Birdie Blog

Quick and Easy Birdie Bread

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:25:00 -0500

OK. Well I needed something yummy for the birds. All I had was two boxes of Jiffy corn bread, some Tropimix and Heaven Sent Veggie Mash .

I first soaked a cup of Tropimix and 1/4 cup of Veggie Mash with 2 cups almost boiling water. I let that sit for 20 minutes.

I then mixed in the two boxes of Jiffy mix. Grease an 8×8 glass pan and bake for 25 minutes. Bread is done if a knife comes out clean when poked into the middle of the bread.

When done flip the bread out on a rack to cool. Cut and serve.

I am not really a fan of the Jiffy mix it is really junk food. A better idea would be to make your own corn bread mix using quality organic ingredients. There must be an organic equivalent at your local organic grocer.

This is a recipe that my mom and my father in law both used. We love the corn bread but have made some changes.

Here is a recipe for you to try:

1 cup whole wheat flour - you could try amaranth or some other kind too!
1/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup millet

Put this in one bowl.

In 2 cup glass measuring cup put

1 cup milk
1/4 of apple sauce
2 eggs or egg substitute

Beat with fork and add liquid to flour bowl

Pour into greased 9×9 pan

Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes

Family Favorites not bird related.

Veggies and Pesticides

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Vegetables can retain pesticides too.

An easy way to help reduce chemicals for both fruits and veggies is to scrub/clean thoroughly before giving them to your birds. Peel away the outer skins, leaves and rinds. When you feed things like carrots and potatoes make sure to give them an extra scrub.

Dont’ forget to wash your own hands when starting to prepare your birds food!

Here is a list of some veggies that tend to have a higher chemical residue:

Bell Peppers
Spinach
Green Beans
Spinach
Celery
Potatoes
Lettuce

Safer choices for you and your birds:

Sweet corn (frozen)
Sweet peas (frozen)
Sweet Potatoes
Califlower
Brussel Sprouts
Broccoli
Carrots
Radishes
Romaine Lettuce
Cabbage

Here are some things that you should NOT feed your bird. Most of these items have some toxin(s) that will make your bird sick or they can not digest it. It really is better to be safe than horribly sorry.

Avocados
Any thing with caffeine in it
High sugar items
High salt items
Chocolate or items with cocoa powder in them
Soda pop
Alchohol
Grit
Onions
Persimmons
Rhubarb
Mushrooms
Pits and seeds from fruit
Dried Beans
Tomatoe Leaves
Raw Meat
Uncooked Eggs
Moldy Items
Excesive amounts of dairy products

One of the things I try to think of when I am purchasing food for my birds is “Would this be a healthy item to put in my own body?” I have had some success losing weight by eating the healthy items I purchase for my birds. What is healthiest for humans is most likely better for our birds. Think lower fat, higher fiber, low chemicals, fresh food, low salt and sugar. This can be a journey for both you and your bird.

This by no means is a complete list of good and bad veggies. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. I am more than happy to do some reasearch and find out more information.

More About Parrot Food

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

I really rely on everything in moderation. For instance, feed more veggies than fruit to your birds.

Of course they will love the fruit and given the chance they will eat mostly that.

If you can, try to by organic produce for you and your birds. I realize that it is expensive. A little is better than none!

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Web site, organic farming, “emphasizes the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations,” and organic foods are those that are “produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.”

Fruit that is imported from can have pesticides on it that are not healthy for you or your birds. Some of those chemicals actually stay in the fruit itself.

Here is a list of some fruit that may have a higher instance of pesticide:

Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Peaches
Imported Cantalope
Apricots
Apples
Imported Grapes

Here is the list of fruit that can/should be used instead or if the organic is too expensive:

Blueberries
Raspberries
Oranges
Grapefruit
Watermelon
Kiwi
Nectarines
Tangarines
Domestic cantalope
Papaya
Bananas
Domestic Grapes
Mangoes
Pineapple

Try to feed from the list above with the least of the chemicals.

Next time I will write about Veg and Chemicals and what you should never feed your feathered friend.

Christa

Sources:

More information can be found here: Parrots, Produce and Pesticides by Carolyn Swicegood

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-top-10-foods-to-eat-organically.html

http://www.ewg.org/node/18342

http://www.ewg.org/node/18912

http://www.ams.usda.gov/

10 Things to Enrich Your Parrot's Life

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500

Here are a few simple things that you can do to enrich your parrot’s life and learn more about them.

Set your timer for 10 minutes. Give your bird your undivided attention for that time. Give scratches, go for a walk in the house, toss a ball, dance, sit quietly. What ever your bird likes to do.
Eat a healthy snack and share with your bird. For Example: Blueberries, carrots, apple, pear etc.
Make a quick toy. Be creative but safe! Offer up a wooden tongue depressor- hold it and talk to them while they destroy it. Cut up pieces of cardboard and weave through cage bars for them to chew on.
Sit close to the cage and read them a children’s book. Show them the pictures!
Listen to the radio together or leave it on when you are not there.
Teach them to forage. Put a loose paper over the food dish, wrap a nut in paper towel and let them work to get the nut. It might take a little time to teach. Let the birds see you set up the foraging goody. If they don’t get it peel away the paper the first few times!
When you change the paper in the cage put an extra layer for playing or chewing on. Rotate the toys to different spots in the cage.
Having a salad with dinner? Take out some for the birds before you put the dressing on.
Talk to them.
If you can’t take them out of the cage give them scratches through the bars. It is better than nothing!

These are some things that I do for my birds. Post a comment and tell me what you and your parrots do!

Your Birdie Friend,

Christa

Quaker Preening Toy

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:07:00 -0400

Here is a great toy that my friend Marilu showed me how to make.

What I used:

Organic wool - cut into strips

2 inch wood ring - untreated

Cut a handful of wool to about 6 or 8 inch strips. Make sure the yarn is not long enough for your bird to get tangled around his neck

What you want to do is tie these so that the wooden ring is full.

When that is done, tie in bird cage and whatch your bird enjoy!

Marilu and Joseph are great. They come to my home and groom all my birds for me. If you need food, behavior consultations, toys, grooming or boarding. Give them a call!

Tell them Christa sent you!

(503) 771-BIRD (2473)