A Lower Protein Diet for Macaws

Macaws make great pets. These colorful, talented parrots can provide a household with hours of enjoyment and are relatively easy to manage. The maintenance of a good diet is probably the most time-consuming area of macaw management. These tropical birds need a variety of different foods to provide energy and nutrition. Protein is particularly important to the macaw diet as it aids in growth, but the amount of protein must be consistently maintained. There are tips you must know to provide your macaw with a lower-protein diet.

  1. What Macaws Eat

    • Understand that macaws are largely tropical birds and therefore are better suited to a varied diet. Different species have slightly different tastes, but, in general, the macaw diet is fairly simple to understand. Macaws are mainly herbivorous (plant-eating) animals and more specifically frugivorous and granivorous (fruit-eating and seed-eating, respectively).

      Macaws enjoy a variety of nuts and seeds, including almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts and hazelnuts. Dry corn, brown rice, wild rice and grains are also acceptable. For the fruit component of the diet, almost any fresh fruit is acceptable, including mango, cantaloupe, apples, bananas and any soft-fleshed fruit. Vegetables are also acceptable, especially kale, carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash and most green vegetables.

    Why Certain Foods Are Good and Bad

    • Understand why macaws need certain foods and should avoid others. Because macaws are such large birds, they require a rich, complex diet to give them the energy and nutrition they need. They need a diet higher in fat and protein than most pet birds would receive. The fats, proteins and amino acids absorbed from food allow the macaw to maintain strong bones and feathers, strengthen vision, regulate body systems and defend against disease.

      Certain foods should be avoided at all costs, however, including chocolate, avocado and caffeinated substances because chemicals in these foods can kill macaws. Certain other foods should be given sparingly, such as citrus, bread, iceberg lettuce and celery because they either contain too much Vitamin C (citrus) or too little nutrients (lettuce and celery). Table scraps should also be very limited because of their thin nutritional value.

    A Lower Protein Diet for Macaws

    • Feed your macaw a balanced, lower-protein diet. According to Dr. Susan P. Orosz in an article "Macaw Parrot Nutrition" on BirdChannel.com, some ornithologists believe that a high-protein diet can be harmful to macaws over time, causing liver and kidney damage. Ideally, a macaw's diet should contain between 10 and 30 percent of protein. To reduce the amount of protein in your macaws diet, simply feed the macaw foods that are low in protein. Do not feed your macaw eggs or meat, which are very high in proteins. Eliminate beans, peanuts and pasta. Include more fresh fruits and green vegetables. Coconuts and macadamia are also good for low-protein diets. Store-bought parrot foods are good for parrots, but should only be 30 to 50 percent of the diet. The other 50 to 70 percent should fruits, vegetables and whole grains.