As we all know parrots can be very finicky eaters.We are tempted to feed them what ever we can to get them to enjoy eating. DO YOU KNOW…there are foods that are toxic or they just don’t benefit from them.
Here we would like you to research foods that are both safe and non- safe to birds.
Safe Fruit:
Apple … no seeds
Apricot
Banana
Blackberries
Blueberries
Boysenberries
Cherries
Coconut
Cranberries
Custard Apple … no seeds
Dates – dried
Dragon fruit
Figs
Finger Lime
Goji Berries
Grapes
Grapefruit
Honeydew
Kiwifruit
Kumquat
Lemon
Lime
Lychee – no seed
Mandarin
Mango
Mulberries
Nashi Pear
Nectarine – no seed
Orange
Papaya
Passionfruit
Paw Paw
Peach – no seed
Pear
Persimmon
Pineapple
Plum – no seed
Pomegranates
Raspberry
Rockmelon
Star Fruit
Strawberry
Tamarillo
Watermelon
Safe Vegies:
Asparagus
Beans
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Kale
Leafy greens
Peas and Pea pods
Peppers
Pumpkin
Soybeans
Snake Beans
Snow Peas
Sprouts
Squash
Sweet Red Potato
CALCIUM is usually high on the list of minerals required by our parrots. Many birds simply don’t get enough calcium in their diet. There are quite a few high calcium vegetables and other foods you can easily add to their diet.
What some people are unaware of is that there are some great sources of CALCIUM found in commonly sourced vegetables. There are so many vegetables that benefit our birds.To properly take care of your birds, you need to be maintaining a good diet. This is a great first step in ensuring your birds health.
Best greens, kale, bok choy, broccoli, Chinese cabbage can be easily found in grocery stores.
There are other sources of calcium for your birds.
Dried figs, sesame seeds and almonds are rich and easily found sources of calcium so you have many choices for your birds diet
UNSAFE FOODS
CHOCOLATE:
Theobromine and caffeine, which are both classified as methylanthines, can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, possibly seizures, and potentially death in pets if it is ingested at a toxic dose. As a general rule, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more potentially toxic it is to your pet.
AVOCADO:
All parts of the avocado plant contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that has been reported to be a cardiac toxin to birds. Small birds like canaries and budgies are considered to be more susceptible; however, clinical signs have been observed in other bird species. Clinical signs like respiratory distress usually develop 12 hours after ingestion and death can occur within one to two days.
ONION/GARLIC
Onion and garlic toxicity is well recognized in dogs and cats. Those in concentrated forms, such as garlic powder or onion soup mix, are more potent than the raw vegetable form.
FRUIT PITS / APPLE SEEDS:
While diced apple is ok for pet birds, the apple seeds contain cyanide and should always be removed prior to feeding apple to your bird. Pits from cherries, plums, apricots and peaches also contain cyanide so never allow your bird to chew on them.
RHUBARB the whole plant is toxic
Greencheek Conure
Scientific Name: Pyrrhura molinae
Origin: South America
Size: 10 inches in length
Life span: 20-30yrs
Noise: medium
Sun Conure
Scientific Name: Aratinga solstitialis
Origin: South America, specifically north eastern Brazil and Guyana. 
Size: 12 inches in length
Life Span: Up to 30 yrs
Noise: Loud ….can get screechy. Most people can tolerate them though
Plum Head Parrot
Scientific Name: Psittacula cyanocephala 
Origin: Indian sub-continent and China
Size: 13.5 inches in length to tip of tail
Life span: 15yrs +
Noise: Quiet most times
Janday Conure
Scientific Name: Aratinga jandaya
Origin: Brazil, South America
Size: 12 inches in length
Life span: 20yrs +
Noise: Loud…can get screechy. Most people can tolerate them though
Cockatiel
Scientific Name: Nymphicus hollandicus
Origin: Australia
Size: 12 inches in length
Life span: 25yrs +
Noise: soft – medium 
Selecting the right cage … prior to bringing your Parrot home
This is the first major purchase before selecting your new Feathered Friend.
There are a number of designs and styles available that we will happily help you choose the right one for your bird. A simple design will be easier to clean and maintain.
A parrot will treat it’s cage as it’s own territory and will happily spend majority of the day in it. The same as we do in our home. A cage is never be too small as a bird must be able to spread it’s wings freely without touching either sides of a cage.
Cage preparation prior to housing your bird…
Wash your cage down with 1part water to 2 parts white vinegar. Spray on the entire cage rails n wired areas. Leave for 15 mins and rinse off. Best to do outdoors if you can before assembling it.
Always assemble indoors incase your selected cage doesn’t fit through a doorway.
At the bottom of the cage should have a slide out rail that sits above the bottom tray.The tray needs to be covered with something that can be changed daily. The best covering is old newspaper, as its readily available in ones home,so that it can be changed daily.
Location of the cage is also very important…
Birds are very sensitive to fumes and gases.
Should you notice a smell or fumes move the cage to another room with good ventilation. Fumes are a source from cleaning products: Aerosol sprays, new paint, cigarette smoke, Teflon cookware, cooking gas, self cleaning ovens and car exhausts, etc.
Cages should not be positioned in the kitchen as fumes from everyday cooking can prove fatal.
Cages should not be placed in the window or near door ways because of the risk of draughts. Never to be placed in direct sunlight where the bird may overheat.
Best cage perches to use..
Remove dowel stick perches that come with the cage, as they provide no stimulation to your birds feet. Replace with a dead gumtree branch to suit the length. As the branch has different thicknesses, it benefits your birds feet.
You can also have one placed across the top corner section as birds like to roost in the highest peak of a cage if there is that area provided for them.
One very important method securing the door. The best and fool-proof method is by using a small padlock/clip.
Last thing you don’t need is someone in the home letting your bird out unexpectedly.
Even your bird learning that itself…..after you’ve been showing them unaware though,every time they come out. Birds watch everything you do!