Meat eaters

[Nychsa]

Greetings Everyone!

 

I know there aren't that many studies about greys in the wild yet, but one thing I'm really curious about, and I'm wondering if anyone has read anything is just how much meat do they eat in the wild.

 

Bella is a serious carnivore! When she's given the choice of meat and vegies, she will hands down, always go for the meat. I had a vegie pizza, lots of bright, beautiful vegies on it, and chicken meat. She didn't stop to check out the vegies, she systematically picked off all the chicken meat.

 

The same thing happened with steak - I had a nice pile of yams, corn, and green beans along with a rib eye steak and she was all over the steak. In fact, she acted like the vegies were just in the way!

 

Chicken bones are hands down one of her favorites - she grinds the bone down to meal (which the dogs eat then) and she fishes out the marrow from the bone.

 

My conure, Jiggy, on the other hand, can't be bothered with meat. He has absolutely no taste for it.

 

So, I'm wondering if there is a clear dietary distinction between the AG's and the South American birds. Are we feeding our birds like South American Birds when maybe they might have other needs?

 

I have no idea if this is the case, I'm just really surprised by how vehemently Bella goes after meat. If you've read anything of interest along these lines, I'd love to hear your take on it!

 

Cheers!

Terri

[lovemyGreys]

From all the books etc.. i have read Terri i believe their not big meat eaters in the wild they eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and vegetation.They eat very little fat, what they do eat is mainly from bugs and other protein sources. So i would only feed fatty meats in moderation.The chicken bone with bits of meat left on it to chew on is a big hit with many greys and the marrow is full of nutrients. My flock here all love chicken & the occasional piece of fish

[judygram]

Josey is pretty much the same way, if you offer her meat along with the veggies and stuff she is going after the meat unless there is rice or pasta and then she goes after that first. She loves chicken and an occasional chicken bone, she tears it right up.

 

I hadn't thought about offering some fish, thanks Tracy for mentioning that.

[Nychsa]

Hi Tracy, isnt' that odd that they love meat like that, but it apparently isn't native fare for them? The chicken bones really are a huge hit with Bella. Jiggy though could care less about any of that. He likes is apples, berries, and water melon. Well, she gets at least one source of protein/day, seems to be working!

 

Thanks!

Terri

[Nychsa]

Bella only goes for the rice or pasta Judy if the meat is still too hot. She clearly prefers the meat!

[frwheel16]

DO you feed a plane white rice otr can you feed the flavor ones?

[dblhelix]

Just a hunch, but its likely that in the wild they do not come upon opportunities to eat meat all that often...maybe if they happen upon a carcass or something that has not been picked apart by other predators or opportunists. In any case, most animals instinctively go after high sources of protein (like meat) when available since statistically those opportunities are low out in nature for non predatory species. They may sort of be pre-programmed to choose and guzzle high protein sources if given the choice since, again, in the wild they probably do not have all that many opportunities to stock up on such a rich protein source....or, maybe they just like the taste!! or a bit of both... :laugh:

[lovemyGreys]

Im sure given the opportunity in the wild Mark they would eat meat but as you say it's not a readily available source for them.I see wild birds here readily chomping on carcasses & im sure a grey would not be any different if it was in front of him,of course the exception being your grey is a vegetarian :pinch:

[lovemyGreys]

frwheel16 i feed plain white boiled rice,usually with a hard boiled egg crumbled in along with peas & sweetcorn, but you can add whatever takes yout fancy mine wont touch brown rice :pinch:

[Nychsa]

Ah Mark, that is a very good point! That would certainly mean I need to be cautious about how much meat she eats - she'd guzzle until it's bad for her! The protein she gets comes from a variety of sources, not just meat, and she rarely gets steak (as I do as well!)

[kittykittykitty]

Too bad your bird won't eat brown rice. That's what my vet recommended with lentils and other legumes. The staff at the local bird farm said I did not need to feed meat since I don't eat it.

[Trustdace]

My thought on wild greys consuming meat from a carcass is unlikely. Although there are opportunities in their native environment to come across an animal carcass, especially in the dry season when vegetation is scarce, a carcass in Africa attracts a variety of predatory animals including bigger avian species such as vultures. I guess it is logical to assume that the grey parrot, with its cognitive ability; to associate an animal carcass with predators it has instinctively learned to avoid. Or it has learned to associate environmental conditions and instinctively know what regions or locations hold its suitable diet for an extended amount of time during the dry season, like the african palm.

[dblhelix]

That is exactly my point. In the wild, they do not come upon opportunities for high protein sources all the often. Hence their natural diet seeks out palm nuts and other non-animal sources of protein. However, I believe most will instinctively go after high protien sources (like meat if we offer it) when its available in a manner they consider "safe". Certainly they are omnivores and opportunists. This may explain why many people observe that their captive birds seem to favor meat etc when offered over veggies.<br><br>Post edited by: dblhelix, at: 2008/07/31 09:10

[Nychsa]

I agree Mark - makes perfect sense. I don't believe however I wonder if they would even touch decaying meat the way vultures would or would they prefer fresh. In other words, if they do happen upon meat, I wonder if they have the digestive system to consume like scavengers would. It would seem to me that their normal diet of fresh foods would preclude that.