One of our biggest concerns is how to feed our Greys the most balanced, healthful diets. With the field of avian nutrition being new, especially relative to human nutrition which has been around for nearly one hundred years and with new revelations continuing to pop up almost daily in that field, there is no EXACT formula for feeding our parrots.
A diet that is as organic and preservative/processed food free as possible is best. Also, there needs to be a balance of vegetables/fruits, seeds/nuts/grains and pellets, if you’re not doing the total holistic route of the Mash Diet. A diet that is as varied as possible is best, as a diet that focuses JUST on seed is not nutrient sufficient. In contrast, one that focuses mostly on pellets may also prove to be detrimental, as the synthetic nutrients in them can act more like drugs than nutrients, potentially resulting in physical damage or disease (see “Why Food is Better than Pellets” article in African Grey Facts Section). If you do feed your Grey a pelleted diet, Avian Holistic Health Consultant Alicia McWatters recommends the following general guideline: vegetables 30%; legumes 20%; pellets 20%; seeds/nuts 15%; fruits 10%; and grains 5%. The FACT is that the avian nutrition field is too new and NO ONE knows all the answers, so please look at it conservatively.
Our Greys are individuals with individual dietary needs, so a blood chemistry profile to determine nutritional needs/deficiencies and discussion with a competent avian nutritionist would be beneficial. Please note, however, that when you do get a blood profile on your Grey, make sure the avian veterinarian technician doing it has had sufficient experience because the process can be very traumatic for your parrot. The following is a chart to give you ideas on the nutrient content of various foods:
Be sure to consult your vet or avian nutritional consultant to create an optimal feeding program for your Grey. The following provides an outline of foods “rich” in certain nutrients. The list of nutrients and foods is NOT exhaustive, as the chart is meant only as a guide.
| Nutrient | Function | Food |
| Vitamin A/Beta Carotene | Maintains tissue lining, respiratory, reproductive, digestive and urinary tracts. | Yellow/winter squash;; sweet potatoes/yams; carrots; egg yolks; alfalfa sprouts; endive; kale; cod liver oil; collard greens; mustard greens; turnip greens; broccoli; beet greens; chicory; chard; green peppers; chili peppers; red sweet peppers; pumpkins; dandelion greens; parsley; mango; cantaloupe; persimmons; apricots; papaya; brussel sprouts; asparagus; zucchini; peas; fish-liver oils. (The darker the flesh, the higher the vitamin A/beta carotene.) |
| B Vitamins* | Participates in metabolic reactions and energy at cell level and other internal growth. | Eggs; cheese; nuts; sunflower seeds; millet seeds; green leafy vegetables; cereals; grains; asparagus; broccoli; lemons; bananas; wheat germ; yogurt; brewer’s yeast; brussel sprouts. * This list is only partial as there are eight B vitamins that work as a team. |
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) | Most important for stressful situations, an anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, antioxidant and anti-stress nutrient. | Potatoes; broccoli; red peppers; green peppers; tomatoes; asparagus; peas; radishes; swiss chard; zucchini; guavas; kiwi fruit; oranges and juice; papayas; cauliflower; strawberries; cantaloupe; brussel sprouts. |
| Vitamin E | Antioxidant protecting cell membranes | Egg yolk; green leafy vegetables; alfalfa sprouts; oats; wheat germ; almonds; cashews; corn; lima beans; sunflower seeds. |
| Protein | Provides amino acids (the body’s building blocks). | Egg yolk and white; soybean meal; low fat plain yogurt; low fat cheese; low fat cottage cheese; well-cooked chicken and chicken bones; fish; turkey; water packed tuna; brown rice; enriched pasta; nuts; quinoa; amaranth; rice/bean combinations; peanut butter; tofu. |
| Calcium | Maintains growth and support of bone structure (particularly important for Greys). | Egg shells; low fat cheese; low fat yogurt; mineral block; collard greens; turnip greens; mustard greens; chicory; kale; dandelion; broccoli; almonds; brewer’s yeast; buttermilk; oats; kelp; cooked dried beans and peas; sesame seeds; tofu; oranges; berries; parsley. |
| Vitamin D3 | Promotes proper calcium and phosphorous absorption and utilization. | Egg yolk (boiled at least 15-20 minutes); sunlight; Vita-Lites; fish-liver oil; salmon; sardines; sweet potatoes; dark leafy vegetables; cold water fish. |
| Phosphorus | Important for RNA/DNA synthesis, nerve health, heart/muscle contraction, kidney function, as well as many other functions. Phosphorus should be in equal amount to magnesium and both half that to calcium. | Foods high in protein, such as hard boiled eggs; brown rice; yogurt; cheese; well-cooked chicken; legumes. |
| Magnesium | Involved with many metabolic processes; helps regulate acid-alkaline balance and promotes absorption and metabolism of other minerals, particularly calcium. Magnesium should be in equal amount to phosphorus and both half that to calcium. | Whole grains; dark-green vegetables; corn; apples; legumes; seeds; nuts; almonds; natural feeds; wheat germ. |
| Iron | Combines with protein and copper to assist in hemoglobin production and is required for stress and disease resistance. | Legumes; eggs; green leafy vegetables; kelp; seeds (sesame/sunflower/pumpkin); nuts (almonds); grains; raisins. |
| Vitamin K | Promotes blood clotting, and is useful for normal functioning of liver and maintenance of strong bones. | Kelp; alfalfa; green leafy vegetables; eggs; soybeans; beet greens. |
| Zinc | Assists with enzymatic reactions, carbohydrate digestion, facilitates the action of the B vitamins, circulation, liver function, immune system function, protein synthesis and cell growth, skin, bone, joint health, wound healing and growth of reproduction organs. | Peas; legumes; nuts; leafy vegetables; seeds (sesame/sunflower/pumpkin); egg yolks; whole grains (sprouted). |
| Selenium | It’s an important antioxidant, commonly combined with vitamin E. It protects the immune system from damage by preventing the development of free radicals. | Eggs; sesame and sunflower seeds; whole grains; vegetables; garlic. |
| Iodine | Necessary for normal cell metabolism, metabolism of excess fat and thyroid function. | Kelp; sesame seeds; soybeans; summer squashes. |
About the Author
Source: Sound Nutrition: the Key to a Healthy Grey By Margaret T. Wright
HI CAN I GIVE MY 7 MONTHS OLD AFRICAN GREY EGGS EVERY DAY
Hi
No i wouldn’t give eggs daily more as a treat once or twice a week!
Thanks
hi,is it true that sunflower seeds are not good for parrots??
It seems like there are all kinds of “experts” on the Internet. Some are great and some just leave you wondering.
My African grey LOVES safflower seeds. When I recently asked about watery stools, that he gets EVERY YEAR, I had someone tell me, “he is in dyer need of veterinary attention” and “safflower seeds are BAAAADDD!”
But I had another vet, years ago say “safflower is the BEST seed a parrot can eat and SUNFLOWER is bad.
As I understand it, sunflower is “fattening” as most seeds are but safflower is the least and sunflower is the most.
So my take is, if you want to indulge your friend with things he likes but aren’t necessarily the “best” for him, let hime eat the sunflower. Do you jog, workout and eat only vegetables? I don’t; And I may live a few years less than the uber diet freaks but I’ll be happy. Want a happy bird?
My two cents worth 🙂
[…] questions, great you’re almost there, but did you realise that given the right conditions and diet, your African Grey could quite easily outlive you, therefore the old adage a dog, or parrot in this […]
Hi,
My 6 year old African Grey ‘Ernie’ has recently been seriously unwell. After a full MOT by an avian vet, the tests have shown that he is suffering from high LDH & AST levels, low Total Protien and high Trigyceride levels.
His normal diet consists of ‘Pretty Bird African’ pellets, grapes and broccoli. He also has a calcium and vitamin D suppliment.
Any dietary advice to help his recovery would be thoroughly appreciated…………….
Hi I was wondering if u could help can I feed my grey the yellow papaya as I am from south africa and are the pellets good for them my grey is 3 mnts old he or she loves sunflower seeds and is it true if u give them chills it helps them to talk better
Hey Jonah,
Yes you may feed your grey Papaya no problem, a pellet diet is known to be highly effective for greys, please do try to limit the quantity of sunflower sedds you give her they are not that good for parrots unfortunately lots of parrot mixtures include them as they are cheap, we’ve never heard of chilli’s helping an African grey talk better, she will start talking properly from about 12 months so lots of patience needed
hi I have question about pellets, is it good using alone for greys or need mix with the other materials ? thanks
Hi Ali, Pellets should be a good part of your greys diet but doesn’t necessarily need to be solely pellets, a good seed mix, some fruit and vegetables should also make up your Greys diet, we can’t reccommend AnimalZone pellets enough all Greys thrive on them http://www.africangreyparrotcentre.co.uk/shop/12-animal-zone also there’s lots of articles regarding parrot diet here http://www.africangreyparrotcentre.co.uk/parrot-articles/tag/parrot-food/
[…] African Grey Parrot Diet | African Grey Parrot Centre ™ Articles Please note, however, that when you do get a blood profile on your Grey, make sure the avian veterinarian technician doing it has had sufficient experience because the process can be very traumatic for your parrot. […]
Hi, we have a 6 year old grey and hes mainly fed on fruit,nut,and seed mix which hes not to keen on the seeds and nuts. I was toold he should be eating meat to but thers nothing in the table above about feeding them meat.he loves things like fish and chicken is that ok to giv him.also id never heard of giving them egs before,do I hard boil them or how do I give tgem.
Thank you
hi have a new parrot im no sure what foods to give her could u give me a list please someone thanx
i have 2 african greys and they are refusing to eat anything except nuts and corn……..they do not beat their veggies and i am starting to worry…….about the corn too should it be roasted or raw
thank you
Hi We have 2 african greys and we are a little concerned about their diet we are at the moment giving them a mixture of fruit and veg in the morning and seed/pellets at night our concern is we have heard that bananas are fattening should we give every day? also their poops are very runny is this too much fruit? if we were to give them ffozen veg (thawed out of course would this be as good as fresh?)
thank you for your help
Hi Moses,
The best way to get your parrot to eat any fruit/ veggies is to grate it and mix it with their seeds. This way, whenever they try to eat the seed, the taste of the fruit is in their mouth. It takes around 2 months for them to get used to the fruits, so keep it up. After that, you can put their fruit/veggies in a seperate bowl. Also try hanging the fruit on a stick in the cage – that also seem to work. Start with apples and carrots, then add one or two other fruits/veggies to the mix. I’ve gotten all my parrots to eat their veggies this way!
Guys i have read in so many places that cheese is a no no for african greys?