MAARS needs your help to create a new sanctuary that provides space for flight. Your support is vital for giving the birds an environment that can better meet their unique needs than the current location.
With another hormone season upon us we thought we would spend some time talking about treats both healthy and the ones that should be given sparingly.
Foods that are fried, salted or have sugar added should never be in your birds diet- treat or otherwise! While most parrots love these items just like we do, because of their size and much more delicate physical make up, even small amounts of fatty and/or sugary food add up over time and parrots can actually die from renal failure caused by salt toxicity from salted foods.
The health complications are many to consider by having excess fat, sugar, protein etc. in the diet- including, cardiovascular disease -something cockatoos are prone to without showing many typical concurrent symptoms like obesity, lethargy etc.
Liver disease, renal disease (something amazons are especially prone to) and a host of hormone related issues from behavior problems to reproductive issues & an increase in the likelihood of tumors in the reproductive tract.
Most of these diseases come with little to no treatment options and a poor prognosis.
A serving size for an average adult human is 16 cashews , 23 almonds etc. so coming anywhere close to that is definitely too much for an 850 gram bird.
While nuts do have healthy fats and vitamins and minerals that can be part of a balanced diet, most species that live with us come from areas that are not as lush as we believe(quite dry, actually) and many/most of our species do not eat diets in the wild that are not as rich as we are led to believe- most in fact eat leaves, bark and other roughage, only eating fruits, seeds, and other rich items as they become available typically during hormone/breeding season.
This is why it’s so incredibly important to limit the amount of fats, proteins, sugars, excess carbohydrates all year long. When constantly giving them rich items we are telling their bodies it’s breeding season all year long.
Too many nuts/treats also leaves birds not wanting to eat the foods they really need to eat, like their , veggies, fruits pellets.
The average 850 gram Moluccan crop only can hold 42mls (about 2 1/2 TBSP) of food at a time. So what seems like a small portion to us, is usually a very large portion for them.
so please think every time you are ready to hand them a nut and make sure what they did really warranted it, This will help you work on your relationship with your parrot as it will make the positive reinforcement a much stronger motivator & likely reduce hormonal behavior if there has been excessive treats given out.
It also ensures the health of your flock.
Healthy treats can include small pieces of apple, oranges, mango, bananas, or kiwi x halves or quarters of grapes, or strawberries. Even unsalted crackers, popcorn with no oil or salt, or unsugared cereals are great choices. Always read the nutrition labels! Sugar and salt is in so many foods that appear to be healthy!
Breaking nuts or seeds into smaller pieces, helps when youre working on something specific i.e. teaching them to step up. Keep in mind portion sizes -treats shouldn’t bigger than a birds eyeball. You want the item to be small, easily eaten, and highly desirable.
#MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Your support keeps our doors open and our birds thriving. Here are meaningful ways to get involved:
Donate supplies — We need pellets (Harrison’s, Caitec, TOP’s, Roudybush), untreated pine boards, laundry detergent, brooms, dish soap, bleach, toilet paper, paper towels, and buckets. Questions? Email birds@maars.org.
Share our story — Tell friends, family, and your community about MAARS using #MAARS and #SpreadOurWings, and follow us on social media. Your network could be a bird’s forever home.
Foster a rescued parrot — Provide temporary or longer-term care for birds with health or special needs. For fostering info, contact birds@maars.org.
Volunteer — Give your time, skills, and enthusiasm. Learn more about volunteering here. www.maars.org/our-volunteers/
Donate — Your gift supports daily care, habitat upkeep, enrichment, and outreach. Even $10 helps. Donate here.https://www.maars.org/support-maars/
On behalf of MAARS, Sassy and Bizzy thank you for your support while they maintain their vigilant supervision of the kitchen help.
#MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Our September featured birds are Puppy & Hailey!
Hailey and Puppy both came to MAARS in 2024 due to significant health issues, each bringing a big personality and even bigger opinions - especially about volunteers and free-flying Goffin’s. They've since found common ground in toy chaos, cockatoo gossip, and hallway patrols. Watching their friendship grow has been as heartwarming as it is entertaining.
Stay tuned for more information about these two!
Learn more about our upcoming events, fundraisers, and more!
