Between caring for the macaw o Ara we find feeding as a fundamental part of its he alth and well-being. It is very important to know what we should offer our macaw before adopting one, as we know that it is more complex than feeding a small bird.
With a canary or a parakeet it is enough to check that they have enough birdseed in their feeder, and they themselves regulate their intake until they are satisfied. The same does not happen in macaw feeding, for this reason on our site we will show you the keys for your macaw to eat he althy and enough.
Macaw weight control
Before starting to feed the macaw we must know that it will be essential frequently check the weight of your partner. The reason for doing so, in addition to keeping track of the animal, is that its diet must be proportionally adapted to its body weight. Following these instructions the macaw will need on a daily basis:
- The macaw should eat 10% of its weight in dry food every day
- The macaw should eat 12% of its weight in fresh food every day
Example: If your macaw weighs 1,200 Kg., you should give it 120 g of dry food and 144 g of fresh food.
Dry food
There are various types of dry food that we can offer our beautiful macaw to ensure that it has a varied and complete diet, including we find:
- high quality feed
- seeds
- nuts
- vegetable sprouts
- seed germination
The quality or high-energy feed are essential in feeding the macaw. There are reputable brands in pet stores, but it should be your veterinarian who prescribes the most suitable for your particular macaw. It will depend on the species, age, or state of breeding that one brand or another is convenient. It will be the basis of their diet.
We find products already prepared from mixtures of seeds which, in the opinion of our site, are quite complete. However, some have too much fat such as millet, oats, corn or sunflower seeds) for this reason we should not abuse their consumption and offer a maximum of one tablespoon a day.
The nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews and chestnuts are ideal for your macaw. We can offer them regularly because it is a type of food that is very present in wild macaws. Unroasted nuts should always be fed to the bird. Your veterinarian will tell you whether or not to feed these foods peeled, cracked or whole.
To finish with the macaw's dry food we will add sprouts of legumes or seeds, very important for the supply of vitamins and minerals. Among them we highlight alfalfa, chickpeas, lentils, corn, oats, rice, sesame and pumpkin seeds among others. Legumes can be purchased germinated, or we can germinate them ourselves at home. Soybeans, for example, are easy to germinate, and also cheap if you buy them already germinated. Of course, if you decide to make them yourself at home you should take precautions and avoid the appearance of mold.
Remember that our macaw must eat 10% of its total weight in dry food on a daily basis. You should also know that it is important to rotate the foods so that they find motivation in the food. It is very important not to mix dry food with wet food in the same feeder.
Macaw wet food
A fundamental part of a macaw's diet is fruit and vegetables, from which it will collect a large quantity of vitamins. The fresh or wet foods that you can supply to your macaw are very varied, among them we find:
- carrot
- coconut
- banana
- strawberries
- cherries
- grapes
- apple
- zucchini
- green pepper
- pear
- pineapple
- mango
- cucumber
- papaya
- peach
- cantaloupe
- watermelon
Remember that this type of food should account for approximately 12% of the total weight of the animal. It is also important to highlight that it is not recommended to supply citrus fruits, it is better to opt for other fruits and vegetables. Remember to vary the fruits and vegetables adapting to the season of the year in which you find yourself to prevent your parrot from having a monotonous life.
The best way to supply fruit and vegetables to your macaw is through a mixture of these chopped foods. Five different varieties of fresh food must be combined each day, but taking care that three of them are energetic enough: banana, grape, coconut, etc.
From time to time we can sprinkle the macaw's fresh food with red palm oil or dende oil, a natural source of vitamin A that will be reflected in he althy and shiny plumage. However, do not abuse its administration, 3 or 4 times a week will be enough.
Treats and prizes
It is very important that our macaw receives prizes and treats during his education, when he behaves well or when we try to strengthen ties. Sporadically they can be rewarded with a little bread, pasta, rice or egg, subtracting these whims from their usual intake. You can also get treats in your usual exotic store, vary the snacks to find the one that your macaw likes the most.
Discover the macaw as a pet on our site and find out if it is your ideal pet. If, on the contrary, you already have one, do not hesitate to comment and send us a photograph of you together.
You can also discover on this website prohibited foods for parrots, the most common diseases of parrots or why my parrot pulls out its feathers.
