Hungry Little Macaw. Need Advice!

[Blancaej]

So Savannah is doing great but here lately, she seems really really hungry! When I give her breakfast or dinner, she races to her bowl, practically running. LOL. I give her Fruit, nuts & cereal for breakfast with some nutriberries. I also have pellet in her cage all day for when I'm not home. When I get home I make a mix of fruit, veggies, sometime of starch and a little protein (some days) up for her (depends on what we're having for dinner). She does get snacks here and there. But I wonder if I am giving her enough. I'm so used to feeding Quincy who is much smaller then Savannah.

I am going to start a birdie corn bread I used to make Quincy years ago and also I'm thinking about a chop or mash. I hope to get that started this week sometime and maybe that will satisfy her better. Does anyone have any guidelines on how much I should be feeding her? I don't want to over feed her but I certainly don't want to under feed her either. Anyone have a good mash or chop recipe??

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi Blanca There are some mash recipes here: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/27614-who-makes-mash.html

Do you give Savannah unshelled nuts? Both Niko & Ripley LOVE their nuts. I feed about 20 mixed nuts/day.

Does she finish her food every day? If so, I'd say feed her some more. And lastly, do you weigh her regularly? I weigh all of mine once a week and keep record, that way I can monitor them and will (hopefully) know if someone isn't feeling well.

 

[Blancaej]

Wendy - Thanks for the tips! I do feed her a variety of unshelled nuts. I would like to get shelled as well at some point to make her work a little bit. Hard to find up here in Vermont except around the holidays! But I don't feed her 20 a day, maybe half. I didn't want to give her too many. So that makes me feel better that I can give her more.

Yes, she wipes out her food in minutes! That's also what's was making me think she needs more. I usually try to give her more to eat at that point.

I was going to make a perch to put on my scale and start to weight both of them on a regular basis. I think that is a great way to monitor how they are both doing. I never really thought of it until reading others doing it here on the forum!

I will also check out that link to the recipes!

Thanks so much!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Blanca, I had a major "blonde" moment. I meant nuts IN the shell, not out of the shell. A duh for me!!! Mine get around 20 nuts WITH the shell. I think that's clear now. LOL.

I have this contraption where I put the walnuts in, and the other link show where I shuff the other nuts into. :54:

Large Hexagonal Wrought Iron Toy Feeder/Forager - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Foraging Wheel Giant by Creative Foraging - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Four Big Drawers Foraging Box by Creative Foraging - FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

 

[Blancaej]

I love those treat holders! Thanks for sharing them. The shelled nuts make more sense, but we all know brain craps happen! LOL! Although, I don't have a lot in the shell, I hope to start buying some soon. I just need to find my source!