IRN Feeding Diet and Quantity

[jiannotto9492]

Hey guys, I'm just curious as to what and how much you guys are feeding your IRN's. I'm a new IRN parront and was just wondering what I should be feeding. I'm currently feeding Zupreem Natural ML and I'm afraid that the nuggets might be too big for my friend.

Thanks!

 

[Dinosrawr]

How much as in grams per serving? Or how much as in variety?

Anything appropriate in size for a small-medium sized conure will be fine for an IRN. I feed my IRN (and conure) the following:

- 1 tsp Harrison's Adult Lifetime fine
- 1 tsp Roudybush maintenance blend mini
- 1 tsp Zupreem natural (cockatiel sized)
- 1/2 tsp Avian Organics Pear'ngs
- 1/4 tsp Goldenfeast Australian blend

Sometimes I also buy other cage blends that I think they may like and I switch it up a lot on them. My birds get pellets to supplement their diet at night (after 5 PM). I give them their chop in the morning, and always give 20% of their body weight in grams. Their chop has ingredients such as:

- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Brussel sprouts
- Peas
- Green beans
- Butternut squash
- Carrots
- Red, yellow, and orange peppers
- Sweet potato
- Wild grain rice mix
- Quinoa
- Amaranth
- 6 bean medley
- Corn
- Vegetable pasta

That's all I can recall at the moment. I try to have approximately 16 different foods with at least 3-5 "power" foods in my chops. Nearly all ingredients are organic as well. I also add a very small amount of seed and some of the Pear'ngs to the chop as a treat for them. They also get anything I'm eating that's healthy, like sugar snap peas, apple, banana, strawberries, etc. I focus their diet on vegetables over fruit to ensure they're receiving the vitamins and nutrients they need.

Hope that gives you some perspective!

 

[SilverSage]

Variety is key. Currently my IRNs get
DRY: Royal large hookbill plus
Royal hookbill cuisine
Fruit cocktail
Rowdy bush pellets
TOPS

FRESH
Jalapeños
Bell peppers
Spring mix salad
Corn
Butternut squash
Carrots
Papaya
Guava
Grapes
Apple
Banana
Strawberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Snow peas
Zucchini
Whole kale leaf
Water cress
Radishes

SPROUTS
Quinoa
Lentils
Corn
Millet
Oat groats
Safflower
Sunflower

GRAINS
whole grain veggie pasta
Whole grain bread

OTHER
occasional egg or meat, not often
Cinnamon
Bee pollen
DE

Overwhelmed yet? You don't have to be. Just focus on fresh veggies and fruits with pellets to start with. Each of us learn as we go and figures out what is best for our flock. My IRNs breed, so they need an intense diet. I have also been doing this for a while. And I will let you in on a secret; due to some personal stuff, my birds aren't getting fresh food today (GASP!). Don't kill yourself over the diet. Work hard, it is important, but lay a good foundation and cut yourself a break when you don't get to everything you want to each day. Starting with pellets and greens and one fruit is a good place to start with an IRN. Switch things out often, mix it up, and add as you get the hang of it.

As for pellets, I always buy at least one or two sizes down from whatever my bird is, it slashes the waste factor by a lot! With as many birds as I have, I can't afford for them to drop half the pellet. Remember, your bird can eat millet, so as long as you aren't buying finch sized pellets, you are fine.

 

[jiannotto9492]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm currently leaving pellets out all day and doing two servings of some chop when I get home from work and at night.

 

[Dinosrawr]

No problem [emoji4] Once you get into the swing of things and learn what your bird likes/doesn't like, it makes life a lot easier.