Like people, birds need a balanced diet, but there are some foods you should never give to your pet bird.
The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) tells us that pet birds should be given foods from five food groups: grains/cereals/seeds, vegetables, fruits, protein, and dairy. The grains, cereals and seeds (preferably whole grains) should account for about half of the total diet, while fresh vegetables account for most of the rest. Fruits; foods high in protein such as eggs, chicken, and cooked beans; and dairy products are important but only small amounts are required.
The BC SPCA recommends that we feed our pet birds whole fresh foods that we prepare daily; however, they acknowledge that commercially packaged foods can be used. You should, of course, discuss your bird’s diet with your veterinarian to be sure all its dietary needs are provided for.
There are some things that pet birds should never eat because they are poisonous. Numerous house plants can cause problems as well as some common food items that we don’t suspect. While these things are usually poisonous for people as well, we’d have to consume a much larger amount because of our larger size—for a bird, very small quantities of a toxic substance can be lethal. Read my recent article on foods toxic to birds to learn about a few of the things you should never give your bird.
