Diet in captivity Lovebird

a fresh mix (with or without dehydrated fruits and/or vegetables) of excellent quality combining various seeds, grains , nuts represent typical basic diet. ideally basic mix contain or supplemented 30% portion of bio/organic (naturally coloured , flavoured , without conservative agent) and/or of natural (naturally coloured, flavoured , preserved) pellets.

ideal basic dry mix:

home made:

- 40% yellow millet - 18% canary seed - 10% white millet - 9% peeled oats - 5% japanese millet - 4% safflower - 4% buckwheat - 3% paddy rice - 3% oats - 2% linseed - 2% hempseed

or else blend of commercial mixes:

1/2 typical basic dry mix cockatiel parakeets and/or small parrot/parakeet species (i.e. kākāriki parakeets, monk parakeet, australian grass parakeets, magnifiscent parakeets, pyrrhura conures, small afro-asian ringnecked parakeets).

1/2 typical basic dry mix budgerigar parakeets , other miniature parrot/parakeet species (i.e. parrotlets, lineolated parrot, bourke s parakeet, grass parakeets).

cooked , fresh foods:

these foods , goods must offered possible (particularly cereals, fruits, greens/weeds, legumes/pulses , vegetables), ideally on daily basis or @ least weekly. pellet ratio should increased 1/2 of basic dry mix when cooked and/or fresh foods or offered.

whole grains , cereals:

amaranth, barley, couscous, flax, oat, rice varieties such basmati, brown rice, jasmine rice, quinoa, wheat, lightly toasted whole-grain waffles, non-toasted whole grain breads (i.e. corn-bread, multi-cereal, 14 cereals, whole-wheat), al dente cooked pastas.

edible blossoms , flowers:

carnations, chamomille, chives, dandelion, day lilies, eucalyptus, fruit trees blossoms, herbs blossoms, hibiscus, honeysuckle, impatiens, lilac, nasturiums, pansies, passion flower (passifloræ), rosees, sunflowers, tulips, violets.

fruits discarded pits and/or larger seeds:

all healthy , can offered i.e. apple varieties, banana, berries varieties, citrus varieties, grapes, kiwi, mango, melons, nectarine, papaya, peach, pear varieties, plum, starfruit.

vegetables:

all healthy , can offered including squashes , freshly harvested and/or oven-roasted seeds. i.e. beet, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, cabbage varieties, fresh beans, fresh peas, parsnip, pepper varieties, squash varieties, sweet potatoes, turnip, yams, zucchini.

because of acidity, veterinarians suggest not offer fresh tomatoes parrots, potentially cause ulcers. onions , garlic should avoided because chemical compounds contain may cause anemia. celery not bad in stringy part should removed before feeding vegetable parrots.

mushrooms must avoided due high oxalic acid contents.*

legumes or pulses:

all healthy , can offered. i.e. almonds, beans, lentils, peas, nuts , tofu.

commercial greens , weeds:

mainly;

bok choy, broccoli and/or cauliflower leaves, cabbage leaves, chickory, collard greens, dandelion leaves, endives, escarole, kelp, mustard leaves, seaweeds, spirulina, water cress.

only , sporadically;

amaranth leaves, beet leaves, starfruit, chards, parsley, spinach & turnip leaves. of these feature high oxalic acid contents induces production of calcium oxalates (crystals/stones) binding calcium & other trace minerals present in foods & goods ingested. possibly leading calcium deficiencies &/or hypocalcemia in minor cases. liver and/or other internal organs damage or failure in more severe cases.

wild harvested greens , weeds:

bromus, chick weeds, cock s foot or dactylis (orchard grasses), dandelions, erythronium (dogstooth), elymus, fescues, ammophila (poaceae) (marran grasses), milk thistles, oats , wild oats, plantain (the weed), poa genus (i.e. blue, meadow s, spear, tussock grasses). care must taken offer wild greens , weeds harvested anywhere in country side far highly polluted areas (i.e. cities, metropolises, towns).

only avocados , rhubarb should never offered because both highly intoxicating.*

complete vegetarian proteins:

produced combining 1 type of cereal 1 type of legume/pulse , offer during immatures growth, during molting seasons and/or during breeding seasons (most particularly during rearing of chicks) i.e. almonds + oat groat/meal, couscous + lentils, beans + pastas, quinoa + peas, rice + tofu.

soaked and/or sprouted cereals , grains:

aduki beans, alfalfa beans, buckwheat, lentils, millets & sprays, mung beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds.

sprouts stimulate reproductive system. should offered more (bi-monthly or weekly) breeder specimens in breeding season. , on daily or @ least weekly basis breeders in breeding-season rearing chicks. while should (once per month) offered immatures and/or adult pet birds.

caution lima , navy beans toxic when sprouted healthy when cooked.

fresh water , mineral block must available @ times.

adding these foods provides additional nutrients , can prevent obesity , lipomas, can substituting millet, relatively low in fat, higher-fat seed mixes. adult lovebirds not adapt readily dietary additions, care must taken introduce healthy diets young possible (ideally weaned onto fresh foods before introducing chicks onto seeds). lovebirds other parrots learn mimicry , adult lovebirds encouraged try new foods observing bird eating food, or placing new food on mirror.

parrot species (including cockatiels) biologically vegetarian species. consequently, should fed vegetarian diets ideally supplemented vegetable proteins provided combination of type of wholegrain/cereal type of legume/pulse. eggs (hard-boiled and/or scrambled) crushed shells appropriately healthy source of animal proteins. birds in either breeding, growing, moulting and/or recovering conditions. high levels of proteins (most particularly animal proteins) unhealthy lovebirds living under alternate conditions (i.e. non-breeding, pets).

green- , blue-series peach-faced lovebirds:

two parents 2 fledged chicks