When a pet bird's diet consists of healthy choices and good foods, the parrot is certain to live longer than if feed a poor diet. Large parrots such as cockatoos can live for a century or even longer. Small parrot species, such as budgies and cockatiels, will live longer than expected if their bird diet is made up of healthy foods.



Deadly Bird Diet Choices

While there are many good things to include in a parrot diet, there are a few items people consume which can actually kill your feathered friend. These foods, known as the "seven deadly foods", are avocado, chocolate, alcohol, seeds of any fruit, raw meat, uncooked eggs, and any food which may have mold or may be spoiled (including bird seed). There is some debate over other foods such as garlic, but most parrots will simply not eat a clove of garlic and the tiny amount used as seasoning in a human food that a parrot might eat is insufficient to cause any hard.

Bird Diet Items to Limit

There are also foods which a parrot may consume which should be limited in quantity. Small amounts will not harm the parrot, yet large amounts can cause serious health problems. You may notice that the foods to limit in a bird diet are those foods that people should limit in their own diets.

Foods that are high in fat must be strictly limited in bird diets. Parrots diets of parrots living in their natural environment contain little fat. Consider these foods in your bird's diet much as you would think of feeding a small child. While you might allow a child to have a high-fat cookie or oily potato chip, no parent concerned for their child's health would allow their offspring to eat unlimited amounts of these foods. While you might allow your bird to taste one bite or two from the edge of a cookie or chip on rare occasions, you do not want the bird diet to involve large amounts. Remember, all things in moderation is always good advice. Some foods which are high in fat include: foods with added butter, ice cream, fried foods, and cake with icing.

Salt much also be limited in a parrot's diet. Health-conscious humans also tend to limit their own salt intake. Thinking of the size of a parrot's body compared to your own, you can easily see why a tiny quantity of salt goes a long, long way. When preparing family meals, remove some vegetables prior to adding salt; this way your feathered friend can enjoy these healthy foods safely. Items which are too salty for inclusion in the bird diet include: salted chips, nuts with salt, fruits or vegetables prepared with added salt, and some packaged foods such as entrees for the microwave. Also included are cured or aged meats such as bacon or ham, and popcorn if salt or butter has been added.

Sugary foods are poor choices for a bird diet. Just like children, birds can learn to crave sweets if allowed. It is safe to permit a parrot to taste a bite or perhaps two of sugary foods, it is crucial to restrict quantities. Sugary foods include: sweetened soft drinks, some cereals, candy, sweetened fruit juice, ice cream, and cookies.

Good Choices for your Bird Diet

Many foods do not have to be restricted in your bird diet at all. In fact, everything that is not listed as diet choices to limit are good choices for your bird diet. The more different foods a parrot eats the healthier and happier it will be. The longer the companion parrot will live in most cases as well.

Fruits and vegetables are great parrot diet choices, either raw or gently cooked. Cooked eggs, cheese, pasta, rice, potatoes (except potato chips or fried potatoes), noodles, bits of meat or fish, and other human foods are good for you bird. Parrots only need a very small amount of meat, so offer just a bite or two; some parrots do love a bone with a few bits of meat left on it to chew and to dig out the marrow which is quite nutritious.