You are here:

Birds--General/diet-softfood

Advertisement

Expert: - 2/29/2008


Question
hi,my name is jose and i'm from kerala,India.I have some african lovebirds.i have read that soft food is good for them.what exactly is soft food ...how do i prepare it.

Answer
Hi, Jose,

"Soft" food is any food that is not "hard."  Some examples:

Soft foods:  cooked brown rice, vegetables, fruits, whole/multi grain breads, etc.

Hard foods:  seed, pellets

Your parrots need a variety of healthy, nutritious human foods, in addition to pelleted food, in order to remain healthy and happy.  Seed is high in fat and low in nutritional value and should be offered as an occasional treat or reward for positive behavior.  A poor diet for a parrot is an all-seed diet.

Chrys

Birds--General

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.