
Beef cooked1 ounce
Cheddar cheese1 ounce
Egg cooked1 large
Split peas cooked¼ cup
Brown rice cooked¼ cup
Potato baked1 med
Peanut butter1 tbs
Noodles enriched¼ cup
Soybeans cooked¼ cup

Selenium
Salmon canned1 ounce
Tuna canned1 ounce
Beef liver cooked1 ounce
Egg noodles1/3 cup
Granola¼ cup

Sulfur
Cheese, eggs, fish, grains, nuts, dried peas, beans



Reprinted with permission of the International Conure Association and Lisa McManus



GOOD NUTRITION