{"id":93401,"date":"2020-08-21T17:40:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T22:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/windycityparrot.com\/blog\/?p=16193"},"modified":"2020-08-21T17:40:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T22:40:09","slug":"in-response-to-do-you-serve-your-pet-bird-chop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/?p=93401","title":{"rendered":"In Response to “Do You Serve Your Pet Bird Chop?”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sherry L. comments:<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, my birds are fed ‘chop’ (Arlo the grey, calls it ‘bobbity’) This is a new term for what I have done for 28+ years.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chop is chopped veg, grains, and sometimes, a tiny bit of seed sprinkled on top or a bit of walnut, or something.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I used to cut the vegetables larger because Arlo was pretty accepting of lots of things, and I didn’t have a food processor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I also (now) feed Arlo a pelleted diet, along with the chop.<\/span><\/p>\n

She also gets a small amount of fruit, and sometimes about an inch square of chicken breast (baked) or some steamed scallop (yum).<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Arlo recently switched to pellets, successfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have tried numerous times, and given up, never successful. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then, she was diagnosed with atherosclerosis. <\/span><\/p>\n

I contacted a behaviorist\/nutritional advisor for parrots, Pam Clark.<\/span><\/p>\n

She helped me switch Arlo from seed and ‘chop’ diet to a strict pellet\/nutriberry and chop diet.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arlo takes a med that opens her arteries, and she is better; I don’t know the time this will buy her- one year? Ten?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She is almost 30, and I don’t want to live without her if I don’t have to.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, yes, ‘chop’ ‘bobbity’ whatever.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chop is not the only thing you should feed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I recommend a Facebook page, The Parrot Pantry, for nutritional information.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They have files and the moderators know about the nutritional needs of birds or at least parrots, and other behavioral issues as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hi Sherry,<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Good to hear from you.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In this post, I created a nutrition label explaining where the data came from<\/a>\u00a0for a popular chop.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clearly chop alone is not sufficient for an animal that needs to reproduce 5000 – 7000 feathers annually.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feathers require amino acids for growth, amino acids are derived from protein.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Glad you were able to make a conversion to pellets.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stay safe<\/span><\/p>\n

Dominic F. relates:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I have many rescued birds and other animals.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>My dogs, cats, and parrots are fed only real food.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

I totally agree that fresh chopped is limited in protein.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For too long we have been convinced that vegetables contain everything our pets needs, but it is lacking in complete nutrition. <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

The morning meal for my parrots is a homemade bird cake, minus any junk food ingredients, such as cane sugar.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My recipe is by eye, but I do start with a dozen eggs from my chickens. I add sweet potato, mixed frozen vegetables, old fashioned oatmeal, cornmeal, and whole wheat flour, and a little pink salt.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That is baked into a loaf.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Their smaller evening meal consists of a mix of seeds and nuts, with a little oregano and oyster shell.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After many years, I have had no problems.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I love it, Dominic!<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stay safe<\/span><\/p>\n

Best<\/span><\/p>\n

MitchR<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"nutritional<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nutrition label for a popular chop ~ see full post here<\/a>:
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lisa\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>S. comments<\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I never fed my parrot’s chop.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before bringing home a Parrot I would do research on the species of parrot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I feel you need to know if you have the time, money, and patients to care for it properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I also never feed the seeds most people give their birds, not as any nutritional source.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I would feed Harrison’s Pellets<\/a> along with fresh fruits and vegetables and walnuts.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I tried thinking about what they would eat naturally.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I searched the web and I came across Leslie Moran’s site:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She also writes for Parrot Magazine for many years.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I researched her and I have been feeding my flock, I am up to 8. (D2, BTM, Scarlet, 2 Cag’s, 2 RB2, Ekkie along with 6 parakeets..).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Its a balanced nutrition source of sprouts, yes, sprouts. I highly recommend going to her site.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I have been with her for almost a year now.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It’s organic and balanced, it’s an entire “Thing”. LOL Proteins are crucial…<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her goal is to eradicate avian malnutrition… My vet wasn’t keen on the idea. She stressed Harrison’s…. (I love my vet, but here I refuse to take her advice).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

She will work with you, answer your questions… You have everything to gain but a lot to lose.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Love to hear happy bird food stories like this.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bGlad you “get” the protein thing.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bLeslie’s site is very cool.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bStay safe<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bBest<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>MitchR\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BJ A. commented<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hi, I have 2 amazons, 1 grey, and 1 cockatoo, what would be the best seed\/nut mix for all of them?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They get Harrison’s pellets, and Roudybush, along with a chop in the am and mash in the evening.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is just to add some variety to their diet. I have had them all for over 20 years and they all are quite healthy according to our avian vet.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cockatoo does pluck some so I try to avoid any artificial coloring and would prefer something without peanuts and soy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thank you for your help. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BJ<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bSounds like you have everything under control BJ.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bYour entire flock is a candidate for Lafebers Classic Avi-cakes Parrot 12 oz (341 G)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The ingredients are right for your bird’s sizes.<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bThey could literally live off these “treats” because of their nutritional value.<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Avi-Cakes contain 50% pellets and are bound with molasses for palatability.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bMolasses also makes a good grip for offering powdered supplements too<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bFor a great, no soy pellet try<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bTropican Alternative Parrot NO Soy NO Corn by Hagen Hari 4 lb (1.8 kg)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bStay safe<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bBest<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bMitchR<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gail <\/span>M. weighs in:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I feed a modified chop cause they won’t eat chop.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They also have pellets and a seed mix and nuts cereals and some people food they like to eat dinner with me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Only chop wouldn’t provide enough for them to be healthy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My guys are doing pretty good so I’m happy with our method.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I made once a big batch of chop full of good stuff they ate it first day after that they wouldn’t touch it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I tried freezing it heating it up after defrost in hot water wouldn’t touch it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They will eat up to three to four items chopped but prefer just one a lot of times.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I try to go with their lead.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Your feedback is most valued, Gail<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bYou are on the right track.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bStay safe<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bBest\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bMitchR<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charles writes:<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bMy concern is that my Moluccan is not getting enough nutrition, especially protein.<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bNot all pellets are created equal.<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bKaytee is a “value” brand with a high percentage of corn which is the first ingredient in your bird’s pellet blend<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bThis is the ingredient panel for your bird food.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ground Corn, Ground Wheat, Ground Oat Groats, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Middlings,<\/strong> Ground Flax Seed, Soy Oil, Dried Whole Egg, Dried Beet Pulp, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Wheat Germ Meal, Corn Sugar, L-Lysine, Salt, Algae Meal (Source of DHA), Fructooligosaccharide, Brewers Dried Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Dried Cane Molasses, Titanium Dioxide, Mixed Tocopherols (a Preservative), Yeast Extract, Dl-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Niacin, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cholecalciferol (Source of Vitamin D3), Beta-Carotene, Canthaxanthin, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Licheniformis Fermentation Product, Artificial Colors, Natural and Artificial Flavors.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bWe understand the value of a pelleted diet but feel I can get boring for the bird overtime.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Higgins<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bI’m going to advocate for Higgins Sunburst Macaw Size Gourmet Bird Food 3 lb (1.361 Kg)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bIt’s got lots of flavors and textures from fruits, nuts, and dried veggies while inclusive of Higgins InTune Pellets.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bAlso please look at Higgins Premium’s new Harmony line.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bStay safe<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bBest<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bMitchR<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gloria F. relates:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In answer to your question do you feed chop? <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yes, I do. I try to add different items such as certain vegetables and fruits they may like, with rice and grains. About 3 times a week they get scrambled eggs or hard-boiled for protein.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They also get seeds and nuts, and Nutri-berries<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They HATE pellets, they are not natural and do not appeal to them, unless they are colored.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I do not believe we as humans give them what they really need as they would find in the wild.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Look at our food chain and look at the general public they certainly are not eating healthy either.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately. Gloria.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So Gloria ~ I’m a numbers and data guy.<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A large egg weighs 61g about the weight of a green cheek conure and contains all of 6 grams of protein.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bIn that, your bird “nibbles”\u00a0 the nummy eggs, he\/she is getting no protein from the said egg.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bI see they hate pellets but Nutriberries contain 8% pellets so you a pulling a nutritious hoax on them.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let’s further the hoax.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>I advocate Avi-Cakes from Lafeber<\/a> that contain 50% pellets but your bird will never know because if all the other nummy ingredients all bound together with sweet molasses.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bRE: “I do not believe we as humans give them what they really need as they would find in the wild.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>I would ask you to read what Mark Hagen, the creator of Hagen bird foods has to say:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200b”Some Breeders have a romantic notion that captive diets that are complicated, labor-intensive, using expensive ingredients are the most nutritious. Yet it is possible to feed easy to prepare, cost-efficient diets that do not compromise proper levels of essential nutrients.”<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mark Hagen on Avian Nutrition<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bCommercial bird food manufacturers don’t use data from the “general public”, they produce pet bird food based on the needs of pet birds.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u200bStay safe<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bBest<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/span>\u200bMitchr<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Does not make a difference what the manufacturers say about the ingredients if they don’t eat it. And the Avicakes turn into rock-hard food that they do not eat either.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I couldn’t agree with you more.<\/span><\/p>\n

The trick to Avicakes is to serve no more than a thumbnail-sized piece something the bird will eat in a single sitting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Otherwise yes it will turn to rock so you have to adjust the treat’s volume.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hope that helps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best<\/span><\/p>\n

MitchR<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sherry L. comments: Yes, my birds are fed ‘chop’ (Arlo the grey, calls it ‘bobbity’) This is a new term for what I have done for 28+ years. Chop is chopped veg, grains, and sometimes, a tiny bit of seed sprinkled on top or a bit of walnut, or something. I used to cut the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":126528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_mo_disable_npp":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[206,239,199,205,256,262,200,229,231,250,201,254,261,258,260,245,214,232,242,222,257,243,248,249,190,234,255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa-grey","category-amazons","category-bird-nutrition","category-budgies","category-caique","category-canaries","category-cockatiels","category-cockatoo","category-conures","category-eclectus-parrots","category-feeding-pet-birds","category-finches","category-green-cheak-conure","category-hawkheaded-parrot","category-hybrid-macaws","category-indian-ringneck","category-large-macaws","category-lovebirds","category-macaw","category-parrotlet","category-pigeons","category-pionus-parrot","category-quaker-parrot","category-ringnecks","category-senegal-parrots","category-senior-birds","category-sun-conures"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/woman-budgie-salad-7.jpg?resize=600%2C445&ssl=1",600,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/woman-budgie-salad-7.jpg?resize=463%2C348&ssl=1",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/woman-budgie-salad-7.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/woman-budgie-salad-7.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,false]},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/woman-budgie-salad-7.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phcfkq-oit","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=93401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/126528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=93401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=93401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=93401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}