Pet Parrots in Costa Rica – What does “Polly” want for breakfast?

A well balanced diet for pet parrots.

Parrots, in all, number around 350 species. Probably several are extinct at this time. Some are “generalists” in their diet eating a wide variety of foods sources, and some are specialists, eating only a small variety.

I am thinking of loris and lorikeets being specialists, who are nectar feeders and the Hyacinth Macaw who eats predominately nuts. But for the purpose of simplicity and because most people have the “generalists” as pets, let’s stick to those in this paper.

Parrots are long lived, highly intelligent and have a very complex diet which needs to be well balanced to keep them in good health. Being long lived and intelligent, their nutrition is vitally important in maintaining them healthy and mentally stimulated.

They have been compared to human toddlers in intelligence. I have spent a good 25 years working with parrots and in fact formed a thesis based on my studies of their intelligence so, I fully agree.

In keeping that in mind, you would never let a toddler decide what they will eat each day with no regard to balancing their diet. Many human toddlers are a great challenge to be sure they meet their proper daily nutrients and parents have to be really creative to make sure the little ones eat a balanced diet.

Your pet parrot is about the same as a toddler in this respect. They are stubborn in wanting to pick out their favorite foods and pitch all the rest. So, just offering the proper diet doesn’t necessarily insure they will “eat all their veggies”.

Many days past, it was believed that if a parrots dish was filled with seeds, and they had a full bowl of water with a few pieces of fruit from time to time, they had met their nutritional requirements. In those days, parrots not only suffered from extreme boredom, they didn’t live as long because they suffered from malnutrition which led to illnesses and death.

We have come (most of us) beyond that. But even today, many pet parrots suffer from malnutrition because their diet still isn’t balanced. Usually, it is simple lack of knowledge of parrot nutrition.

There are some wonderful commercial diets for parrots, complete in nutrition, easy to serve, but in my opinion, their lack of variety of tastes and textures doesn’t add to their mental stimulus. Their nutrition should be met first, and then, variety of tastes and textures for their mental stimulus. Parrots come the closest to humans than any other bird in having the most taste receptors on their tongue. Just as we love our meals, so do parrots. They love to explore new foods. Sometimes they simply love to rip them open and play with them.

I have found that the main nutrient lacking is a good source of vitamin A. This is found in green leafy vegetables, and red and orange coloured fruits.

I have found with my birds, given their choice, they will always pick out seeds over their veggies and fruits, which can leave them sorely lacking in those good vitamins. So, I have had to devise a method to circumvent that and make sure they have the best of both worlds.

In the morning, I take their seed dishes away. I don’t think I need to remind that they always have to have a fresh source of clean water. I then serve a fresh dish of vegetables and fruits. Always try to include the bright orange and red fruits and veggies as well as deep green leaves. Here is how I manage it.

I always give them a bit of fruit such as papaya, really rich in vitamin A, a little banana, orange, guava, mango, melon, etc. When available, a small section of corn on the cob attached to a suspended “skewer” in their cage is greatly appreciated. Again, think lots of colours and textures. Try to go easy on the budget if you can and take advantage of fruits in season.

Rich green leaves and stems can be supplied by our local “mountain spinach” and you can cut some branches of hibiscus. They will nibble blossoms, buds, leaves and stems. Be always sure it has no chemicals sprayed on it. Be ever conscious of any type of food that could be toxic to parrots. Check the internet when in doubt.

We know that chocolate is a “no-no” for parrots and other pets. I have heard that avocado is toxic to parrots so I avoid it as well. Again, don’t assume that because we can metabolize a food, they can also. Livers are not created equal.

I have found they love a warm “parrot porridge” made of the following: make a mixture of some canned veggies such as peas and carrots and corn, with some mixture of beans (any colour of cooked frijoles; white, black, red, etc, etc). Mix into that a few tablespoons of Avena Integral and fresh shredded carrots.

I have even mixed a few tablespoons of a fresh salad in the fridge into the above when available. Stir well and pop into the microwave until the oatmeal is softened. A couple of minutes will do it for my four parrots. Parrots love warm food. It reminds them of “mom’s home cooking”… when mother parrot used to regurgitate warm food for them. You will notice that they love picking through the mixture which offers a wide variety of morsels. They have this dish to munch on until late afternoon.

Around 3 pm I give them their seed dish. They are all eagerly waiting. This consists of a few tablespoons of sunflower seeds, (obviously the amount varies per size of parrot) some peanuts in the shells (try to stay away from salted) and they love the raw (tri-colour) spiral pasta. In other words, they love to crunch into some hard food.

By waiting until late afternoon to give them their seed mixture, they have all day to take in the important vitamins they need from their fruit and veggie mix. Then, the seed mixture will supply calories, oil for their skin and feathers, calcium and other minerals and leave them feeling full and satisfied to sleep the night.

Your first impression will be that it is extra work and some expense to create this diet for your friend. But given the length of time in captivity, just reflect on how you would like to dine for 50 or 60 plus years. These wonderful vibrant creatures are worth it.

So, maybe the next article should be: toys, baths and housing for your special feathered friend.

Let me say that here in Costa Rica, even though we are rich with more than a dozen species of parrots, it is illegal to have any of the native wildlife in captivity without a special permit from the MINAE. So, the only parrots you can have legally are non native ones that you most likely brought from your previous country. Or, if you have any Costa Rican wildlife, you must have a permit, and they are only issued for animals that are handicapped and cannot be returned to the wild. Please, don’t be guilty of purchasing a parrot here, which was most likely robbed from its nest.

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Written by Gloria Dempsey of Gloria’s Jungle Animal Rescue who is a Zoologist living in Arenal, Costa Rica.

If you would to contribute to the rescue and care of wildlife in Costa Rica and maybe help with the cost of a new portable X-ray machine, please send a US cashier’s cheque to our Zoologist friend in Arenal Gloria Dempsey:

Gloria Dempsey
5717-28 Nuevo Arenal – Tilaran
Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.