Healthy Fats... still only small amounts?

[dannybrah92]

I understand it is recommended to not feed too much fats for Greys however (for those that are into health) you know that healthy fats like

 

Coconut oil

Chia seeds

Flax seeds

Hemp seeds

 

etc...

 

are all good for you and you really don't have to limit the amount that you consume, just don't take it excessively and balance with other foods. I assume that this "fat" worrying is more due to how only a few years ago majority of us still didn't know about healthy fats/cholesterol and so it's been said for Greys to not consume fats, but with all this new research on how it's good for you; is this still true for parrots?

 

So the question I have is; is these fats still bad for a Grey? Can he have a moderate amount of these type of fats in his diet without worry?

[danmcq]

The fats you listed from those foods are fine and actually essential in a greys diet. Greys are not affected by high good fat diets like some other parrot species are. They actually consume huge quantities of Red Palm fruit in the wild as a main staple. The key is, as you said are the good fats along with high vitamin A, E Omega's etc. content in them. Most of us purchase and add Red Palm Oil to our greys diets daily.

[BaileysPapa]

Just like protein, fats are necessary for life & growth. Moderation is the key. When my wife read about fatty liver disease, she immediately cut all the sunflower seeds out of her parrotlets diet. He seemed fine. At one point, I realized that he was picking a lot of dead skin off of his legs & feet, plus his feathers looked like a constant molt. We took him to the vet, concerned about possible mites. She said, no mites, but his skin is very dry on his feet, legs & cere. She prescribed a bit of mineral oil on the dry areas. In thinking about this guys skin and feathers, I remembered that my wife is a diet psycho, and often cuts out any and all fat. Resulting in dry skin & hair. So, we put him back on a few sunflower seeds, and some other seed treats. His feathers look great, his feet & legs are no longer dry, and he does not pick at them. Every living animal needs a balance of fats, carbohydrates & protein. Everything in moderation.

[Greywings]

Balance in all things diet included.

[dannybrah92]

Thank you for the input, that cleared it up!

 

Would it be ok for a Grey to be on a High good fat diet mainly through seeds like the ones I mentioned in the original post ?

 

(will get omegas/vitamins/calcium/protein) through them.

[Dave007]

Thank you for the input, that cleared it up!

 

Would it be ok for a Grey to be on a High good fat diet mainly through seeds like the ones I mentioned in the original post ?

 

(will get omegas/vitamins/calcium/protein) through them.

 

*****mainly through seeds like the ones I mentioned in the original post ?******

 

I may misunderstand you but I get the feeling that the seeds you mention will be the main type of food to be given in order to get vitamins, calcium and proteins which isn't the way to feed a grey. In order for a grey to get the items mentioned above the bird has to eat as big a variety of vegetables as it can take. Fruits offer very little of anything but some won't hurt. Your bird needs vegetables and good mixed parrot seed . Decent parrot mix has many healthy seeds in it. Vegetables are what gives the bird all the vitamins, calcium and proteins it needs. A grey won't like all veggies. Carrots should be given. A grey can get concentrated calcium by eating chicken bones. Some different human food should be given to a grey. The coconut oil you mention isn't as good as red palm oil. Red palm nuts can be cracked in order to get to the oil. They can't crack open coconuts. That's why they don't eat coconut oil in the wild. Palm nuts/oil is what they eat in the wild. Veggies don't need any moderation. They should always be available.

Parrots are scavengers and will eat many things in the wild that give them proteins such as different bugs.

Concentrate on getting your bird used to eating average natural foods such as veggies.

Greys are nut eaters. Regular type nuts such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts provide protein as well as vitamins. Because of their size, greys need some foods that they can hold.

Feeding foods that are proven to provide all the essentials will decrease your worrying about good fats and bad fats.

You need to get your bird used to eating veggies while it's still young.