We have shared many recipes on how to make bird bread, chop, and how to use those items in foraging opportunities on our facebook page under “photos” and “albums”.
CHOP
Chop is a great way to provide a varied and nutritious diet to your bird and/or your flock. It is flexible and can be used to feed a flock of any size, made up of any species, from budgies to the largest of macaws. While none of us can imitate the extent or variation of what these animals eat in the wild, Chop can help you come one step closer, but on a budget, with little waste, and minimal effort. Just remember that chop is only PART of a nutritious diet for your bird which also includes fresh offerings, pellets, and healthy nuts as directed by and under the close supervision of your avian veterinarian.
Search this document for various Directions on How to Make Chop – but don’t forget – there really is no recipe. Chop is made from ingredients that are healthy for birds and seasonably available to you! Use this as only a guide on how to come up with your own way to make Chop. Keep in mind that making chop with a friend not only shares the cost and the work, but it is fun, too!
Learn more about Chop from the original Chop Guru herself, Patricia Sund of Parrot Nation, and read some great antics that just run through her head from time to time.
BIRD BREAD
Many birds who come into rescue have previously been provided an incorrect or unhealthy diet and so, through the help of our avian veterinarians, we work to convert all foster birds over to healthy and nutritious habits. Bird bread is often used by fosters to provide nutritious foods until that conversion can be made. Like Chop, there is no real recipe to follow and over time, you will come up with your own way of making bird bread, but in the meantime, you can use this document as a Guide to Making Bird Bread for Parrots. Just remember to stay away from using unhealthy bread mixes such as corn meal mixes or mixes which involve white flour. It is best to use healthy substitutes such as ground up pellets (through the use of a coffee grinder) or flours such as rice, barley, buckwheat, and oat flours.
You can also purchase nutritious bird bread through Gini’s Birdiebread Cones and Muffins.
Typically, most fosters make chop and bird bread about once a month or once every six weeks, freeze flock sized portions, and then use those portions daily in addition to a mix of nutritious pellets with some fresh vegetables, fruits, and healthy nuts.
Please remember that if you are attempting a conversion over to a healthier diet for your parrot(s), that you consult with your avian vet on how best to do that and what is the right diet for your bird(s).
SPROUTING SEEDS – the healthier way to feed seeds
Many birds come to us in rescue on a seed only diet. This is problematic because seeds do not have the proper nutrition to keep a parrot healthy. Many parrots on seed only diets do eventually succumb to liver and/or heart disease and other medical issues caused from vitamin deficiencies which can shorten their lives and make them very unhealthy. This is problematic because seeds do not have the proper nutrition to keep a parrot healthy. Instead, try sprouting, a more nutritious way to supply this favorite for most birds – but this should only be part of a balanced diet and should never be more than 10% of a birds diet, depending on the species. Please consult with your avian veterinarian for more information on what is the proper diet for your bird.
Below, you will find a great collection of articles, informational links and instructional videos to get you started on sprouting for your parrots