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Feeding Your Indian Ringneck or Asiatic Parrot

Ringnecks and Asiatic parrots are not picky eaters. Most
ringnecks and Asiatic parrots will eagerly devour fruits and
vegetables if they are given the chance. Only a few selected birds
might refuse to eat alternative foods other than seeds. In my
experience, if I ever did come across and Indian Ringneck who
chooses not to eat pellets, fruits, or vegetables, they were easily
converted to a healthy diet in weeks. Asiatic parrots in particular
seem to be birds that really enjoy trying different foods. My Indian
Ringnecks have such an appetite that anything that is placed into
their cage is quickly eaten up. Before I get into what Indian
Ringnecks can eat, it is important to understand what they eat in
their natural habitats.
Wild
ringnecks eat many things in their natural surroundings. These
parrots enjoy fruits, blossoms, and seeds. Because of their need to
eat fresh fruits, many farmers in Pakistan and India regard these
birds as pests. In the jungles they are forced to seek out ripe
fruit or eat blossoms. Openings inside the forests provide the
opportunity to find grass seeds or fresh saplings. More recently,
many farmers located in
Bakersfield,
California
are starting to complain about crop damage due to feral Indian
Ringnecks. They are said to feed off the fruit and nut trees form
their orchards. This is just a clue as to what these parrots need
to survive and be healthy.
So with
that knowledge at hand, feeding your Indian Ringneck should not
difficult. Their stable diet needs to be a combination of pellets
and seeds. I will not name the brand of pellets I use; however, I
can tell you that mine enjoy them. When breeding my Indian
Ringnecks I was told never to use pellets that were artificially
dyed or pellets that contained sugar. I can’t disagree with this
statement more. I have been using a particular brand for a while
and I have never run into problems with my bird’s health. I find
this information to be misleading and no scientific evidence has
been published to prove these accusations. My ringnecks are healthy
and active and I attribute this to their diet.
Seeds
also need to be included in a healthy Asiatic parrot diet. Seeds
should not be removed because these birds naturally eat seeds in the
wild. People started saying that seeds were bad for their
birds because many of the parrots that only ate seeds developed
problems. Seeds alone are fatty and can cause serious
complications and shorten the lifespan on your Asiatic parrot
drastically. If however, they are given in moderation then they are
perfectly safe and healthy. My Indian Ringnecks prefer cockatiel
seeds to conure seeds. A good Cockatiel mix will have a mixture of
both small and large seeds. If you are feeding larger Asiatic
parrots such as Alexandrians or Derbyans, then a conure mix will
suffice.
I would
not advise mixing the pellets and seeds together. Indian Ringnecks
are smart and will easily avoid eating the pellets. It is much
better to rotate between the two every few days. I keep the seeds in
for four days and the pellets in for three days. This gives my
ringnecks the opportunity to really eat and benefit from each food.
Giving only pellets can also cause serous problems such as a
nutrient overdose; so giving pellets in moderation will avoid this.
Again, the key is moderation and substitution.
Fruits need to be added to your Indian Ringneck’s diet as
well. Apples are probably one of their favorite fruits. Watching
them eat their apples is fascinating and it is obvious they enjoy
the taste of it. They eagerly drink the juice and chew the flesh
into a pulp. It is amazing how quickly a slice will disappear.
Grapes also seem to be a favorite and are also enjoyed. Be sure to
include all kinds of fruits such as oranges, kiwis, pears, mangos,
and melons. Spoiled or old fruit should never be given to your
parrot.
Though fruit is probably their first choice of fresh foods,
vegetables need to be included into their diet as well. I give my
Indian Ringneck raw baby carrots. Archimedes, my pet Indian
Ringneck, will munch on a baby carrot for hours. He holds the
carrot in his hand and takes small bites. Leafy greens need to be
included. I just place the leaves whole into the cages. Most
Indian Ringnecks will not hold them but gently tear off chunks.
Warm squashes, such as pumpkin, zucchini, or banana squashes are
enjoyed if they are cubed and boiled. Be creative and always offer
vegetables to your Indian Ringneck or Asiatic parrots.
You also need to feed your parrot items rich in protein.
Too much protein is not good; however, a few chunks of cooked meat
is ideal. I find that shredded turkey or chicken will do the
trick. Once a week I offer some kind of protein item. Just be sure
to remove it an hour after being placed into the cage. This will
ensure it does not spoil.
Remember, feeding your Indian Ringneck does not have to be
difficult. These parrots will eat anything you cook just be sure to
avoid oils, salts, and preservatives. If you cook, prepare
vegetables and fruits while you make your meals. It will save you
time and can be stored and given throughout the week. If you
properly feed your Indian Ringneck you can expect him to live 20 or
more years, some Asiatic parrots can reach their 30s.
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