Herbs Your Parrots Can Eat | Parrot Diet Ideas | TheParrotTeacher

[@jtproductions4370]

I've had my Conures for 16 years and never heard anyone I've watched or read talk about herbs for birds. I just tried giving my conures home-grown fresh Mint and Dill, and to my suprise, they loved them. Thank you, your videos are great!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Thank you! As for the information I’ll be honest much of it has been around for a while, just no one has really promoted it or looked into it! For many it’s easier to just go with the commonly held stuff!

[@victoriaredsky3859]

Lovely broadcast! I'm taken with your paintings behind you.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Thank you! Cheers! We love them too lol

[@debbieangelo3875]

I have an ENORMOUS mint plan growing on my Gardyn- this is perfect!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Awesome! Home grown is often the best! Just give it a very good wash before serving!

[@debbieangelo3875]

@@TheParrotTeacher will do! The nice thing about the Gardyn is that everything is organic by default (that's definitely not always the case here in the U.S.) Can they have chives, too?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@debbieangelo3875 with regards to having chives, I’d avoid providing them!

[@lampyrisart8619]

The rosemary works like a charm! The only greens ive been able to feed them so far😂. Thanks for the tips!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Glad to hear it! It was the opener for a couple of our conures too!

[@BirdNerdSophie]

This is one of my favourite videos of yours! 💙🌿

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Due to the Coriander? lol

[@BirdNerdSophie]

@@TheParrotTeacher no, the vitamin G 🤣

[@elise7493]

ive been bingewatching the parrot diet playlist and ive been loving the ones on herbs, spices, and flowers! Shouldve been doing this way sooner but now i know.. will be trying ASAP!!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Elise, Glad to hear someone's using the playlists lol I worry I make them for nothing sometimes!

[@cowgirl_406]

Olive melts me ❤️❤️❤️

[@TheParrotTeacher]

She is adorable...most of the time! She's really been into her pets lately too!

[@karenferrick3283]

Thanks this is wonderful, I am sure my birds will love them

[@TheParrotTeacher]

No problems! Herbs are awesome! We’ve found they also are the best way to get parrots started on veg if they are fussy!

[@beausmomnancy4671]

Ok...Time to go shopping I have not used herbs. It will be interesting to see which herbs my birds will like. Thank you for the info! 🐦😊

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Nancy! They are great! We always recommend them to our clients and regularly give our own birds fresh herbs! Sophie has started growing some so we can give our own!

[@archiesflock7517]

Archie loves herbs!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

They are such a great snack for parrots!

[@hannahholness4990]

Love the portraits of Chip & Fish.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Thank you! They are cute, we have them for Scampi and Pickles too!

[@ferrets4]

Very informative, thanks for sharing! My cockatiel loves dill, I'm trying mint and coriander today

[@TheParrotTeacher]

No problems! Awesome, let me know if they like them!

[@64wicca]

Thanks

[@TheParrotTeacher]

That’s very kind of you! Thank you! There are lots more diet related videos on the channel if you’d like to explore more!

[@64wicca]

@@TheParrotTeacher It's not just being kind. it's getting the right information when we need it. I'm sure it isn't always straight forward making these videos. But sometimes it's a power of information for us in need of recourses. So a big thank you for the information and the fun in making it all happen. at the end of the day. it's about making the birds life a happy one.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Totally agree, it’s why me and my partner started making KZbin videos! To improve birds lives and make it easier on people too!

[@64wicca]

@TheParrotTeacher yes, I've seen some of Sophie's videos too. They are pretty cool and helpful. I'll keep watching even the older videos I go back on to refresh my knowledge. I have a young green cheek conure rescue. I know a bit about conures but not enough. I have 'Floki " but don't know what sex he/she is yet. I'll probably get dna. No rush. Think a bit hormonal at the moment too. As abit nippy/bite. Anyway keep up the good work I'll keep watching. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@cindywoodrum5037]

Another awesome video!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Thank you!

[@dottiestbanjo4508]

This is a very informative video, I didn't know you could give your birds herbs? May I ask how often you should give your bird them, like a few times a week in there chop? I do not have a bird but have had experiences in the past which were not the best in terms of diet. I am trying to learn as much as I can. Thank you again for these amazing videos!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

No problems! As for when we provide them we usually give fresh herbs a few times a week but vary which ones we provide! We usually thread them through bars or make bundles!

[@yorksheergenius]

Thank you for this great video- I will definitely be getting some of your suggestions for my birds to try. I’m lucky that my 2 are quite adventurous so I like to change up their fruit and veg to keep them interested (with a few favourites given consistently) so this has given me lots of ideas.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Yorksheergenius! Thanks for the kind comment! Sounds good, if they are adventurous should be perfect to try herbs with them!

[@alanahjade27]

My budgies love herbs! Leafy greens and herbs, as well as carrot, broccoli, cauliflower and green beans are the only things I can get them to eat! (Apart from seed) Herbs they've eaten: - Basil - Parsley - Rosemary - Coriander (cilantro) - Mint - Sage (they don't like it very much though) I grow all my own herbs so they're fresher and don't come in plastic! I'll have to try thyme, dill and oregano!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Sounds awesome to me! Lots of good herbs there (don't forget to make sure Parsley is only very occasionally though!) Ours LOVE Thyme and are pretty ok with oregano and dill too!

[@treamey9428]

Thank the lord I watched your video. Our blue and gold macaw we found out was a female after 14 years. When we came to her rescue we were told she was a male, even banded on her right leg which means Male typically (I just found that out recently because he band has ended up on her foot :( and needs to be removed). She has battled with calcium and recently had a egg that she couldn't pass. It ended up breaking and the vet can not get it out. Her body also quickly robbed her calcium from her skeletal system and all her food sources. She needs surgery but now her bones are way too fragile. They also drew fluid off of her body cavity above her swollen cloaca. It was full of bacteria where it should have been sterile. She is taking Baytril for the antibiotic and Metacam for her anti-inflammatory. I LEARNED FROM YOUR VIDEO AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH not to give her any Parsley even though it's on all chop list. I am trying to give her more natural food, not just a pellet and seed diet. Actually at this time I have eliminated seeds to make sure she doesn't get any irritation in her digestive track. If it wasn't for your informative video I would have tried to see if she liked the Parsley since I just chopped some for dinner and have a lot left over. Thankfully I LEARNED BEFOREHAND THAT IT BLOCKS CALCIUM ABSORPTION! We are on a mission to save her life as she shows no signs of distress or illness, which is why we didn't know about her getting egg bound or calcium depleted. We had even thought we were going to have to euthanize at the end of the week (which would have been tomorrow). After she got the sedation drugs out of her system though and showed zero signs of distress or illness we and the dr decided against it. We are giving it our best shot at building her stronger. So if you have any more knowledge of food that blocks calcium absorption please share with us, we are desperate for the knowledge! Your video has been the best so far. Also I sounds like food high in oxalates tend to prevent proper calcium absorption? Also, I have been giving her sliced almonds to increase calcium. She loves them. For a wet food for the calcium powder supplement to stick to I have been giving her sliced strawberries. Any knowledge of strawberries is greatly appreciated too. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey there, I try to avoid giving too much advice regarding veterinary issues as it’s best sought from your vet! However do be aware that a very small amount of parsley is ok, as it blocks calcium absorption from the source itself not all calcium overall! So it’s ok in moderation. Obviously also given your situation I’d suggest as much calcium rich food as possible! It may be worth joining “avian raw whole food nutrition” on Facebook for further advice and support! Wishing your little one a good recovery!

[@crizzyzay7854]

Very informative ! Thank you

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Thanks for the kind comment! Is that a DBZ Avatar too?

[@crizzyzay7854]

@@TheParrotTeacher you already know 😏 it’s his baby mama . Thanks for noticing

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@crizzyzay7854 ahh! Lol thanks for the reminder!

[@sharellgeddins9472]

Thank you so much for the information. I am going to try this. Can I add the same or different herbs daily?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Sharell, You can provide fresh herbs daily but it’s best to give your flock breaks from them from time to time! Also stick to the herbs in this video unless you do some further reading as some others can be harmful in large quantities!

[@sharellgeddins9472]

@@TheParrotTeacher Thank you! I only have one green cheek conure… I’ve had him for a year now, around the time I subscribed to both your channels. I really enjoy and appreciate the videos. Keep them coming! 😊

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@sharellgeddins9472 Thank you!

[@ornithologydude8649]

*writing down why i should use herbs"

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Because they are great!

[@karenmusa3052]

Thanku so much for all the info, I do get that u can't get better than fresh herbs but they are pretty pricey here in Oz. I will probably go buy some plants at the nursery so I've got it fresh on hand. Until then can I give my girl Lucky, who is a 23yr old Pink and Grey galah, dried herbs? Like from the shaker containers u buy for cooking? Thanku again very much, really interesting 😃

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Sounds like a plan! Often growing them yourself is the best and cheapest option! You can provide dried herbs to parrots provided they are bird safe (like the ones mentioned in this video) they aren't quite as nice, but some birds do enjoy them!

[@karenmusa3052]

@@TheParrotTeacher cool thanku so much, just wanted to check as some dried herbs are alot stronger than fresh. Mind u she won't eat nothing she doesn't like so im safe there 😅 She eats nearly everything i give her, actually she had a fantastic varied diet which is far superior to mine lol..typical that we'll stand prepping everything for our animals but when it comes to our own meals its far easier to have toast 😅 or cake 🤣 Thanks again, much appreciated 😉

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@karenmusa3052 Ours eat healthier than us too lol

[@Lcalvert66]

Is corn ok to put in your birds chop? I have a Green Cheek Conure and she is really picky on eating veggies. Also, is it ok to give tomatoes to conures?.I want to give my conure a variety of foods but she is very picky..

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Lisa, Corn is fine! If it's from a tin make sure it has no extras or brine or anything! I'd try to avoid tomatoes as a rule due to their acidity. You could give them once in a while, but I wouldn't make it regular!

[@skort94]

Is any type of mint alright? Or does it need to be a specific kind? We have spearmint growing in our front garden bed

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Generally yes, but normal mint is best!

[@skort94]

@TheParrotTeacher sorry to be a bother, but evidently in America, we don't have 'normal mint' 😅. We have lemon mint, spearmint, peppermint, sweet mint, chocolate mint... what is considered 'normal mint'? Lol

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Peppermint would be your best bet!

[@jianjaved7332]

Can we give dried herbs and flowers

[@TheParrotTeacher]

You can yes, herbs are better fresh though!

[@user-cw6vw9ji7d]

My cockatiel loves Basil, more than millet and sunflower seeds. How much can I give , daily? Or is that too much. Thanks

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Sam, I'd vary the herbs and give it no more than 3 times a week! Amount wise I'd say a few stems!

[@user-cw6vw9ji7d]

Thank you thats really helpful. I'm currently binge watching all your videos and your partners videos . I'm new to having a bird and want to get it right. They are very informative

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@user-cw6vw9ji7d Glad they are helpful! Also awesome that you’re getting some research in! Helps so much when getting to grips with being a parrot person!

[@corrinjade3973]

The aroma from the herbs wont hurt them?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

The smell? Nope! Fresh herbs (the ones mentioned in this video) are totally safe!

[@ornithologydude8649]

When you do consultations so you visit your clients in person or is it a telleservice?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

At the moment it's only via video due to covid. We would like to do visits though!

[@aarjen3x6]

hey david... i have a question: what do you mean with vitc A..? you mention it at the timestamp 2:43..

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey there, I was abbreviating vitamin to vit! Probably shouldn't have done that looking back as it's watched internationally!

[@aarjen3x6]

@@TheParrotTeacher aahh thank you for the reaction.. well i do not have a great knowledge about birds..so it was a bit of a confusion.. there is always room for improvement.. but also questions improve knowledge..!! me,my mothers birds & my bird guide for my mother thanks you for your excellent work David & Sophie..!!

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@aarjen3x6 If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask! We are happy to help!

[@aarjen3x6]

@@TheParrotTeacher if i have them i will surely ask them..!!👍😁

[@zsofimelich9785]

Can I serve herbs to my bird in a dried form too? 😇

[@TheParrotTeacher]

You can yes! Fresh is generally better but dried is fine in moderation too!

[@zsofimelich9785]

@@TheParrotTeacher Okay, thank you 🥰

[@rocky4udude]

I heard Neem leaves are good to deworm, is that true? We have plenty of Neem trees around the house. When I bought the GCC, has used the bird deworming drops and I dont want to use it again.( the info says we need to deworm once in 6 months, but I am not sure)

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Rakesh, you shouldn't really need to de-worm indoor birds unless they show drastic symptoms. Sadly I'm not sure if Neem leaves are ok as it's not something we have ever used.

[@bjFloridaGator]

do dried herbs work as well as fresh?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Nope sadly not! You can provide them but fresh is much better!

[@bjFloridaGator]

@@TheParrotTeacher went shopping today. Let's just hope they are a hit. Guess I need to revive my gardening

[@nurgleslefttentacle6844]

My birds really love shredding rosemary and thyme. I've started growing a few herbs on a window box for them. What do you recommend as a natural pesticide? The last thing I want to do is spray the herbs with something dangerous.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey there, Sadly that's not something I know much about! I know Sophie has started growing some potted herbs, but we don't tend to grow them outside! I know some citrus peels can help, but beyond that I'd do some research into it!

[@swatz2110]

Nc

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Thank you!

[@GAFREGAFRE]

Hi, I have dried oregano, how much can I put on 500 grams of soft food?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey there, You want no more than a pinch of dried! But remember, fresh is best!

[@chrisvallance8176]

I know this is an old video but I've had my cocktails for 6 days now and all she is interested in is seed and millet. I put chop and pellets in the cage but no luck. What should I do?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Chris, I wouldn't worry or rush swapping her diet, but try to transition her. I'd remove the millet entirely and reserve it only for training or bonding work with her! I'd try the herbs initially, hang them as toys and see if she will play/bite at them. Because if she will try one green thing she will start trying others! You can also watch Sophie's video on how to get cockatiels to eat veg!

[@chrisvallance8176]

@@TheParrotTeacher Thanks, she is doing really well with training, i am only using the millet for training. Got her to step up within 2 days and she's doing well with clicker training.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@chrisvallance8176 Hey Chris, Sounds awesome to me! Don't rush and just take things at a relaxed pace!

[@candicet5973]

They aren't cheap 😭 they are rather expensive actually. We can't find any herbs here except if we drive far away to a place that sells fresh herbs. We only have coriander, and occasionally we can get some basil. I use dried herbs that have no ingredients and just a dried out herb to add to my chop and it's going fine actually, tho I wish I could get it fresh ;-;

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Maybe it's due to where you live! We are lucky in that fresh herbs are very easy to get for cheap! You could consider growing your own in a little pot or mini garden!

[@candicet5973]

@@TheParrotTeacher I did try growing them - they died 😭

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@candicet5973 Can't help you there lol

[@victoriaredsky3859]

@@candicet5973 Don't overwater, or leave in Hot Afternoon Sun... Light morning sun should be fine. Don't feel bad... I killed a Cactus once... Try a soiless composite instead. If you have a stream or river nearby, take a steamed clean tupperware container or two and scoop up your own Good Dirt quantity to suit . There must be a supermarket or garden store which carries those teeny plantings ready for update pots to grow them into full, lush maturity.

[@djgabulearchitect9155]

cute parrot. Great video. super cool. full watch and support here. Hope you do the same.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Thank you!

[@resmisajith4261]

My cockatiel bites me whenever I try to train him to step on my hand.........what should I do? Plzzz reply

[@resmisajith4261]

He is badly clipped.....should I let him out of the cage ?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey there, Have you watched my other videos on Bonding and Step up training? Both of those might be helpful! I also have one on biting that might help. As a quick bit of advice, you could sleeve your hand, or try a small training perch with lots of positive reinforcement and treats for stepping up. If he is badly clipped, I'd be very careful letting him out of the cage if he isn't comfortable stepping up or being on your hand/a perch. It's possible he may spook or injure himself.

[@resmisajith4261]

Thank you very much for replying i will definitely try

[@Jedi529]

My Conure hates veggies or fruit it only eats meat. Every time I bbq it wants burger or a hotdogs.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Sergio! Is this a joke?! Also hope you don’t let them have any if it isn’t, as it’s really bad for them!

[@Jedi529]

@@TheParrotTeacher I wish it was a joke we got him from a butcher shop the man had him for a year and feed him meat. I don't know what to do he won't eat veggies or fruit we put out. He loves hotdog eats a small piece and that's it.

[@TheParrotTeacher]

@@Jedi529 hey Sergio, I strongly recommend stopping the meat ASAP. It is terrible for their health. Firstly, get him on high fat seeds to get him off of the meat, stuff like suflower, safflower, millet etc. If he will eat normal seed skip the high fat and just put him on all seed with NO MEAT Slowly put him on a healthier diet with a mix of seed, veg, pellets and some fruit! Introduce fruit and veg slowly into his diet, try him on pellets, try him on herbs. My partner Sophie has a video on her channel about introducing vegetables to a parrot who won’t eat them I’d highly recommend you watch too!

[@Jedi529]

@@TheParrotTeacher Ok buddy I try that today.

[@joyfreeman9962]

Can they have these herbs everyday?

[@TheParrotTeacher]

Hey Joy, Different herbs certainly! The only one I'd strictly limit is Parsley ( no more than once a week!) All the others can be fed daily in variation or every other day. We tend to provide herbs every other day so they don't get bored of them! Some people regularly put oregano is chop as it helps it keep longer !

[@joyfreeman9962]

@@TheParrotTeacher Thank you so much!