19+ Homemade Parrot Pet Bird Food Recipes

You don’t have to be Alison Holst to make these delicious and healthy treats for your birds. Why not explore and create your own recipes?

Remember to avoid salt, sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, avocado, soy products, and fat. Because birds lack salivary glands, they like spicy meals such as peppers. However, don’t expect any birdy kisses for a time after your bird has eaten Jalapeno peppers!

These are delicious dishes contributed by our fellow love bird enthusiasts. All recipes are tested by the Editor’s parrots, who are especially fond of the following:

Apple Oatmeal

• 1/2 cup of uncooked oatmeal
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 tablespoon raisins
• 1/2 tablespoon chopped apples
• 1/2 tablespoon of chopped nuts
• 1 tablespoon of pellets
• 2 pinches of cinnamon

Cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat until the oats are thoroughly cooked. Allow cooling before serving. I double my recipe for the number of birds I have.

Any leftovers may be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Vege Mix

Remember that your bird needs fresh vegetables every day since this is the only way for them to acquire the enzymes they need.

• 2 cups frozen corn
• 1/3 cup frozen Green Beans or Peas
• 2″ piece of carrot (scrubbed)
• 4″ piece of celery with leaves
• 1″ square of sweet green and red pepper each  

Wash and cut all vegetables. I processed mine in the food processor. To get everything out of the processor, I add water, then dump the water and floating vegetables into the dish with the frozen vegetables. I then microwave the frozen vegetables for 1 minute to thaw them. I then divide this into 1/8 cup portions for each pair of birds.

Rice Mix

• 1/2 cup each of 2 types of beans or legumes
• 4 cups water

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low heat and continue to cook until the beans are cooked. Save water via draining. This is done so that the pasta and rice absorb all of the nutrients that would otherwise go down the drain with the water.

• Saved water
• 2 cups dry chopped spagetti or any type of pasta

Bring to a boil, adding water as needed. Cook until the pasta is tender. Save water via draining.

Cook 1&1/2 cup brown rice according to package guidelines, using extra water as needed. I thoroughly combine all cooked foods in a big pan before packaging in 1 quart containers. I also frozen it in ice cube trays and put the cubes in zip lock bags for a tiny amount. This is divided into 1/8 cup portions for each pair of birds.

Corn Bread

• 1 egg or 2 egg whites
• 1 cup flour or (1/2 flour & 1/2 wheat flour)
• 1 cup milk (V8 or fruit juice)
• 1/2 cup Hagen handfeeding formula
• 1 Tablespoon melted butter 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup corn meal

Assemble the materials as directed. Beat well, oil, and pour into a 2-quart cake pan. I use a 10″ corning ware fry pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes @ 350°F. For high altitude, adjustments must be made. A recommendation from the Holistic list to which I belong. Instead of sugar, use Stevia. It’s available as a dietary supplement at health food shops.

Homemade Crumble Mixture

I’ve tried seeds, grains, and nuts, but my lovebirds and parrotlets are really finicky. I’ve FINALLY discovered a method to display these products! I used the following recipe:

• 1/4 cup buckwheat
• 1/4 cup spelt
• 1/4 cup pearled barley
• 1/4 cup rolled oats (slow cook oatmeal)
• 2 tbsp flaxseed
• 2 tbsp raw sesame seed
• 2 tbsp wheatgerm
• 2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp mixed nuts (cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, etc.)
• 4 tbsp dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, papaya, etc.)
• 2 teaspoons powdered calcium supplement

In a blender, combine the buckwheat, spelt, barley, flaxseed, pumpkin seed, almonds, and dried fruit (I had to make it in three smaller batches since my blender isn’t that strong). Add the sesame, oats, calcium powder, and wheat germ until it is extremely coarse and crumbly.

Grind for a few more minutes, or until the mixture is somewhat powdered but still a coarse crumble. Place in the freezer. If not kept in the freezer, the raw oils in this combination will become rancid in a matter of days.

Sprinkle some over vegetables and spaghetti, or bake into birdie bread. My birds like it, and you should smell the birdie bread I’m now creating! It has a hazelnut aroma that is really delicious!

This combination may be customized to each bird’s specific requirements and tastes. If you want a lower-fat version, leave out the nuts and pumpkin seeds. If your birds need more protein, add 2 tbsp soy protein powder. Do you get the picture? I’m really pleased I gave it a go.

My parrotlets and lovebirds like it so much that I’ve begun mixing it into my finch seed mix, which they devour!

Fruit And Nut Bar

• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 18 oz. box corn bread
• 1/3 cup cranberry juice ( I use cran-apple )
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup mixed vegetables, defrosted, and chopped fine
• 1/2 cup chopped broccoli

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Combine eggs, applesauce, cranberry juice, mixed veggies, and broccoli in a large mixing dish.
3. Gradually add the cornbread mix. Stir until well blended.
4. Fold in the raisins and walnuts.
5. Pour batter into a well-greased 8×8 baking dish.
   Bake for 20 minutes.
6. Once cold, cut into squares and refrigerate in an airtight container.

Birdie Bars

• seed
• honey
• nuts

1. Combine some treat seed and pure honey.
2. Add some nuts in the appropriate size for your bird.
3. Cover in saran wrap.

You may serve it soft or put it in the fridge for a few days to solidify.

Cockatiel Cookies

• 1 egg (shell optional)
• 1/2 cup oatmeal (regular with NO sugar)
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup seed or pellets

1. Stir in the water until a thick dough forms.
2. Spoon by 1 oz small lumps onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

DO NOT STORE IN A PLASTIC BAG IN ANY WARM AREAS. OR FREEZE THEM IN A PAPER BAG.
Valid for two weeks.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

• Sweet Potato (or piece depending on number of birds and size)

Optional:

• Peanut butter
• Spirulina
• Wheat grass

1. Using a knife or fork, pierce a sweet potato many times.
2. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, or until fork tender.
3. Break into bits and mash with a fork.
   Optional: add a dash of peanut butter, spirulina, or wheat grass. You may include anything.

Allow to cool until barely warm before feeding to birds.

Birdie Muffin

• Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
• Fruits
• Vegetables

1. Mix Bread mix with water or juice. DO NOT USE MILK
2. Add fruits and vegetables
3. Follow directions on box to cook muffins

Freeze extra muffins.
Pop in microwave to thaw and serve a little warm

Pumpkin Goo

• Canned pumpkin puree
• Cinnamon
• Sugar (or honey, molasses)
• Optional
• Raisins

1. Combine whatever quantity of canned pumpkin puree with cinnamon and sugar (raisins)
2. Gently warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Potatoes

Potato (or piece depending on number of birds and size)

1. Using a knife or fork, pierce a sweet potato many times.
2. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, or until fork tender.
3. Break into bits and mash with a fork.
   Optional: add a dash of peanut butter, spirulina, or wheat grass. You may include anything.

Allow to cool until barely warm before feeding to birds.

Bean Cakes

• Amounts will vary depending on how many birds you have)
• star pastiness
• vegetables
• parsley
• kidney beans (or any other type of bean)
• seed or pellets (you can add a little budgie gravel, too)
• fruit juice
• Optional
• Peanut butter

1. Bring pastines to a boil.
2. Next, add the veggies and parsley. (DO NOT ADD BEANS) 3. Pour into strainer and let water to drain.
3. Return to the saucepan and add the fruit juice, pellets, beans, and peanut butter to taste.
4. Place in muffin tins and freeze.

Birdie Waffles

• Waffle batter

Options

• Broccoli slaw
• Grated carrots
• Apples
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Thawed frozen veggies
• Baby food

1. Make waffle batter with anything you like.
2. Make the waffles

Bird Bread Recipe 1

• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1-1/2 cups cornmeal
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 banana
• 1 lb. frozen mixed veggies
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

You may also add:

• 1/2 c. mostly cooked beans (black, anasazi, mung etc.)
• 1/2 c. mostly cooked rice
• 1/2 c. frozen chopped green chile
• handful raisins
• handful cranberries
• handful blueberries
• 1/2 c. cooked yam, winter squash or pumpkin

Bake at 350 degrees in greased and floured 9×11 pans until the toothpick inserted comes out clean (50 or more minutes depending upon how much stuff you put in).

Bird Bread Recipe 2 (Breadmaking Machine Version)

This was created particularly for a bread machine. It’s perfect for a 2lb loaf machine. I’ve discovered that if you add bee pollen as well, it deactivates the yeast and prevents it from rising. Just a heads up.

Use a bread machine on a regular setting, then add in the order listed:

• 1 egg plus enough water to equal 1 cup (maybe a little more)
• 3 TBSP honey
• 1 TSP lemon juice
• 3 TBSP butter
• 3 TBSP dry milk
• 1 ½ TSP salt
• 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 3 cup bread flour
• 3 TSP dry yeast
• 3 TSP spirulina
• 2 TBSP wheatgrass

Cut into cubes when done.

Birdie Bread Recipe 3

• 1 box of Jiffy corn bread mix
• 1 egg, shells included
• 3/4 cup of water
• 1/2 of these mixed vegetables:broccoli, corn, peas
• 1 tablespoon of roudybush pellets- small size
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• shredded coconut
• small cupcake papers  

1. Pour the cornbread ingredients into a medium-sized mixing basin.
2. Wash the egg with water.
3. Crack one egg into the cornbread mix and press the shells into it.
4. Pour in the water, vegetable combination, pellets, and cinnamon.
5. Any little pellets would suffice.
6. Stir well before spooning into tiny cupcake sheets.
7. Sprinkle with coconut and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool before serving.
8. Leftovers may be frozen in ziplock containers for later use.

Birdie Bread Recipe 4

• 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
• 1 box Jiffy Banana Nut mix
• 2 eggs (1 per box)
• 1 cup cooked garbanzo beans, ground
• 1 cup finely grated carrots or sweet potato
• 1 cup finely chopped Kale or broccoli
• milk

1. In a large mixing basin, combine all of the ingredients. Make sure you’ve included dark green and dark yellow vegetables. If you don’t have beans, 1 dozen eggs will suffice. The mixture will need more dry ingredients, so add 1 cup cornmeal or Old Fashioned Quaker Oats.
2. The mixture should have the consistency of cake batter.
3. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, or until medium brown. The interior must be fully cooked, dry, and crumbly.
4. Allow to cool before cutting into 1″ – 2″ squares and freezing in Zip Lock baggies.
5. Only thaw what you need for the day.

Even birds who do not consume fresh items will try this combination.

Birdie Bread Recipe 5

This recipe is for 15 of my fids! I created this birdie bread that they all seem to like!

• 3 cups of plain yellow cornmeal
• 3 tsps of baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 1 plus half cups of apple sauce
• 1 can of juice(I used the Hanne’s pineapple coconut  that my kids take to school)
• 3 cups of frozen peas
• 3 cups of wild rice or any rice
• 3 cups of crushed cereal or pellets or seeds

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients in a food processor for a few seconds, but do not purée. Bake for 35 minutes in a 9 x 13 pan. Allow to cool before cutting into squares. I freeze in ziplock bags for up to a week. They seem to enjoy these served warm from the microwave; just make sure they aren’t too hot in the centre! I hope they have as much fun as I do! ~

Birdie Bread Recipe 6 (Breeders Best Bread)

• 1 cup yellow corn flour
• 1 cup whole grain flour 1 cup bran from Miller’s
• 1 cup soy protein meal
• 1/2 teaspoon brewer’s yeast (nutritional, not bread raising kind) 1 cup uncooked wheat germ
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup bird pellets (We use Pretty Bird, small size)
• 1 quart Petamine
• half a cup wheat germ oil
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 dozen eggs, shelled and crushed (use blender) 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 2 cups carrots, shredded
• 2 shredded apples
• 2 mashed bananas
• half a cup honey
• 2-3 cups milk, or enough for a thick batter

In a large mixing basin, combine everything. Blend the eggs, apples, and bananas in a blender.

400°F for 30 to 40 minutes in foil-lined pans coated with Pam. Cool in pans, then cut into 3×4 squares and place in freezer. As required, defrost. In addition to the standard seed mix, give each bird a little bit every day.

Even if you don’t measure too precisely, this food smells fantastic and comes out beautifully. This recipe fills two large pans.

THE BIRDIES ADORE IT!!!

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