Rice for GCC

[Annageckos]

I was at an Asian market today and picked up some wild sweet rice. Is there anything special I should do before feeding Ziva some? Should I cook it or is it okay to feed dry? Also for people with one small bird, like a GCC how much do you make at a time of things like amaranth and quinoa? The amount my GCC will eat in a day is so small. It gets kind of gummy if it is left in the fridge. Does anyone give these grains dry?

 

[dishgal1]

Definitely cook it first. It will swell up in the crop. Not good.

 

[Annageckos]

I am fairly certain that that is a myth. There is a guy that feed the pigeons dry rice every day at a place we vacation. Everyday they come back, none have died from it that I know of. I would think if that were true there would be lots of dead birds and people would use it to control pest species. I just was wondering if it is less digestible dry, or if birds don't like it dry.

 

[friedsoup]

Cooked rice is good for about two days or you can under cook it then freeze it and then Micro it to doneness try this subitute half of the water with Pineapple Orange juice. (this goes well with pork or fish for yourself) and my bird loves it.

 

[Annageckos]

Thanks, how much a day could/should she get (she is a green cheek conure). Or is it ok to let her eat her fill?

 

[DebsFlock]

I tend to use as a rule of thumb, if I could eat it prepared in a given way, my bird very likely can (with a few key exceptions). So I'd research rice before feeding it uncooked. I suspect it's probably OK, since people can eat rice flour, but I wouldn't vouch for it.

I don't do cooked foods all that often, but even with 3 there are tons of leftovers... I know some people freeze it in individual portions. There are some tiny ice cube trays available these days and I got one for just that purpose, but have not yet inaugurated it.