Last Updated: 11/09/2025

Feeding Medium-Sized Parrots

In our guide we cover the essentials for feeding medium sized parrots like African Greys and Ringnecks, plus foraging ideas for enrichment for a long, happy life.

Author: Dr Nicole Wynne BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets)

Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read

Medium-sized parrots like Indian Ringnecks, Quakers, African Greys, and Princess Parrots have specific dietary needs to maintain their health and vitality. This article provides a comprehensive guide to feeding these beautiful birds, covering essential nutrients, suitable food choices, and potential health risks. Whether you're a seasoned parrot owner or a newbie, this guide will help you provide the best possible nutrition for your feathered friend.

For more detailed feeding information specific to other types of medium sized parrots, check out our guides to feeding Lorikeets and Lories, Eclectus Parrots and South American Parrots.

Medium parrot feeding guidelines

Seed and pellets

Contrary to popular belief, seed as the sole diet for parrots is not suitable, and far from complete or balanced! Parrots love eating seed because it is high in fat, similar to fast food for humans, and just like fast food, it is low in important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients like protein and fibre. Medium-sized parrots should have no more than 20% of their diet as seed. Fortunately, we now have good quality parrot pellets that provide a more balanced diet. Transitioning birds from a heavy seed diet to pellets is a matter of patience. In the short term whilst you are transitioning them over, consider offering fresh grass seed or sprouting seeds.

Find out more about pelleted diets and how to transition your bird safely over, in our guide to What Should Birds Eat?

Fresh grass seeds can be picked from your lawn in the warmer months, and birds normally love them! Grass seeds are ready for picking once they start to form firm seed heads, and bunches can be hung in the aviary or cage for your birds to forage from. They also make a great environmental enrichment option, promoting natural behaviours. Consider growing some in a pot and letting your birds enjoy them!

Dried seed can also be sprouted, which reduces the fat content and increases the vitamin content. Sprouted seed can be fed once the little sprouts start to turn green, usually in 2-3 days in warm weather.

For more information, read through our guide on How to Sprout Seed for your Bird.

Fruit and vegetables

Fresh food such as fruit and vegetables is irreplaceable, and should comprise at least 30% of the diet. Suitable fresh fruit and vegetables include pumpkin, sweet potato, leafy greens like spinach, celery, and bok choy, apple, carrot, peas, capsicum, and pear. Avoid avocado, onion, garlic, and ginger as they are toxic to birds. Fresh food can be cut up into 'chop' which can then be refrigerated for up to a week, or can be fed as whole pieces of fruit and vegetables. Fresh grass seeds are also a great addition when they are in season during the warmer months.

Large or whole pieces of fresh food like pumpkin, cucumber, and cobs of corn with the husk can be fed as-is for a fun activity - parrots love nothing more than to make a mess!

Nuts

Nuts such as walnuts, macadamias, and peanuts are treat foods, and should only be given in small amounts. Medium-sized parrots can have the equivalent of a walnut twice a week. For extra fun, give them the nut unshelled! Other suitable treats include seed sticks, and sweeter fruits like berries, peach, grapes, and banana. Treat foods can be given twice a week. Seed sticks should be removed after an hour, and placed back in the next week, as birds will selectively choose to eat these treats over healthier foods, just like us! Remember to remove seed sticks which have been contaminated with faeces.

Pellets for medium sized parrots

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Feeding accessories

Metal feeding bowls are better than plastic bowls, as plastic bowls accumulate tiny scratches throughout their life, which then harbour harmful bacteria and are difficult to clean. It is best to get uncomplicated bowls and dishes, and avoid hooded dishes or feeders with multiple components as they don't stop your birds from being messy, and they're impossible to clean. Consider adding bird specific cleaning disinfectants to your home routine to help maintain freshness when sprouting seed and general cleaning of feed containers and cages.

We recommend having 3-4 sets of dishes and bowls for your birds so they can be easily cleaned and replaced twice a day. They also allow you to easily mix foods. For example, seed and pellets can be mixed up with vegetable and fruit chop.

Multiple fresh water stations should always be available, and avoid placing food and water feeders under perches, as they are more likely to become contaminated with waste.

Feeding accessories for medium parrots

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Using food as enrichment

Parrots forage for large amounts of time in the wild, and it is easy to create similar opportunities for pet birds. A plastic cat litter box can be filled partway with dry leaves, hay, or shredded paper, and their daily ration of dry seed can be sprinkled over, providing hours of entertainment!

Snuffle mats designed for dogs and cats are also a great way of getting birds to forage and look for their food.

Food puzzle toys are fantastic for parrots as they have excellent problem solving skills! We stock some excellent parrot-specific toys, and several food puzzle toys designed for dogs are suitable for parrots too. Getting 3-4 different toys allows you to use them in rotation - you'll be surprised at how quickly your parrot figures them out!

Finally, natural foliage acts as a beautiful enrichment item, and fresh fruit and vegetables can be hidden amongst the leaves. Do ensure that natural branches and leaves are hosed off and thoroughly sun-dried before using.

Foraging toys for medium parrots

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In summary, providing a balanced and varied diet is one of the most critical aspects of caring for your medium-sized parrot. By moving away from a traditional seed-heavy diet to one rich in formulated pellets, fresh vegetables, and fruit, you can significantly improve your bird's health and longevity.

Remember to limit high-fat treats like seeds and nuts, and enhance your parrot's well-being by incorporating foraging and puzzle toys to mimic their natural behaviours.

A thoughtful approach to nutrition, combined with proper feeding hygiene, will ensure your feathered friend remains a vibrant and happy companion for years to come.

History

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Tue Mar 29 2022

Written by Dr Nicole Wynne BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets)

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About the Author

Dr Nicole Wynne BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets)

Veterinarian, MANZCVS (Unusual Pets)

Dr. Nicole graduated from Murdoch University in WA in 2014, and immediately started working in exotics-only practice. She was also one of the few vets in Australia that would routinely see venomous snakes ranging from death adders to tiger snakes. Although Dr. Nicole enjoys seeing all exotic pets, her absolute favourite are rabbits. She passed her Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Membership (MANZCVS) exam in unusual and exotic pets in 2021.

Fruit and vegetables

Large or whole pieces of fresh food like pumpkin, cucumber, and cobs of corn with the husk can be fed as-is for a fun activity - parrots love nothing more than to make a mess!

Feeding Medium-Sized Parrots

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