Food for parrotlets

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Since parrotlets are exotic birds and are not as commonly found as many other pet bird species, parrotlets usually do not have their own food in the pet store, but don't worry because conure or cockatiel food works just fine. But parrotlets can't be on a seed-only diet. They must also be fed grains, fruits, and vegetables to unsure a healthy diet. There are usually more options for parrotlet feed online. Despite what many people think, Parakeet feed usually doesn't have very many sunflower seeds and other ingredients that are ideal for parrotlets, and actually isn't the best feed option for them.

 

Pellets

Pellets can be a good option for parrotlets that are picky about their diet. Pellets give your parrotlet the vitamins that they need, the same vitamins that you also find in fruits and vegetables, and can usually give the birds a balanced diet by itself. BUT, there there is a problem with pellets; Only the true green colored parrotlets can safely eat pellets. Color mutations (any color that is not the natural green) in parrotlets, tend to have problems when on a pellet diet. So do not feed your parrotlet pellets if you have color mutation.

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Grains 

Grains are an important part of a parrotlet's diet. Parrotlets don't add on weight like most other birds do, so sunflower seeds and grains are actually very important for parrotlets because they are such active birds. Good grains to feed your parrotlet include: Flax, whole-wheat bread, cooked rice, oats, couscous, spray millet, barley, and whole-grain pastas. These are all very good options to feed.   

 

Daily Fruits and Vegetables

Parrotlets should also have a good amount of fresh fruits and vegetables. The reason is that parrotlets and pretty much any parrot is that they can get liver disease. here are some fruits and vegetables that are good to feed:

carrots, apples (remove seeds), peaches (remove pits), all kinds of melons, bananas, all berries, grapes, oranges, corn, squash, zucchini, any legumes (cooked),  bok-choi, dandelion leaves, cabbage, artichoke, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, chillies and hot peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, cooked potatoes, cucumber, fennel, green beans, kale, and almost anything else. Most things that are healthy for humans are healthy for parrotlets, but - if you're not sure if your bird can have a certain food, either look it up first, or just don't give it to your bird, or do further research on that specific food for your parrotlet.

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I give them a good amount so it takes them 2 or 3 days to eat it all, but they do eat it ALL. But keep in mind, do not leave fresh foods in your bird's cage for too long, because uneaten food may get moldy or spoiled. Make sure to take out any scraps that haven't been eaten. Also, cooked eggs are a healthy thing to give your bird for a boost of protein. I know, this sounds weird, but it's actually quite healthy for them to get a small amount of scrambled eggs with their meal. just make sure to use a safe type of oil while cooking the egg. Below is a picture of what I generally feed to My parrotlets. Of course, you may not be able to feed EVERYTHING on the list of fruits and vegetables, but try to include as many things as you can for maximum nutrients.

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Foods to avoid feeding your parrotlet

Avocado -POISONOUS! Do not feed your parrot this.

Fruit seeds/pits - Apple seeds and most fruit seeds and pits are usually poisonous, so always make sure to remove seeds and pits from fruits before feeding!

Lettuce and celery - mostly water, and no nutrition. It's ok to feed very small amounts, but make sure to focus on nutrient-rich foods.

Grit -  Grit is not needed for parrots, as they use their beaks to grind food. Grit in parrots can cause crop impaction.

Citrus - not toxic, but be careful not to feed large amounts.

Any kind of meat -Parrotlets are not meat eaters, therefore, should never be fed any kind of meat or seafood.

Chocolate POISONOUS! Never feed your bird chocolate. 

Alcohol -  This should be obvious, but you should not feed your bird any kind of alcohol. This is not healthy for them and could cause illness or death to your bird.

Sugar - Sugar is something you will want to avoid as much as possible, but a something with a little sugar in it every once in a while should be okay.

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