-
Vegetables
-
Umbrella cockatoos can eat just about any of the vegetables that humans eat. Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, green beans and lettuce, and orange vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin and squash are especially healthy. But don't neglect other vegetables, such as bean sprouts, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes and zucchini. Feed spinach sparingly; it binds to calcium and prevents it from being absorbed by the body.
Benefits of Feeding Vegetables
-
While most parrots, including umbrella cockatoos, love nuts and seeds, these foods contain little nutritional value. A diet high in nuts and seeds can lead to deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, which can lead to health and behavioral problems such as feather picking. Offering umbrella cockatoos a variety of vegetables on a daily basis ensures they get the additional nutrition they need.
Alternatives to Fresh Vegetables
-
Umbrella cockatoos can be picky eaters, so if yours is not used to eating vegetables, you might have trouble getting it to eat them. Try offering your umbrella cockatoo human baby food, or give it cooked or steamed vegetables. Some umbrellas prefer dried vegetables; just be careful not to purchase ones preserved with sulfur dioxide; parrots can be allergic to it, which which can lead to aggressiveness, feather-picking and hyperactivity.
Vegetables and Other Foods to Avoid
-
You should not feed your umbrella cockatoo onion or rhubarb. Avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, and anything containing alcohol and caffeine should also not be fed to cockatoos. These foods will most likely result in the death of your parrot.
-
What Kind of Vegetables Can You Feed an Umbrella Cockatoo?
Vegetables aren't just an important part of our diets; they're an important part of your umbrella cockatoo's diet, too. A variety of vegetables can help ensure that your umbrella cockatoo remains healthy. And if your feathered friend doesn't like fresh vegetables, you can try several alternatives which might appeal to its tastes.