I am getting an African Grey parrot and I heard that they can eat fruits and veggies can they eat all kinds of fruits and veggies or just certain ones?

Feeding pet parrots and African Greys the right foods is important for their health. A balanced diet based on sound bird nutrition recommendations is the key. Balancing a parrot’s diet from the beginning may prevent many health and behavior problems.

In the wild, African Greys and most parrots eat fruits,vegetables,leaves, insects, bark and flowers. In captivity, they should eat a varied diet of fruits, vegetables supplemented with some seeds and nuts. Rice, cooked beans, corn, tortillas, pasta, potatoes, bread and cooked chicken are healthy foods for Greys. They also need extra calcium supplementation, so add bones, oyster shell, and cuttle bones to the diet.

Calcium-rich vegetable / fruits and greens should be fed frequently, these include: bok choy, kale, parsley, mustard greens, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, dandelion greens, apricots, figs, endive, okra, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), pinto beans and kidney beans. Please note that large raw beans – such as Anasazi, Black, Fava, Kidney, Lima, Navy, Pinto, and Soy – can cause toxicities when fed raw, causing digestive upsets for people and potentially for parrots.

Best Fruits and Vegies:

• Corn
• Beans/Peas
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Orange
• Sweet Potato
• Melons

also Acorn Squash, Alfalfa Sprouts, Asparagus, Bean Sprouts, Beets, Bell Pepper, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Celery (limited, provides fibre & fluid only), Cucumber, English Peas, Garlic(roasted), Green Beans, Jalapeno Peppers, Kale, Kiwi Fruit, Lima Beans (well cooked), Mango, Papaya (red), Parsley, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Pineapple, Pumpkin, Romaine Lettuce, Rutabaga, Spinach, Peas, Swiss Chard,Tomatoes,Turnip,Yam,Zucchini, Raw Walnuts, Almonds, and Pistachios and Sprouted seeds.

Vegetables should be fed raw or slightly steamed (excluding beans noted above) and then cooled. The less cooked, the more nutrients. Frozen vegetables thawed under warm water are also acceptable. Keep Pesticides out of Vegetables, go organic if possible.

Dry Fruits / Veggies: When fresh fruits and vegetables are not available, dehydrated fruits and vegetables work great. Many birds love their crunchiness, or they toss them into their water dish (creating a “soup” of some sorts) and then eat them once they are re-hydrated. Be prepared to change the water more often throughout the day. Dried fruits & vegetables have the advantage that they don’t go off. You could literally leave them in their cages for days (unless they get wet, of course).

Some birds will not eat fruits or veggies at all and others love them. Those that will eat fruits will have more watery droppings, so do not be alarmed. Be sure to remove uneaten fruit from your bird’s bowl promptly before it rots.