Are parrot pellets healthy?
In the 1980s, the pellets food was first developed for parrots and birds. Pellets were created because some people were only feeding their captive bird seeds which though have nutrients, lack all essential nutrients. Feeding just seeds causes the parrots to overfeed on seeds leading to health issues, like obesity and malnutrition.
So what are pellets?
So are pellets a source of balanced nutrition food?
No. And here's why. First of all, every parrot and bird species are different and have different requirements. None of the pellets out there today are produced with your specific parrot species in mind. It takes years of study and research to determine what individual species require. If your parrot has an unusual dietary need, it could become very dangerous to put your parrot on a general food.
Pellets are made with heat treatments. Heat does destroy some enzymes, vitamins, and nutritional value of the raw ingredients. (seongeung lee, et all).
Another reason you are not getting all the rich nutrients is because grinding up raw ingredients deteriorates the food faster. Eg. nutmeg. It is always recommended to buy the whole nutmeg and grind it yourself at home when needed.
How should pellets be used?
Last thoughts
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Monika Sangar, MSc – Molecular Biology | Avian Nutrition Specialist | Founder: PDSnonprofit | Owner: Pds Parrot Shop
Monika Sangar holds a Master of Science in Molecular Biology and is a dedicated Avian Nutrition Specialist with over 14 years of hands-on experience rescuing and rehabilitating parrots. As the founder of PDSnonprofit and Owner of PDS Parrot Shop, she combines scientific knowledge with practical expertise to create enrichment-focused bird toys and species-appropriate diets. Her work emphasizes evidence-based care, behavioral enrichment, and long-term wellness for companion parrots. She is also an author who wrote, The Science of Avian Nutrition: https://a.co/d/f14lNl3
PDS is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax id #46-2470926)
Reference:
Apple seed: The truth to the core
If you are active on social media you will come across people saying no to apple seeds because of cyanide poisoning. Though it is true that apple seeds have cyanide, is it enough to kill or cause harm?
Monika Sangar, MSc – Molecular Biology | Avian Nutrition Specialist | Founder: PDSnonprofit | Owner: Pds Parrot Shop
Monika Sangar holds a Master of Science in Molecular Biology and is a dedicated Avian Nutrition Specialist with over 14 years of hands-on experience rescuing and rehabilitating parrots. As the founder of PDSnonprofit and Owner of PDS Parrot Shop, she combines scientific knowledge with practical expertise to create enrichment-focused bird toys and species-appropriate diets. Her work emphasizes evidence-based care, behavioral enrichment, and long-term wellness for companion parrots. She is also an author who wrote, The Science of Avian Nutrition: https://a.co/d/f14lNl3
PDS is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax id #46-2470926)
How to find cheap parrot toys
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| wood bird toys |
Cheaper bird toys
Parrots are highly intelligent and therefore need mental and physical stimulation and agility. Bird toys encourage exercise, decrease boredom, and keep them happy and healthy.
I should start this post by stating: Skilled, handcrafted isn't cheap and you get what you paid for. Cheap bird toys are just that, cheaply made, dangerous, and causing more issues than one needs. Cheap toys are smaller, very few wood blocks, dangerous hanging clips, and the wrong material is used.
Many times, I will receive donations of toys and I didn't give them to the birds because they will cause more harm than good. I took them part and remade them. However, there are still a few things you can do to get cheaper toy options.
We should be aiming for good quality bird toys, fairly priced. A good bird toy maker will use proper materials to make sure the toy lasts as long as possible. They will use materials that are non-toxic, and safe yet still deliver creative bird toys for your parrot.
As wood prices increase, wood parrot toys have and will also increase in price. There are other options and creative ways to help our feathery friends stay happy and enriched.
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| shreddable bird toys |
Cheaper ideas for bird toys:
1) Cardboard might be every bird owner's best friend right now. As wood prices increase, making toys out of cardboard is easy and cheap. There are cardboard boxes, cardboard blocks, and cardboard sheets. Check out all the fun, cardboard toys here: Pds parrot toys
2) Infant/ baby toys: Infant toys are not just for a human baby; your 20-year-old parrot might love them too. There are so many varieties of toys from wood to sound-making. Go to your nearest thrift store or look at marketplaces online for used old baby toys. (baby wood toys are safe since they use safe material for baby stuff)
4) Lumber Yard: Even with high prices, you can find a clearance section at the lumber yard where they are selling off untreated pine wood for 70 percent off. You might not be able to use the full length and throw away part of the damaged wood, but it's much cheaper than the full-priced stuff.
5) DIY bird toys: If quarantine had taught us anything, it's how to youtube and google new skills. There are many DIY parrot toy videos. Many places are selling wood blocks with drilled holes. All one needs to do is string them with sisal or chain. Done.
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| parrot wood blocks |
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Monika Sangar, MSc – Molecular Biology | Avian Nutrition Specialist | Founder: PDSnonprofit | Owner: Pds Parrot Shop
Monika Sangar holds a Master of Science in Molecular Biology and is a dedicated Avian Nutrition Specialist with over 14 years of hands-on experience rescuing and rehabilitating parrots. As the founder of PDSnonprofit and Owner of PDS Parrot Shop, she combines scientific knowledge with practical expertise to create enrichment-focused bird toys and species-appropriate diets. Her work emphasizes evidence-based care, behavioral enrichment, and long-term wellness for companion parrots. She is also an author who wrote, The Science of Avian Nutrition: https://a.co/d/f14lNl3
PDS is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax id #46-2470926)