Bird Seed Mix Calculator — Daily Portion & Composition by Species

Approximate daily amounts by species: Budgie 5-8g, Cockatiel 10-15g, Lovebird 8-12g, Conure 15-22g, African Grey 25-35g, Amazon 30-40g, Macaw 45-70g. Birds self-regulate when fed appropriate mix — don't overfeed seed-heavy diets as they lead to obesity and liver disease.

Seed-only diets cause Hypovitaminosis A (vitamin A deficiency), fatty liver disease, and calcium deficiency in all parrot species. The natural diet of wild parrots is highly varied — fruits, sprouted seeds, flowers, bark. Captive birds need 40-60% formulated pellets to prevent these deficiencies.

Harrison's Bird Foods (organic, vet-endorsed), Roudybush (straightforward formulations), ZuPreem Natural (widely available), Lafeber Nutri-Berries (good for transitioning seed eaters). Avoid brightly colored pellets — artificial dyes are unnecessary and some birds refuse them.

Gradual mixing over 4-8 weeks. Start at 90% seeds + 10% pellets, shift 10% per week. Some birds need the 'chop method' — finely chop pellets and mix with seeds so they can't pick them out. Budgies and cockatiels are hardest; large parrots (Amazons, Greys) adapt fastest.

Safe: apples (no seeds), berries, mango, banana, carrots, broccoli, kale, spinach, sweet potato, bell peppers. Avoid: avocado (toxic), onion/garlic, chocolate, salt, caffeine, alcohol. Rotate 3-5 different produce items weekly for variety. Fresh chop is popular on avian forums for this reason.

Fill the cup each morning with the day's portion (from the calculator). At day's end, dump leftovers — don't let food sit in cage overnight (attracts pests, spoils in heat). Many birds do best with 2 meals/day: morning fresh food + afternoon pellets/seeds.