Mashes

[Polliwog]

Can mash be the major part of a birds diet? (Like 70% of the diet? Of course other things like seeds/pellets, nutriberries, spray millet, wild grass seeds, eucalyptus leaves, nuts, flowers, etc would be provided for the remaining.)

I bought a small thing of Beak Appetit Apple Carrot Harvest to try out when I get my budgie. I would like to make my own as well eventually. I was thinking of using various cooked grains and a mix of vegetables/fruits. The thing is, can the vegetables and fruits be raw? Is it best to freeze cooked grains separate from the vegetables and fruits? Or can you freeze the mash together in ice cubes?

Can sprouts be frozen with the mash or is it best to add when needed or freeze separately? Can sprouts be frozen for future use effectively?

[Monica]

Certain fruits don't do well frozen. Foods are best fed fresh (no freezing) or slightly steamed (to make them easier to digest the nutrients inside the food).

Can you feed a diet high in mash/fresh foods? Certainly! So long as you ensure there's a large variety of foods!

Here's a good site that goes into diet...
Healthy Parrot Diet
And a recipe that has become quite famous! (it's huge!)
http://www.birdboard.com/forum/homem...anna-mash.html (quarter recipe)
About Eclectus Parrots (full recipe of Mikes Manna Mash scroll down towards the bottom)

[jimpierce7]

the original intent of Mike's manna mash is to be a complete diet.

[Polliwog]

Thank you guys for the response. It seems to have been a while since I posted this one...hehe

My budgies get their mashes (on most days) for breakfast and dinner. It is a mix of various sprouted grains and legumes with chopped up vegetables. I do freeze it in flats so thaw as needed. I had found an awesome yahoo group that helped me out with making mash. I even just finished another batch today.

I did forget completely that baby food could be used. I think I will pick some up next time I am at the store and see how my budgies like it.