Parrot chops are best if they are completely nutritionally balanced. Sadly, this is incredibly difficult as we do not know the nutritional requirements of any bird species aside from the chicken. It is therefore vital we have a "best guess" when trying to provide a nutritionally balanced meal for our companion parrots. Picking which to use can actually be quite simple. Some fruit and vegetables are high in certain vitamins and minerals. Picking a wide variety of these high value vitamin and mineral foods can help get the diet as close to balanced as possible.
Below is an example of my personal breakdown of an Eclectus flock diet-
Aiming to include at least ONE of all of the high vitamin and mineral foods is a good way to try and make sure the diet is balanced. Personally I determine energy requirements based on my parrots weight to determine the amount of feed to give based on their weight and life stage (this is not required but it will probably be discussed in another blog if there is interest)
Quick and Easy Chop Process-
- Utilising large and small size cuts of fruit and vegetables provides a place to hide the normally tossed out high nutrition value foods. It also provides the enrichment of holding and consuming the preferred food items in the larger size cuts.
- A food processor or a fine hand chopper makes the job heaps quicker and easier for the fine chop. Foods such as papaya, celery, apple or other water dense foods are not as suitable for this as they become mushy and loose their form.
- A food dicer such as this one here- http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/272335226191?chn=ps&dispItem=1 can make dicing large fruits and veg OR providing larger pieces in a neat and ordered way very easy and quick.
- Preparing one week at a time is better and placing the chop into zip lock bags or into reusable plastic containers are a good method of storing. Each week placing one zip lock bag in the freezer will mean you won't run out and if there is no power or a shortage of fruit and veg you always have a weeks supply spare.
 |
| Plastic tub option is also a good option for storage |
 |
| Full Process from chopping fruit to happy customer little Annie |
No comments:
Post a Comment