best food for congo

[KevH]

hi im due to get my baby congo in 2 weeks time just like to know which is best food to give him pellets or good seed mix or both iv had a congo before but lost charlie this year when he let himself out of cage i fed him a good seed mix with
plenty fruit n vegetables.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Hi, you must be excited about your soon to be Congo

The best diet for a Congo grey, or any large parrot, is the highest quality pellets you are able to buy and fresh or prepared foods, primarily veggies.

I highly recommend Harrison's high potency for African grays, my African gray has grown up eating Harrison's and has never had any health issues.
HIGH POTENCY COARSE-Harrison's Bird Foods

Another great pellet that I use to feed is Totally Organics, This pellet is amazing, and also inexpensive. But I think a African grey would benefit more from harrison's.
Totally Organics TOP Organic Bird Pellets

Here's two sources for African grey diet

African Grey Parrot - African Grey Diet and Nutrition
African Grey Parrot Foods & Diets

 

[Zumaria]

I use Harrisons and swear by it! It doesn't look very delicious, but its very good for them!

 

[RockysMom]

I tried at least 8 different kinds of pellets on Smokey the only ones he will touch are Higgins Intune Pellets read the ingreidients and see if you want to try them they have natural color no artificial dyes or sweetners

 

[KevH]

i was thinking of Harrisons but the only problem is that the bird will be weaned onto seed mix so was thinking how to introduce it should i have a mixture with seed or just give it Harrisons will he eat it straight away not sure if pellets are a big myth coz i fed my last grey on a good seed mix with plenty of fruit n veg and never had a problem

 

[Zumaria]

You'll need to transition them over - if you just start leaving out the seed mixture he could starve just from being stubborn! Pellets truly are the best - not that seeds should be omitted entirely, but I hand feed my CAG her seed mixture. Its bonding time and I know how much she's getting in ratio to the pellets. Fruits and veggies are good too in junction with pellets.

There are lots of ways to get her to convert - you could mix them in with the seeds but they will probably just be picked out and thrown away or left there (why eat pellets when you can eat sunflower seeds?!). I'd start by coating them in peanut butter and giving them as treats and then at night pulling the seed mix out and leaving pellets in the cage so in the middle of the night when they want a snack they'll be try the pellets.

Here is what Harrisons suggests: Diet Conversion | Harrison's Bird Foods

but you'll of course have to tailor it to your bird - but once you get them over, it's worth it!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Is the bird not yet weaned? You should get in contact with your breeder and ask they do not wean your new grey on seeds! That's irresponsible! If they refuse I suppose all you can do is change his diet as soon as you can, it will be easier with a younger bird than one who's had the same food for years. I'm shocked and a bit sad that your breeder is doing such a thing
Pellets are not a myth, good quality pellets such as Harrison's are excellent for parrots. My galah was very unhealthy when I adopted her, a year and a half after I adopted her I was still struggling with her health(caused by a unhealthy seed diet), when she finally transferred from her lower quality pellets to Harrison's her health suddenly improved very quickly. I was able to see the difference in pellet quality by the way she was affected. She gained weight, started getting feather dust again, and was even healthier mentally.

Here's my African grey Kenji. Kenji diet has been Harrison pellets, supplemented with daily veggies since he was weaned. He was born in 1993, and is a stunning example of a grey. He is a very healthy bird with a excellent health history. He's a great example of why pellets work

 

[antoinette]

Copperarabian has said it all !!!!!
Great information there
Good luck with your little baby

 

[KevH]

thanks everyone think il try Harrisons gona ask the breeder to introduce it to him instead of seeds hopefully he will if not il have to do it

 

[Birdman666]

I fed mine harrison's for the first year or two of his life (when he was developing), and then switched him over to Zupreme, plus the normal fruits, nuts, veggies, etc.

My CAG will eat just about anything. Always has.

My only picky eater seems to be my RFM.

 

[KevH]

which Zupreme birdman666 is it better then Harrisons

 

[Merlee]

I would provide the pellets for the breeder to give the bird so the transition from one owner to another is smoother. It's possible that the breeder just doesn't want to pay for the better diet because it's more expensive.

 

[Birdman666]

I fed mine Harrison's as a baby for the first two (developing) years of life, and then switched him over to Zupreme...

He gets fresh fruits and veggies every day, as well as things like small bits of chicken and fish, when we eat it, rice, beans, pasta, etc. Just a little bit of what ever the people food is that day.

Sweet potato is a staple around here as well.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

which Zupreme birdman666 is it better then Harrisons

Zupreem natural is the best pellet from that company, but exept for Totally Organics no pellet is as good as Harrison's

 

[Gizmomania]

I was under the impression that CAGs can have a small amount of seeds, as they need more fats than most parrots do. So, I've been providing a high quality seed mixture, Harrison's pellets, fresh fruit and veggies, and a small amount of nuts tucked into his foraging toy.

 

[KevH]

gizmomania iv been doing the exactly the same and sticking to it like the name GIZMO thats wot my CAG.