Quaker Parrot Dietary Information

The food you feed a quaker parrot determines the length and quality of the parrot's life. Thus a good diet is extremely important!

What consists of a good diet?
Variety. Many people think birds just need bird seed. Birds however, like humans need a variety of foods. Imagine eating the same thing every day! It is your responsibility as a parrot caretaker to take care of your parrot and provide them with the best, because they deserve it!

Bird seed or pellets?
Both. Avian experts and bird enthusiasts often say that a pellet based diet is superior to a seed based diet. Pellets have more nutritional value than bird seed, so it is recommended that you feed your quaker a pellet based diet more so than a seed based diet. However quaker parrots love cracking open seeds as well, so it is recommended that you feed your quaker seeds as well.

Foraging
Quaker parrots love the challenge of 'foraging' where they have to find the food in order to eat it. Thus shelled almonds and shelled raw unroasted peanuts are a great occasional treat for your parrot as well!

Fruits and vegetables
It is very important that parrots eat their fruits and vegetables (especially fruit!).
This may sound like a joke, but many avian dietary specialists recommend that your parrot should eat between 20-40% fresh food! The remaining percentage should be filled primarily with pellets.

Avoid fatty/salted food
Quaker parrots have been known to get hypertension and diseases due to fatty livers.
Thus it is very important not to feed your quaker parrot salty or fatty foods.

Water water water!
Please make sure you give your parrot plenty of fresh drinking water! Water is the essence of all life and this is absolutely one of the most important things to feed your quaker parrot.
Make sure your quaker always has fresh water. The water should be changed twice a day at a minimum.

Toxic Foods
Here is a list of foods that are toxic to quaker parrots

Apple seeds
Avocados
Chocolate
Fruit pits (like the pits of cherries and peaches)

Some Quaker parrots have eaten chocolate and been ok, but others have died within hours. This is not a risk worth taking!

Parrots like to eat with their family
Eating is one thing that certainly brings people together. Birds, like people are very social creatures and birds like to eat with their family as well. An excellent way to bond with your parrot is to eat your meals together. Imagine the psychological damage you would go through if you had to eat all your meals by yourself in a cage. Make your parrot a part of your every day life and they will surely appreciate it. You are all they have.

DIY Quaker Parrot Toys

Quaker parrots often times need toys to keep the amused and to challenge them mentally.

Parrot toys can be broken down into several categories:

Foraging Toys:

Foraging toys are usually some type of food that the parrot can only get at once they can figure out how to open it.

Examples of foraging toys are different types of nuts such as an almond in a shell or a pecan.

Shredding Toys:

Parrots often will spend their spare time shredding things if while they are not talking.

Some people suggest giving birds edible flowers to shred. Another option here is wooden or paper toys such as a tissue paper roll.

Foot Toys:

These are types of toys that a parrot can play with by manipulating the object with their feet.

Brightly colored foot toys are usually recommended.

The main goal here is to create a challenge for the quaker parrot by using toys with movable parts.

All in all the main goal of picking toys for your quaker parrot is to find toys that will keep your parrot engaged and mentally stimulated.

Each parrot is different and you will need to figure out which type of toy your parrot likes best.

While toys are good they are no substitute for actually playing with your parrot.

Remember, parrots are social creatures!

This means they often times need a friend (another parrot or human companion).

Happy creating!