What to feed your parrots and how much to feed

Parrots requires a varied diet. The best foods for your pet parrot to eat are fresh vegetables, fruit and either pellets or seed mixes.

I try to ensure that at least around 40% of my birds diet is fresh fruit and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables provide an extensive array of vitamins and minerals. Additionally, they are low in fats. Always wash all the produce you feed your bird thoroughly before feeding.

Furthermore, I aim to buy organic fruit and vegetables for my parrots as they contain less pesticides.

There’s debate about whether vegetables are better than fruit for parrots due to the sugar content of fruit.

If you’re unsure about portion sizes and what percentages of various food groups should be fed, consult with your vet as recommended portions vary dependant on the species.

In the wild, parrot’s diet can vary considerably and they like to eat fruit and fruit seeds, nuts, flowers, and corn where they can find it.

Vegetables parrots can eat

Asparagus
Beets
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Butternut
Carrots
Collard greens
Corn-on-the-cob
Courgettes
Hot peppers
Mustard greens
Spinach
Leeks
Winter squashes
Dandelion greens
Kale
Okra
Sweet potatoes
Parsley
Pumpkins

Wondering what else parrots can eat? View our guide on Safe Food and Plants for Parrots.

When getting a new parrot, you may have a little trial and error to understand what fruit and vegetables they prefer.

Any fruit and vegetable from the above list can be tried. Just avoid a lot of mashes or stewed fruit because of fat and sugar content.