Avian diets are one, if not THE most complicated aspect of keeping a parrot. An appropriate diet depends on many things. It depends on what kind of bird you are talking about for one thing. Every bird has a different diet in the wild. What's more, bird diets vary by season and locale. Some macaws, like Hyacinths live almost exclusively on one or two food sources (palm nuts in this case). Other macaws, like Greenwings, are primarily fruit eaters.
In captivity, many owners don't know the difference and just feed them the same. This can work, but it's not necessarily the BEST we can do for our avian companions.
I've kept and trained parrots both at home and professionally for a decades, and in that time I've seen avian diets change from the traditional seed diets to modern pelleted (or extruded) diets. I've also worked with my vets (both at the zoo and my personal vets) in researching diets for the birds we keep.
In the end, we have to come to a compomise of sorts. We know a good deal about their diets in the wild, but we don't have access to much of that in our homes. For now, pelleted diets are just about the best thing that anyone can feed their birds, ...bar none. A diet of 100% pellets is pretty boring though, so we all supplement with other things. How much we supplement, and with what is important.
My tiel is primarily a seed eater by nature, so seeds are a significant part of his diet. I split it about 50/50 with pellets. He occasionally gets treats, but I make sure that most of them are grain based treats, breads and crackers and such. I don't currently have a budgie, but if I did, they'd be on almost exactly the same diet.
Long term studies have shown that birds like budgies and tiels that are on exclusively pelleted diets tend to have more kidney problems in old age.
For my larger parrots, their diet is 60-80% pelleted, with supplements of veggies (usually in olive oil), breads, crackers and fruit. They also tend to "share" whatever I'm eating, so they have additional bits of everything from fish, eggs and chicken to dairy products. Our morning oatmeal is a tradition with them, but they also love cheese and yogurt.
I rotate the kind of pellets I use for all my birds. Bird diets are so complicated that I don't believe that any one manufacturer has the "best" of everything. Changing pellets insures that they are less likely to come up short on some trace element. A side benefit of changing foods is that they don't get too bonded with any one food.
Everytime I run out of pellets (I buy big bags), I change brands. I've used Harrison's (waaay overpriced IMO), Roudybush (my personal fave), Zupreem, Mazuri, Kaytee, Prettybird, and a couple of small brands sold only over the internet.
Seed diets are NEVER appropriate for larger parrots. What's more, parrots will NOT choose healthy diets for themselves. Just like children, parrots will choose foods based on color, taste and texture. They don't give one whit whether it is good for them. You have to be the "adult", and make sure they eat what's good for them, not necessarily what they want.
Seeds should only be used as a "social" food, to enhance bonding, or as reinforcement for training the bird. Including it as significant part of the diet is shortchanging your birds health for your own gratification.
bob
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The Mistress
"Cogito Ergo Zoom"
I think, therefore I drive fast.