What in your opinion is the best pelleted diet available... Spare no cost. Or the best diet all around? I am looking for the best for my future baby, and would love your opinions! I wouldn't even mind cooking for my baby every night. I have been out of the QP world for about 8 years, so I have a lot of catching up to do! Thanks!

In my opinion there isn't a 'best brand' out there. There are a lot of good brands out there though. Harrison's, Zupreme, and Hagen are some good brands.

As for cooking for your bird every night...most of us do I usually give my birds the same foods we eat for dinner...be careful not to give any thing that may be harmful. But if we're having chicken, veggies and potatoes, I'll give the birds a little bit of each (with no salt or butter).

is there a list somewhere of things that are toxic or not good for them?

You bet!!

You can start with this nutrition table (I love this table):

http://www.quakerparrots.com/diet/food-nut...le-for-parrots/

With this list, use your discretion. The key is *moderation* obviously a diet of donuts will harm your bird...lol But a small nibble isn't gonna hurt. For myself, I don't give my fids any thing that is high in sugar, salt, or butter and I give them nothing off the toxic food list.

And then go here:

http://www.charliesroost.com/BirdSafety.html

That last list is from a website of a good friend of mine. She has done an excellent job of putting together fairly complete list of toxic, and non toxic, stuff for our birds.

I agree with Carrie~Anne about there not being a BEST brand. It can be the "Best in the world and if your bird doesn't like it, its not worth much! There are lots of brands out there as Carrie mentioned and I'll add another Pretty Bird is a pretty good pellet too.

I prefer feeding natural and so I feed Natural Zupreem...natural meaning no added food coloring...That way the birds aren't picking a favorite color so theres theoretically less waste. Also by feeding the natural the color of the droppings stay pretty much the same, with multi colored foods the droppings will change colors and its hard for some people to tell if there's changes in the droppings.

Some people myself included will feed several different brands periodically so that if something should happen and the food that you normally use isn't readily available, then the bird is used to other things as well.

The "Experts" are saying to feed 70-80 % pelleted diet. And then top it off with fruits and veggies, legumes and pasta's and rice...

The thing to remember about Quakers is that they are prone to fatty liver disease...so you need to monitor their fat intake...Seeds are high in fat! so use it as a treat not as a mainstay in the diet.

Sounds great! Thanks so much! by looking at the things on that list, it looks like maybe even the diets and treats i feed my sugar gliders would be great for my new fid.... I can't wait for it to get here!

TOP pellets are really good- all organic and researched for your birdie. When I have to buy pellets (so far the rescue showered me with them- they got some HUGE donation...) I will buy TOP's. Price is comparable to other pellets and the quality is good and it is supposed to be hypoallergenic (Sylvia is/was a picker). Shipping is a killer, though- I might see if I can find it anywhere locally.

I use a combination of alot of things, but I use pretty bird, harrisons and roundybush. I've also used scenic pellet. I want to try the TOPS and hagen.
Other foods I use which are very good are "Birdelicious" and "Goodstuff"
Here is a link to where you can get them
thebestbirdfood.com
parrotsontheporch.com

They are expensive, mostly the shipping, but worth it. The birdelicious is species specific which I love.

Also I'm getting ready to try a new food that you make yourself. It can be in place of pellets. It's called
"Mike's mash"
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/mikes_manna_mash/

You have to join the site, but I'm looking forward to trying it
tikileahsmom