A macaws' diet is made up of fruits, vegetables, nuts, a good seed mix, and mineral / vitamin supplements. Pellets can be added to the diet to eliminate the need for vitamin supplements. Pellets should not replace any other part of the diet. Peanuts and other non-salted nuts should be given as macaws need more fat than other parrots. Foods that should not be fed are: anything with caffeine, anything with lots of salt, no chocolate, and avocado can be problematic.
I would like to expand on the subject of the infamous avacado. The skin of the avocado is toxic as are the leaves, bark, and pit. It is stated in the Wikipedia that "the fruit is toxic to some birds." I know of a few breeders that feed their birds avocado and say that "it has never been a problem and, infact, enhances the plumage." I, however, do not suggest feeding avocado but wanted to expand a little on the reason why people say "no avocado."
What one person may mean by "fruits and vegetables" may not be what another understands. Let me clarify what I mean by making this statement. Certain fruits and certain vegetables have different qualities that add zest and nutrition to the diet. Variety is important for the diet from a nutritional standpoint as well as psychological. Yes texture, flavor, and color are important to your bird as well as vitamin qualities of different produce. Surely our birds look forward to eating and playing with their food. Oh, and yes they do waste a lot but that is part of the joys of birdkeeping. When creating your birds "plate" try and make it colorful and appealing.
Where do pellets fit in? I believe that pellets play an important part of most parrots diets even if it's only a small part. As I stated on the home page under diet, pellets should never replace any part of a pets diet other than synthetic vitamin and mineral suppliments. I am a firm believer in micronutrients that are found in things like spirulina. I personally feed a tan colored pellet to my birds that has been lightly coated with spirulina and other herbs like wheat grass ect., a product I buy from China Prairie, untill the pellets have a light green sheen. I have found that pellets help keep a birds weight up. This has been especially true with hens that are feeding babies. I almost lost a female conure that was feeding babies. At the time I had the pair on chopped apples, carrot, broccoli, Vionate multi suppliment vitamin, and as much seed as they wanted. Apparently not enough carbs. "Atkins diet?" I'm still studying this. Amazons and rosebreasted cockatoos don't apply, again we are talking about macaws (conures dietary needs are very similar) here.
I would like to expand on the subject of the infamous avacado. The skin of the avocado is toxic as are the leaves, bark, and pit. It is stated in the Wikipedia that "the fruit is toxic to some birds." I know of a few breeders that feed their birds avocado and say that "it has never been a problem and, infact, enhances the plumage." I, however, do not suggest feeding avocado but wanted to expand a little on the reason why people say "no avocado."
What one person may mean by "fruits and vegetables" may not be what another understands. Let me clarify what I mean by making this statement. Certain fruits and certain vegetables have different qualities that add zest and nutrition to the diet. Variety is important for the diet from a nutritional standpoint as well as psychological. Yes texture, flavor, and color are important to your bird as well as vitamin qualities of different produce. Surely our birds look forward to eating and playing with their food. Oh, and yes they do waste a lot but that is part of the joys of birdkeeping. When creating your birds "plate" try and make it colorful and appealing.
Where do pellets fit in? I believe that pellets play an important part of most parrots diets even if it's only a small part. As I stated on the home page under diet, pellets should never replace any part of a pets diet other than synthetic vitamin and mineral suppliments. I am a firm believer in micronutrients that are found in things like spirulina. I personally feed a tan colored pellet to my birds that has been lightly coated with spirulina and other herbs like wheat grass ect., a product I buy from China Prairie, untill the pellets have a light green sheen. I have found that pellets help keep a birds weight up. This has been especially true with hens that are feeding babies. I almost lost a female conure that was feeding babies. At the time I had the pair on chopped apples, carrot, broccoli, Vionate multi suppliment vitamin, and as much seed as they wanted. Apparently not enough carbs. "Atkins diet?" I'm still studying this. Amazons and rosebreasted cockatoos don't apply, again we are talking about macaws (conures dietary needs are very similar) here.