Grey Parrot Diet

Updated Jan 01, 2011

Experts say that a third of the African Grey's diet should contain healthy pellets. We like the Totally Organics Pellets that we carry because they are 100% organic and don't even have artificial vitamins in them. This is important if you have a bird with allergies.

I suggest that you pick one that is organic and not artificially dyed. Anything artificial has to be cleansed by the kidneys before it can be used. A lot of pellets are just junk.
The next third to one half of their diet should consist of a variety of cooked and raw vegetables. Again organic is always best. Who knows what chemicals were fed or sprayed on that other stuff!

Some African Greys are prone to low blood calcium, so try to incorporate plenty of calcium-rich foods. Some suggestions might include broccoli, squash, sweet potatoes, green peas, carrots, green beans, almonds, and walnuts.

CAUTION: Never give your parrot alcohol, avocado or chocolate - these can kill your parrot! Also avoid asparagus, eggplant, cabbage, caffeine products, junk food, milk and cream, raw potato, and rhubarb (including the leaves).
No matter what the pellet manufacturers want you to believe, parrots that have a variety of fresh healthy foods are much happier and healthier.
The remainder of the diet should consist of some seeds, nuts and a little fresh fruit, organic if possible.

When fresh fruits and vegetables are not possible, dehydrated fruits and vegetables are great! Many birds love to crunch on dried fruits and veggies.

The best thing about them is that they don't spoil, so you can leave them in the cage for hours or even days. This is handy when you are trying to get them to accept fruits and veggies.
When you are going to be home with them, you can moisten them with warm water to provide fresh-like fruits and veggies. Boy does this come in handy when you are traveling or on an outing!

Fresh Water
Provide bath water in the morning and sometimes in the evening on warm days, but we only leave it in there one to two hours so that they don’t drink nasty water all day.
Do invest in a water bottle. You will avoid lots of potential health problems by insuring they have clean water to drink that hasn’t been bathed and pooped in.
If your parrot has not used a water bottle before, you will need to provide both a water bottle and a dish until you see that they are drinking from the bottle.
Lixit makes a glass water bottle that has a wire instead of a spring that keeps it on the cage if you are worried about safety. (Some birds get their foot or beak stuck in the spring attachment on other bottles.)

More information

- Teach Parrots to Talk
- Grey Parrot Health Issues
- Feather Plucking
_ Grey Parrot Diet
- Grey Parrot Main

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