About feeding a parrot (medium)
Medium parrots like African greys and Amazons are intelligent, long-lived birds with high nutritional needs — and Amazons in particular are prone to obesity on rich, seedy diets.
How much should a parrot (medium) eat?
Calorie needs use the veterinary formula 129 × weight(kg)0.75 (the Resting Energy Requirement), multiplied by a lifestyle factor of ×1 for a typical bird at the life stage shown. Enter your own animal's details in the calculator for an exact figure.
| Body weight | Daily calories |
|---|---|
| 300 g | 52 kcal |
| 343 g | 58 kcal |
| 386 g | 63 kcal |
| 429 g | 68 kcal |
| 471 g | 73 kcal |
| 514 g | 78 kcal |
| 557 g | 83 kcal |
| 600 g | 88 kcal |
What to feed
A formulated pellet base with a generous variety of vegetables, some fruit, and limited nuts and seeds as treats. African greys especially benefit from calcium-rich foods.
How often to feed
Offer fresh pellets and chopped vegetables daily; portion scales with the species' size.
Frequently asked questions
What should I feed a pet parrot?
A base of formulated pellets (roughly 60-70% of the diet) plus varied vegetables, limited fruit, and small amounts of nuts or seeds as treats. Avoid avocado, chocolate and caffeine, which are toxic.
How much should I feed my bird?
It depends on species: a budgie (30 g) eats roughly 5-8 g of food a day, a cockatiel (90 g) around 8-12 g, and larger parrots proportionally more. Offer measured pellets plus fresh veg and weigh your bird weekly.
Are seeds bad for pet birds?
Seeds aren't toxic, but as a staple they're too fatty and lack vitamins A and calcium. Use them as a small treat and make formulated pellets and vegetables the base of the diet.