Parrots are amazing creatures known officially as psittacines, and there are around 400 different species out there! Cockatiels and cockatoos are perhaps the most common to be kept as pets, and they have a very particular diet. So, whether you're planning to be a vet nurse or have one as a pet, you need to know precisely what nourishment they need.
As is the case with many animals, there are some foods parrots can eat, many foods they should eat and others that will just make them ill. So, knowing which categories are which is essential. So, to help you in this regard, we’re here to give you the lowdown on what kind of diet you should be providing.
Parrot Food Pellets & Seeds:
As you’ll find out on any good vet nurse course, your parrot’s diet should be made up of pellets and seeds. This means feeding them things like millet, oats, canary, and safflower seeds, but this particular food group should not be a staple. They’re relatively high in fat and not terribly rich in nutrients, so they should be viewed as more of a treat.
Parrot Food Grains:
Another good thing to give your parrot is grains, which can include things like oatmeal, quinoa and brown rice. Offering a nice blend of different textures and tastes, adding grains will help to provide them with necessary nutrients like calcium, iron and vitamin E.
Parrot Food Organic Fruits:
If you want to add even more variety to your parrot's diet, an excellent way to do so is with some fruit, which should ideally be organic. Good choices include peaches, mangos and apples, but absolutely never give them any avocado, as this is known to be toxic to birds in general.
Parrot Food Vegetables:
sLike fruit, vegetables provide birds with lots of lovely nutrients, and there’s a wide range that is safe for parrots to eat. We’re talking about bell peppers, carrots, beets, asparagus and even tomatoes and sweet potatoes. Fresh is usually better because of the high nutrient content, but it won't hurt if frozen veg is given from time to time.
What To Never To Feed Your Parrot:
As you'll learn when becoming a professional vet nurse, there are also a number of foods that can be deadly to your parrot. In addition to the aforementioned avocado, you should avoid giving your parrot anything with either chocolate or salt contained within. Both are highly toxic to birds, so they should never be given, even in minute quantities.
Enhance Your Personal & Professional Knowledge With OCA
This kind of knowledge is so important to the health of pet birds and believe us when we say that there’s much more to learn that we’ve covered here. The great news is that if you’d like to enhance your care knowledge via an animal short course or vet course, it’s possible to get the knowledge you need with flexible, short online courses that are CPD-approved.
Courses like our Vet Nursing Career Sampler can give you the knowledge you need to enjoy a rewarding career working with animals. Also, being modular and video-based, you can fit your training around your work and life obligations and even pay for your courses with one of our flexible payment plans.
So, to find out more about this or any of the highly engaging training covering over 20 different industries, visit us today at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au. Alternatively, for advice or guidance, call our friendly team on 1300 611 404, and you’ll get the answers you need. Enquire today about our vet courses!
