A good diet for GCC?

[goodbred]

Hello Everyone!

I'm new to the forums, and parrot ownership in general. I was hoping that someone might have a link to or could offer a comprehensive weekly diet plan for a GCC. I have done research into conure diets, but all of the variety of possibilities makes my head spin once I get to the grocery store. I know that diet can be at the root of many health issues for parrots, and I want to make sure that Boswell (my GCC) is getting a well-rounded one.

He is six months old, and up until I got him last week he was living on a pellet diet in the pet store. Currently, I have him on a combination of Zupreem and a small portion of seed mix as a treat after training. I have been working with him to eat vegetable and fruits, and have been successful so far. Usually the "eat in front of him to spark his interest" technique has worked. I just feel as though the veges i'm choosing are random from a list of safe foods, and I'm the type of person that likes to have structured systems.

Thanks for much for any help or advice you can give me. Even examples of your weekly feeding menu would help me a lot!

--Randy

 

[kiwiS]

Hi Randy! I feed Kiwi (my GCC) fruits and veggies twice a day.

Once in the morning - kale chopped/torn to itty bitty pieces, frozen blueberries thawed a little and smushed up, lentil sprouts, a piece of whole wheat pasta , and one almond broken into pieces).

I come home for lunch and change that out with her Harrison and Roudybush mix pellets.

At night I give her my frozen mix (heated in microwave) - cooked wild rice, cooked quinoa, boiled squash and carrot, boiled spinach, peas, corn, cooked garbanzo bean (Pre-made and frozen in ice cube trays). Plus very finely chopped fresh green apple, celery and carrot. (not frozen)

I only feed seeds during training/trick training. And she only gets millet and nutriberry stuff in her foraging toys, which are only in there while I'm at work and never during fresh meal time.

Hope this helps!

 

[Echo]

Hi Randy! I feed Kiwi (my GCC) fruits and veggies twice a day.

Once in the morning - kale chopped/torn to itty bitty pieces, frozen blueberries thawed a little and smushed up, lentil sprouts, a piece of whole wheat pasta , and one almond broken into pieces).

I come home for lunch and change that out with her Harrison and Roudybush mix pellets.

At night I give her my frozen mix (heated in microwave) - cooked wild rice, cooked quinoa, boiled squash and carrot, boiled spinach, peas, corn, cooked garbanzo bean (Pre-made and frozen in ice cube trays). Plus very finely chopped fresh green apple, celery and carrot. (not frozen)

I only feed seeds during training/trick training. And she only gets millet and nutriberry stuff in her foraging toys, which are only in there while I'm at work and never during fresh meal time.

Hope this helps!

Great advice! And GCCs do need some seeds and giving them in a foraging toy is one of the best advice I have read in a long time! Nothing to add!!

 

[goodbred]

Thank you for the advice! I am excited to get him into more and more healthy foods.

 

[Calace]

I found this thread very helpful!
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/23367-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html
Also this website has some great tips and info on diet and daily care/routine!
http://birdhealth.com.au/pdf/4conuresDaily.pdf
I would add though, that this info sheet advises a "bowl of small seed mix". I'd replace that with healthy pellets and keep the seeds as treats as mentioned above!

 

[kellie]

I make Lukah chop mix and then freeze it. So every day he has Roudybush maintenance pellets (large because he likes to hold them with his foot). And one cube (or two lately) of the chop. He has two mixes.

The first one I made by taking a jalepeno, kale, carrot, raspberries, apple and broccoli, stuffing them all in a food processor and then cutting them up into bite size pieces. I took this mix and put it into an icecube tray and each day would take out an icecube and pop it in the microwave in a bowl for 10 seconds and then put it in his cage.

The next day I give him a different mix. The second mix has cooked lentils, cooked garbanzo beans and cooked quinoa pasta.

He LOVES both mixes! And he would never eat broccoli, kale or carrots before them!

I also throw in fresh fruits and veggies every now and then like a whole jalepeno or banana or apple or some fresh spinach.

Other ideas for foods to give them are cantaloupe, bean mixes, sprouts, etc. I just kind of look at the store and around the house and go "hey, I wonder if he can have that" google it, and then give it to him! As long as you stay away from fruit pits, avocado, caffeine, alcohol, etc. then your birdie should be fine. Always check first of course, but most of the other stuff will just make them sick if you screw up and give it to them, not necessarily kill them. BUT CHECK ANYWAY!! I've never given Lukah something without doing some thorough research (like you're doing right now )

Oh I also have a foraging toy filled with almonds that he has access too! You can also do pecans or walnuts (but I think almonds have the most nutritional value!). Stay away from peanuts! Also make sure you get nuts that don't have anything added like salt or sugar or anything. I get mine roasted. I think that's fine. (if not someone tell me!!)