Peanuts for Conures

by Robin
(Chicago, IL USA)

When I got my conure I checked all the proper foods to feed it and particularly what foods NOT to feed it. However the other day I came across a site where a seemingly professional was writing about training his parrot, can't remember if it was a conture, but must have been since that's what I'm interested in where he said he was using peanutbutter. It would seem to me that this is about the worse thing to give a bird: peanuts, oil, salt. And I am constantly picking out peanuts from my supposidely "Conure" food.

What's with this? Am I the off base? or are they? I welcome all comments!!

Comments for Peanuts for Conures

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Jun 08, 2013
 Peanuts for Conures
by: Linda

You are right on target and this "professional" is not as professional as they may think they are. Peanut butter is horrible for birds, dogs and humans. It is full of salt, sugar, fat and the bad kind of oil. I finally developed an allergy to peanuts after years' of having to eat peanut butter when I was single trying to make ends meet. Now, it causes breathing difficulty and is no longer one of my favorite things.

Your bird needs to be eating a 100% high quality organic pelleted diet like Harrisons' found here. Their foods supply 100% of everything a parrot needs to be healthy and cuts vet bills down and/or out because a healthy bird with a high functioning immune system is not sick much if at all. Birds eating all seed diets and junk food like peanuts, other nuts and human food tend to be unhealthy and therefore sick a lot. They do not have a strong immune system so any little infection that passes by becomes a part of them.

Below is a link about how to go about changing from all seed diets to the organic pellets because it takes time to make the change. Before making any dietary changes, make sure your bird has been examined by an Avian Vet and either cleared or treated for any physical issues like infections or other problems.

Switching Birds To Pellets article

When training your bird, do not use food. Food conditions the bird to only respond to food when asked to do something, and they should do what they have been taught without food as a reward. That type of training is called affection training where the bird enjoys doing what he's doing and also enjoys putting a smile on your face. This training is a lot more effective in the long run, and you don't have to always have to have a treat to get them to do whatever it is. This is also true for dogs. Most of our pets like doing things that make us smile, so make use of that as it implies high levels of love and trust which is what we want from our parrots as well as other pets.

Thanks for writing,
Linda
Jun 08, 2013
 Peanuts for conures
by: Angela

Peanut butter is not something you want to give your bird. It's high in fat and sugar. Unsalted fresh peanuts in the shell are okay once in a while as a treat or reward for good behavior, conures love tearing open the shells.

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