What is the Congo African Grey's Diet?

A healthy diet is as important to African Greys as it is to anybody and, just like everyone else, a poor diet affects these birds dramatically. In the wild, these parrots eat leaves, seeds, bark, flowers and insects. The pet parrot needs just as much of a variety as parrots do in the wild. With a little bit of experimentation, you can discover your African Grey's favorite foods and may be surprised that they are some of your favorite foods, too. Diet is a significant component to many healthy and happy years with your African Grey.

  1. Packaged Food

    • Your parrot will need a high quality dry food mix that does not contain additives, which can be harmful to birds. Check ingredients and make sure the mix you feed your parrot is primarily a base of nuts, vegetables and fruits. Look for blends that contain bee pollen because it has many vitamins and amino acids that aid in your bird's health, according to Avian Web.

    Fresh Greens and Vegetables

    • Your bird will enjoy a variety of colorful foods. Turnips, carrots, kale, parsley, basil, cooked red potatoes, broccoli, eggplant, fennel and green beans are just a few vegetables you can offer your parrot. Sprouts are an excellent addition to your bird's diet most African Greys seem lo love.

    Fruits

    • Choose fruits high in vitamins A and calcium, such as yams, cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin and mustard greens. Other healthy fruits include mangoes, oranges, melons, berries, pears, plums and bananas. Your African Grey can eat dehydrated fruit when fresh fruit is not available. Citrus fruits should be limited to four to five days per week, according to It's a Grey's Life.

    Seeds and Nuts

    • Sunflower seeds are a nice supplement, but don't allow your bird to overindulge, as it might become overweight. Flax seed is good for birds as well as humans because of its omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Flax seed is preferable to any kind of flaxseed oil.

    Warnings

    • Some African Greys are inclined to have low levels of blood calcium, so it's important to incorporate calcium-rich foods into their diet. Many fruits and vegetables already mentioned have calcium, such as broccoli, endive, okra, garbanzo beans and turnip and collard greens. You can also find it in spinach and chard. Avoid large, raw beans, such as black, kidney, pinto and soy, which can be toxic for birds, according to Avian Web.