Parrot Food Ingredients

Parrots need a diverse diet from a number of different food groups, according to the Pet Place website. While the site adds that you can achieve that diversity with parrot pellets and table food, some commercial mixed parrot foods contain a lot, if not all, of the key ingredients your parrot needs to stay healthy.

  1. Seeds

    • Sunflower seeds are a common parrot food ingredient, but there are several other seeds. The seed selection often includes safflower, pumpkin, squash and sesame. The Pet Place warns that seeds should make up, at most,12 percent of your parrot's diet because seeds are fatty and do not contain a lot of vitamins, minerals or protein.

    Nuts

    • Nuts also are a major ingredient in many parrot foods. Varieties include peanuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews and pine nuts. Nuts may come in the shell or already shelled, with the former giving birds something to do. Like seeds, nuts also contain a lot of fat, Pet Place notes.

    Vegetables

    • Some parrot foods contain an array of vegetables, usually dehydrated or freeze-dried. These include whole, cracked and ground corn, dehydrated carrots and sweet potatoes, peppers and beans, broccoli, dried beet pulp, green split and wasabi peas. Vegetables should make up a majority of the bird's diet, Pet Place says.

    Fruit

    • Fruits are high in sugar, but they are OK in moderation, Pet Place says. Fruits also are a common ingredient, usually dehydrated or freeze dried, in many parrot foods. Fruits frequently consist of raisins, dried bananas or banana chips, pineapple and papaya, coconut chips, mango, apricot, peaches, dates and sometimes Bing cherries.

    Carbohydrates and Proteins

    • Carbohydrates and proteins can also be a part of parrot food. The food may contain a number of grains, wheat and even pasta. Protein can come in the form of soybean meal and soy products, as well as dried eggs. Cereals, grains and other carbohydrates are an ideal regular staple, while proteins should be kept to a minimum, according to pet Place.

    Other

    • Parrot food often contains a number of other ingredients, including parrot pellets, oyster grit and a mixture of vitamins and minerals. Dairy additions often include reduced lactose whey and nonfat yogurt powders. Birds lack lactase and cannot digest milk sugars, so dairy is best at a minimum, Pet Place says. Dried or powdered yeast is a common ingredient. Many foods also contain at least a small amount of flavoring, preservatives and artificial color.