Brown Or White?

[Kumiko]

I have some Apple Cider Vinegar that I had just bought for the birds to top thier morning salads because I heard that it had special properties in it for birds. Anti-bacterial properties I beleive? :)

I know white vinegar is like bleach... so I picked up brown.

I am just making sure I picked up the right stuff. ;) :D

[raiven]

Yes, I also use it mixed in water to clean their cages. :)

This is the basic diet used for our personal flock and the adoption flock, let me know about any questions or if you'd like additional info. Our diet recommendations do change periodically as our research develops in avian nutrition and health. I will try to keep this thread current.


At Partners for Parrots we believe in a very natural diet. There is not enough, if any, solid research on parrot diet in the wild, thus I don't feel any "perfect" formulated diet could possibly meet the needs of our birds b/c we don't thoroughly know their needs! So we aim to provide different nutrients, supplements and a huge variety. You don't aim for a daily balance necesarrily, but an overall balance.


My percentages are just an approximate guide

Soaked then cooked:
(40%) vegetables
(30%) grains, seeds
(15%) beans
(10%) fruits
(5%) other - nuts, supplements, etc.


Vegetables
Be respectful of seasonal and organic and local AS OFTEN as possible. We usually try for five or more per week, chopped and ready to use each morning. For two little birds just buy the smallest ones possible and eat it yourself too!! Some examples to follow:

Collard
Jalapeno
Mustard
Kale
Dandelion
Cilantro
Carrot tops
Endive
Escarole
Turnip greens
Water cress
Romaine
Bok Choy
Lettuce mix
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussel sprouts
Zucchini
Chayote squash
Snap peas
Cucumber
Kohlrabi
Green beans
Carrots
Squash
Sweet Potato
Pumpkin
Parsnip
Beets
Jicama
Celery
Corn
Chili pepper
Red pepper
Cauliflower
Potato (limited)
Radish
Tomato
Green pepper
Asparagus

Grains and Seeds
Organic. Currently using the following:
millet
oats
barley
red lentils
quinoa
brown rice
parrot seed mix
sesame seeds
Lots of other choices though, this is just what I have been able to get so far (I buy 25# at a time for our flocks and our customers)

Legumes / Beans
Organic or natural
Currently using a "13 bean soup mix"

Fruits
Again, seasonal, local and organic as often as possible. Just 2-3 in the daily meal.
Papaya
Mango
Cantelope
Apricot
Peach
Oranges
Apples
Banana
Mango
Papaya
Cranberry
Blueberry
Raspberry
Strawberry
Grapes
Cherries (pitted)
Dried fruit (unsulfured)
Lemon
Kiwi
Pineapple
Melons
Pears
Blackberry
Peaches
Passion Fruit

Other: Additions & Supplements
Nuts (no peanuts)
apple cider vinegar
dende oil
flax seed
ground eggshell (washed and baked first)
organic pellets, Harrison's or Totally Organics

We do not utilize animal proteins but acheive protein through feeding the beans/legumes. Dr. Wolf from the avian section of the University of Hanover and a nutrition expert for parrots strongly advises against feeding any animal proteins to parrots. They increase the uric acid and will lead to gout. They do not need it nutritionally and it can harm them.

The hardest part of this is just STARTING the routine. Once you start it's no big deal. And the birds LOVE to be a part of food prep :)

We use the apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle to put a light spray on the morning meal, this has excellent anti-bacterial properties.

If you make a big batch, you can freeze individual portions into ice cube trays to defrost per morning. This is a cool way to do it, prepare a big batch and not have to worry about it for a while. I prefer to make enough for about three, maybe four days. I much prefer to feed fresh over frozen and have not done this ever.

It is ideal to feed a quantity / volume that your bird will actually finish, but any extras are fed to either the outside birds and squirells at the shop or at home to our domestic flock of chickens and geese.

The neat part about the grains and beans and some of the seeds is that I can feed the Partners for Parrots adoptive flock these from our supporting shop, Bonsai Birds :)

[chapala]

Commercial apple cider vinegar (like Heinz or the store brand) isn't what is usually meant by organic ACV which is not pasteurized and can be purchased at a natural foods store. In any event, vinegar is not very antibacterial and I don't believe it is needed for that purpose. Some people put a tiny bit of organic ACV (1 tsp. per quart) in the drinking water after a bird has had antibiotics because they think it may help acidify the bird's digestive system and prevent a yeast infection.

I use 50/50 white vinegar and water to wipe down the cage because it's easy and there is no need to rinse afterwards as with some cleaners. White vinegar is nothing like bleach, completely different.

Some of Andrea's list above was taken straight from Shauna at Feeding Feathers Yahoo forum (where I am a moderator), but she has inserted her own information in there also, some of which I don't agree with such as the 13 bean soup mix. Many legumes are difficult to digest and are not recommended for feeding to parrots. The best ones to either soak overnight and fully sprout (1/2" tails) or soak overnight (discarding the soaking water) and cook (boil 10 minutes, simmer covered 20 minutes) are mung, adzuki, lentil, whole pea and garbanzo. Not kidney, black-eyed pea, navy, lima, etc.

Reta

[lily]

The difference in white and brown vinegar might only be the color, so be careful. Some brown vinegar is white vinegar with brown coloring or cider vinegar with white vinegar added to it. White vinegar is often distilled from petroleum, and is the diluted version of a chemical once used in photo developing. I know people cook with it, but I do not eat it and do not consider it food! 100% pure cider vinegar is safe to eat; the most healthful kind is organic and unpasturized, like Reta said.

[raiven]

Thanks for the clarification, Reta. :)

[Py & Cosmo]

White vinegar is distilled from PETROLEUM??:eek:
Wow...I had no idea...I only use it for cleaning the cages and my hummingbird feeders...but WOW...

[chapala]

There are several sites that talk about white vinegar if you want to google it. It appears that petroleum-derived vinegar it is not a high percentage of the product available, especially for food use (not that I ever use it in food!). It should say on the label if it is a petroleum-derived product. Here's one site, there are many others:

http://www.nowheat.com/fooddb/food/vinegar2.htm

I checked my white vinegar gallon bottles - both are Mexican products, one carried by Costco here in Mexico, and both are made of alcohol from sugar cane. We have all tile floors, and they are mopped with white vinegar and water because I hate the smell of commercial cleaners!
Reta

Reta

[lily]

Heinz is a safe brand.

[chapala]

Yes, Heinz is fine, and according to them "Heinz® Distilled White Vinegar is made from sun-ripened grain and crystal clear water".

I doubt that any of us would run across white vinegar made from petroleum products at any grocery store. It may have industrial uses.
Reta

[Py & Cosmo]

:D Whew...glad to hear that...I know people use it all the time in cooking and my girlfriend cleans all her fresh veggies in water mixed with a little white vinegar.
I feel betta now...;)