[RobertsKitty]

The diet he will soon recieve is a layered salad type mix that you make up at the start of the week and keep frozen. I will make 2 containers that will each last 3 days. Here is the recipe. Please give opinions or ideas on how best to alter this diet for a quaker.

Layer 1 (bottom layer) - chopped greens, which are varied each week. One week, I'll use collard greens and parsley and mustard greens, and the next I might use Swiss chard, kale and dandelion greens.

Layer 2 - chopped (1/4 inch cubes) vegetables, including any of the following: Brussels sprouts, zucchini and other summer squash, jicama, red or green peppers, fresh hot peppers, chayote squash, green beans, fresh peas, cucumber, cauliflower, celery, anise root, etc.

Layer 3 - chopped broccoli and chopped, sliced or shredded carrots

Layer 4 - a mixture of chopped apples, oranges and whole grapes

Layer 5 - frozen mixed vegetables.

The containers are then placed in the refrigerator (don't freeze).

This mix stays fresh in these tubs for up to seven days for three reasons. First, layered salads stay fresher longer than those that are mixed up. Second, the orange juice from the chopped oranges filters down and slightly acidifies the mix. The frozen mixed vegetables placed on top super-cool the mix immediately (cold air sinks/warm air rises). I do also wash all the fruits, vegetables and greens with Oxyfresh Cleansing Gele, which not only gets them clean but also has some anti-bacterial action.

Use: each morning, I empty out one container into a large mixing bowl. At that point, I add the following:1. Cooked beans (I prefer to soak and cook dry beans, which are then stored in the freezer in bags until defrosted and added to the mix. However, canned beans can also be used.)

2. Cooked or sprouted grains. (A rice cooker is an invaluable kitchen appliance. Any grain can be cooked to perfection in a rice cooker, then cooled, and frozen in serving sized portions.)

3. Dry, uncooked, whole wheat pasta.

4. Other soft fruits in season (blueberries, peaches, plums, kiwi fruits, melon, etc)

5. A small amount of high quality parrot seed mix. I will be using Zupreem Pellets

When making the mix each week, strive for variety, alternating the vegetables, fruits, grains and beans that you include each time you make the mix. Also keep in mind appropriate proportions when creating the mix. I suggest the following: Cooked beans 15% - 20%, cooked or sprouted grains 20%, raw pasta 5%, fruit no more than 20%, greens 5%, seed mix no more than 4% - 10%, vegetables at least 30% - 40% of the mix.

Any opinions or ideas on what to add to the mix would be great. I am sprouting millet, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds this weekened to add to the mix.

I plan to start out putting ALOT of pellets in the mix as well as some in a smaller bowl for him until he adjusts to the idea.

[Carrie~Anne]

This is fine for a supplement to pellets. Just be sure that you don't totally eliminate pellets from his diet. In my opinion, feeding a complete diet of fresh foods is not a diet that meets all of a parrot's nutritional needs, as there is no way to ensure the parrot is getting all the nutrients he needs. So I would make sure he has a steady supply of pellets throughout the day.

[RobertsKitty]

Dont worry I would never deprive him of his pellets.

[Andrea5699]

Great Idea! Sounds like a fun & convenient recipe to make! Thanks for sharing!!