Microgreens are super fun and easy to grow for your birds. They're also a nutritious addition to their diet.
Why feed microgreens?
Microgreens are tiny, young greens that are harvested when they are only a few inches tall. Despite their small size, they pack a powerful nutritional punch. These miniature versions of vegetables and herbs are incredibly nutrient-dense, containing higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants compared to their mature counterparts. With their concentrated flavor and vibrant colors, microgreens add a delightful burst of freshness to a parrots chop while offering an array of health benefits.
Grow them with just a small amount of counter space.
You can grow them in pots, trays or specialty microgreen containers using soil, coconut coir or hemp felt for the growing medium.
Some common seeds you can grow for parrots are wheat berries, clover, peas, sunflower, arugula, beets, broccoli, kale, rye berries, barley, endive and radish.
Typically seeds are soaked before growing. This gives them a head-start and eliminates some of the compounds in the seed that aren't necessarily good to eat. Raw nuts and seed contain an anti-nutrient called phytic acid which keeps the seed safe until conditions are right for it to grow. It's super important for the seed to have this protection, but it makes them hard to digest and interferes with our parrots ability to absorb nutrients when eaten. Soaking decreases the amount of these anti-nutrients, making it easier for your bird to digest and absorb nutrients from them.
Most vegetable seeds grown as microgreens are ready for harvest in about 2 weeks, though brassicas (like radish) have a faster growth rate, while herbs tend to take a little longer than 2 weeks.
Once grown, just cut the plant right above the growing medium and serve to your parrots. You can mix them with your daily parrot chop or serve them on their own. They're a great way to add diversity to your parrots diet.
We're very excited to be finishing up ParrotUp Pantry Food COURSE that will give you LOTS of ideas for feeding, foraging and growing food for your parrot. If you'd like to be the first to know when it comes out, sign up for our email list below.
You'll also get our FREE "Survival Guide to a Picky Parrot" with lots of great tips and tricks to getting your parrot eating more healthy foods. Just enter your email in the box below and it will be delivered to your inbox.
Comments
41 comments
Chris (admin)
Thank you all for your comments! They are very much appreciated. Shopify doesn’t give me the option to reply to individual comments, so I’ve tried to answer them as best as I can like this.
If you’re having trouble getting your parrot to eat fresh foods, there are lots of things you can try to speed things along. I wrote this article just for that. Some birds catch on right away and others take forever (I’ve been in both situations). Give it a read and keep trying!
https://parrotup.com/blogs/news/survival-guide-to-a-picky-parrot
Chris (admin)
Hey everyone. If you’re looking for specific mixes, I’ve been using the ones from Sprout People for years! I love them. They have the most variety of any I’ve found. Other brands are China Prairie and the Parrots Pantry.
I also buy separate seeds from reputable vendors (like True Leaf) and add those in addition to the mix.
Keri
Is there an avian microgreen mix that you’d recommend?
Diana
I would love to have any information you can give me about sprouting and putting my parrot on a healthy diet. Thank you.
Inga
My little parrotlet was a rescue, never received fresh vegetables and fruits. Having a difficult time getting him to eat these things. Won’t bathe either!
Isabel
I have a Ringneck and a Jenday Conure. They are very picky eaters. Would like a guidens for them please.
Allison
I would love any resources!
Christine
This would be a huge help for our parrot
Guillem
Thank you
Chris (admin)
Admin here! Thank you everyone for the kind words and support! We really appreciate it.
To answer a few questions: The easiest way to grow microgreens is using hemp pads in a container that will catch water or growing trays filled with coconut coir or a soil medium (not garden soil which usually has fertilizer in it).
Many seeds can be used that you can grow into microgreens, but you can also start with sprouts if your bird is super picky and only eats seeds. The sprouts look like the usual seeds but contain even more nutrients.
We talk a lot about what types of sprouts and microgreens can be fed in our Facebook group. If you’re interested it’s called Parrots! Food, Foraging Fun for Happy Healthy Parrots.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/parrotupfff
Karen Lewison
I am getting an Indian Ringneck and would like to know how to keep him healthy.
Chantelle
What soil can you use
Deborah
Please send me details of microgreens
Paul F
Looking forward to your email
Thanks
Glenn
Would like a free guide to get our conure and Quaker to eat fresh greens
Kristen Hopper
Please sign me up for information about parrots. But please do not sell my information.
Thank you!
Kris H.
K.S.
I’d love a free guide. Thank you
Catherine
Thanks!
Sarah B
I just got a Regent Parrot… so sweet and I would like to feed him more of a natural diet.
Karen
always looking for anything healthy for my Macaws
NC
Great to know this site exist😀
Peggi Johnson
My conure is willing to try fresh food but the 3 parakeets will not eat pellets or fresh food.
Melissa Roestenberg
Anything to keep my parrot healthy! thank you!
Betty Newstrom
I have a jenday conure that hates anything fresh except apples. I need your help please.
I need your guide!
Sabine
Need all the help how to feed my Quaker healthy foods. Thank you!
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