Dear Parrots magazine,
Correct diet
I enjoy reading the magazine and especially articles by Eb Cravens but the article on ‘Breeding Budgerigars’ in the December issue quite surprised me with its advise on the budgie diet. It is bad enough that a fruit cake is suggested as an occasional treat - why?! such an old fashioned practice as giving bread soaked in milk is mentioned too! And there is no doubt anymore about the fact that budgies, or other parrots, can’t digest milk properly, so why would you use it? It doesn’t make any sense and the article just continues to reinforce the old-fashioned and even harmful feeding techniques for no reason at all.
Read more: Letters: Correct diet
Dear Parrots magazine,
Pionus and Amazons
I enjoyed reading Roz Patterson’s article on Pionus Parrots in January’s issue. There are two things my parrot, Sunny, does which nobody seems to have heard of before, both of which are mentioned in her article, the only trouble is, he’s a Yellow-fronted Amazon! Perhaps there’s a common ancestor somewhere, as she mentions they are similar to Amazons in many respects.
Read more: Letters: Pionus and Amazons
Dear Parrots magazine,
Quinoa
Although quinoa does contain a balanced profile of the essential amino acids, it is also very high in iron. Because of this, it is suggested that you avoid feeding quinoa to bird species that have a predisposition to Iron Storage Disease (ISD). ISD has been noted in Mynahs, Quetzals, Birds of Paradise, and has been reported in some psittacines.
Read more: Letters: Quinoa
Dear Parrots magazine,
Correct Diet?
Mention ‘correct diet’ in a parrot magazine and there are bound to be a host of conflicting opinions as to what our birds ought and ought not to be eating. Milk is a controversial food, I know - even for humans in these modern times. Time and again I have read or heard that parrots cannot properly digest milk but, on the other hand, I have read books and articles that state they can. (e.g. Wolfgang de Grahl’s “The Grey Parrot” and the avian vet Geo A. Smith in the May 1997 and March 1998 Parrot Society magazines.)
Read more: Letters: Correct Diet?
Dear Parrots magazine,
A Healthier Diet
In response to Kristin Shay, I would just like to note that yoghurt can be given to parrots occasionally, because yoghurt contains live bacteria, which helps to digest lactose and culturing of yoghurt helps to break down the lactose too. I am aware that milk is mentioned in Wolfgang de Grahl’s book, but it was published 20 years ago. In aviculture terms even five years ago is quite a while back, as what was considered acceptable then, might not be acceptable now.
Read more: Letters: A Healthier Diet
Dear Parrots magazine,
Colour Change
Referring to the article ‘Colour-Sensitive’ in the February 2010 edition of the magazine. I could not believe it when I opened my copy and read this. Only a couple of days earlier, as it was one of the many cold mornings this winter, I need some extra layers! Going through my wardrobe I found a nice warm, thick hand-made Aran sweater, which my friend had made for me some time ago, but I had not worn. I put it on, lovely, just the job for a snowy day.
Read more: Letters: Colour Change
