More Mash Info
10/25/09 13:14
Aloha, All
Anyone try the fresh-greens mash? Any good reports? Seems our contact us form was messed up, but you can direct replies or questions to renee@parrothelp.org
Ready for more? These ideas come from The Gabriel Foundation and Shauna Roberts at Feeding Feathers.
Just about any fresh green from the store is acceptable for birds to consume, but some are better in nutrients than others. Keep away from iceberg lettuce, it's mostly water. Use more nutrition-packed greens like collards, mustards, carrots WITH green tops, kale, chard, spinach. Add things like parsley, cilantro, peppers.
Cook up some Quinoa--I'll have to go verify some other types of grains.
Remember to use organic when possible, rinse only what you're using, dry as completely as possible. Less moisture means longer storage.
We add in some black-oiled sunflower seeds. The birds will forage through the finely-chopped items for them, and end up eating the greens along the way. And, after a week in storage, those little black seeds sprout! making them nutritional. Sneaky, aren't we?
Always more, but I want to keep postings kinda short. Soon.
-Renee'
Anyone try the fresh-greens mash? Any good reports? Seems our contact us form was messed up, but you can direct replies or questions to renee@parrothelp.org
Ready for more? These ideas come from The Gabriel Foundation and Shauna Roberts at Feeding Feathers.
Just about any fresh green from the store is acceptable for birds to consume, but some are better in nutrients than others. Keep away from iceberg lettuce, it's mostly water. Use more nutrition-packed greens like collards, mustards, carrots WITH green tops, kale, chard, spinach. Add things like parsley, cilantro, peppers.
Cook up some Quinoa--I'll have to go verify some other types of grains.
Remember to use organic when possible, rinse only what you're using, dry as completely as possible. Less moisture means longer storage.
We add in some black-oiled sunflower seeds. The birds will forage through the finely-chopped items for them, and end up eating the greens along the way. And, after a week in storage, those little black seeds sprout! making them nutritional. Sneaky, aren't we?
Always more, but I want to keep postings kinda short. Soon.
-Renee'
Got Fresh Mash?
10/10/09 11:45
Your birdies need it!
Simple to do, and you will feel so great when they dig into it.
Only have one bird and you're worried about spoilage and storage? It can be frozen!
The trick to getting birds to eat it is adding some of their favorite foods that they'll dig for. Most often that's only adding the nuts (which is the essential fatty acids needed anyway). When it's chopped so finely, birds can't easily separate and discard those veggies or fruits they don't like.
There is no specific recipe, and no specific ratios. Remember that birds, like us, need different things in their diets. In the wild, what they can eat varies with the seasons.
To start with something easy, grab a bag of spring greens at the store. Wash off the leaves and dry very well. Chop finely, using either knife or food processor.
Add some chopped nuts--cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans. If your bird won't eat them in large pieces, this is an excellent way to get them to. For our little parrotlets, we chop the nuts almost to powder. This way the nuts stick to the greens and the birds have to eat both.
That's it! For the first batch anyway. Serve by spoonful. Store loosely covered in a flat container in the fridge. Just put a paper towel over the top. Really! If concerned about spoiling, press into ice-cube trays, freeze, and then move to storage in freezer bags. thaw as required prior to feeding.
Will add more ideas for mash items soon, so we can keep our birds eating healthy.
If anything needs clarification, please hit the contact us button and I'll get back to you.
-RQ
Simple to do, and you will feel so great when they dig into it.
Only have one bird and you're worried about spoilage and storage? It can be frozen!
The trick to getting birds to eat it is adding some of their favorite foods that they'll dig for. Most often that's only adding the nuts (which is the essential fatty acids needed anyway). When it's chopped so finely, birds can't easily separate and discard those veggies or fruits they don't like.
There is no specific recipe, and no specific ratios. Remember that birds, like us, need different things in their diets. In the wild, what they can eat varies with the seasons.
To start with something easy, grab a bag of spring greens at the store. Wash off the leaves and dry very well. Chop finely, using either knife or food processor.
Add some chopped nuts--cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans. If your bird won't eat them in large pieces, this is an excellent way to get them to. For our little parrotlets, we chop the nuts almost to powder. This way the nuts stick to the greens and the birds have to eat both.
That's it! For the first batch anyway. Serve by spoonful. Store loosely covered in a flat container in the fridge. Just put a paper towel over the top. Really! If concerned about spoiling, press into ice-cube trays, freeze, and then move to storage in freezer bags. thaw as required prior to feeding.
Will add more ideas for mash items soon, so we can keep our birds eating healthy.
If anything needs clarification, please hit the contact us button and I'll get back to you.
-RQ