Food is an important area to look at when it comes to raising any pet, but especially with African Greys. Considering African Greys and parrots, in general, have such complicated diets, it’s a somewhat convoluted manner to pinpoint precisely what they should eat.
Thus, it begs the question of what the best food is for African Greys. Every parrot expert may vary slightly in this area of concern. Still, most will come to an agreement of the essential nature to adequately feed your parrot correctly.
This guide will help you pinpoint all of the food options available for African Greys, as well as five of the best food options for them. Not only will you be linked to food directly, but you’ll have a relatively lengthy list of options for you to consider next time you head out grocery shopping.
| Our Award | Name | Image | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthiest | Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health |  |
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| Most Variety | Volkman Avian Science Super African Grey Bird Food |  |
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| Best Budget | Kaytee Fiesta Parrot Food |  |
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| Best Overall | ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor Pellets |  |
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| Best Premium | Tropimix Bird Food |  |
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1. Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health (Healthiest)
Kaytee Fort-Diet Pro Health is one of the healthiest African Grey food options to consider as it’s nutritionally formulated for parrots.
Some of its crucial health features contain omega 3’s for brain and heart health, antioxidants for immune support, probiotics for digestive health, and much more.
Its ingredients contain a wide range of healthy parrot food such as seeds, nuts, ground rice, dried peppers, and much more.
Pros
- Great for immune support.
- Has a wide range of ingredients.
- Two different size options.
- Great source of Omega three.
Cons
- Expires fairly quickly.
Summary
For people wanting the most health-wise for their parrot, this is the route to go, but be mindful of how quickly these natural ingredients can expire.
2. Volkman Avian Science Super African Grey Bird Food (Most Variety)
The Volkman Avian Science Super African Grey bird food is arranged fresh. It is full of delicious seeds, nuts, and veggies.
Plus, it comes with a medley of fruit, such as apples, peaches, cherries, papayas, cranberries, pears, plums, and blueberries.
As far as cleanliness is concerned, the food has also been triple cleaned to eliminate dust for clean, pure bird food.
Pros
- Loaded with supplements to make for a great snack.
- Great variety of ingredients.
- Excellent seed mix.
- Very flavorful for parrots to eat.
Cons
- Sometimes the seed mix is a bit heavy compared to the rest of the ingredients.
Summary
For a variety and plentiful option in the African Grey food world, this is a great option to consider despite the consistency lacking in the ingredients’ equal quantities.
3. Kaytee Fiesta Parrot Food (Most Affordable)
For a more affordable option, the Kaytee Fiesta Parrot Food is a great choice to consider.
It features an abundance of essential vitamins and nutrients through its naturally preserved ingredients for freshness.
It’s made with an abundance of seeds, nuts, corn, wheat, and much more.
Pros
- Very affordable for being parrot food.
- Good variety of ingredients for a well-balanced diet.
- An exciting blend that most parrots seem to love.
- Very fresh with no bugs.
Cons
- The bag is a bit smaller than the picture gives.
Summary
The Kaytee Fiesta Parrot Food is an extremely affordable option that’s flavorful and perfect for any African Grey, despite the bag being a bit smaller than anticipated.
4. ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor Pellets (Best All-Around)
The ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor Pellets provide essential nutrition for a healthy and balanced diet.
It’s fortified with essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, with the intention to feed them daily to provide the foundation of your bird’s diet.
Its ingredients include ground corn, soybean meal, wheat, and much more.
Pros
- One of the most loved parrot foods for African Greys.
- Fewer ingredients in the mix, making it more natural.
- A lot of nutrients and vitamins.
- Several size options to consider.
Cons
- Non-returnable.
Summary
The ZuPreem FruitBlend Flavor Pellets is the best all-around African Grey food option as it’s affordable yet has stylings of premium food. Still, I wish it had a return option, but this isn’t a huge deal.
5. Tropimix Bird Food (Most Premium)
Tropimix Bird Food is our premium choice.
This parrot food is ideal for your African Grey and will definitely keep them happy.
The reason we have chosen this as our premium choice is because it features Tropicana Food stick-based formula with a natural blend of human-grade palatable grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
It’s one of the healthiest and most-natural options on this list, which is why it’s as premium as it is.
Pros
- All-natural ingredients.
- Size options.
- Great food option for essential vitamins, nutrients, and amino acids.
- Great for growth and building blocks for an African Grey.
Cons
- A bit more expensive than other bird food on this list.
Summary
Tropimix Bird Food is amongst the best option food-wise for your African Grey as it has everything you’ll need and more. However, be mindful of the cost since it’s a bit expensive.
Best Types of Food for African Greys
Although the subject of food tends to be subjective depending on who and what you’re talking about, it’s fairly common knowledge amongst parrot experts about what parrots should be eating.
With African Greys in mind, it makes an interesting conversation to see what’s most beneficial to them. Just like humans, there’s plenty of information available that clearly highlights what’s healthy, okay for them to eat, and what they should avoid. Below you can see some of the most beneficial and best types of food for African Greys:
Orange, Red, and Yellow Vegetables
At some point in your life, you more than likely have heard the importance of veggies. Regardless of your infatuation with vegetables or not, most experts will tell you how vital orange, red, and yellow vegetables are for African Greys. Veggies that fall under this category are typically suitable for them and are filled with essential vitamins and nutrients. Still, always double-check that whatever you want to feed them is okay for them to eat beforehand, which can be done with a simple google search or a quick call to their vet.
Seeds
Aside from baseball players, African Greys typically have a strong love for seeds, and it makes sense why. Believe it or not, seeds are jammed pack with protein and can be a heavy makeup of an African Greys diet. However, be mindful of the sodium tied to the seeds you want to feed them since parrots shouldn’t have too much sodium in their diet.
Nuts
Like seeds, nuts are filled to the brim with protein and can make up a large portion of the protein requirements for an African Grey. However, nuts have a high sodium and fat content, so make sure you don’t overfeed them these. Some nuts are better than others, but it’s never ideal for feeding them nonstop.
Sweet Fruits
Similar to veggies, some fruits can be quite dangerous for your parrot, but as long as the specific fruit is in the clear, it’ll be quite beneficial for them to eat. Like it is for humans, fruit has a giant makeup of essential vitamins and nutrients perfect for parrots.
Pellets
If you run into any pet store, you more than likely will come across pellet food for your parrot, which is usually a conglomeration of edible food in pellet form. Generally speaking, you can find many healthy options in this realm, but remember to dive deep into which option is best for your parrot.
Chicken
Although parrots are typically on the vegetarian side of things, many African Greys do fancy some meat from time to time, with chicken being the most suitable for them. Cooked chicken breast is the best option for them, but remember to not give them too much as it can be harmful in large quantities.
How often should you feed your African Grey?
Feeding your African Grey depends on their food requirement and size, varying from African Grey to African Grey. Still, a simple question to their vet should help you get a sense of where to begin. Nevertheless, most experts will cite that an African Grey should eat ¼ to ½ of their body weight a day.
How many times a day?
Generally speaking, you should be able to easily feed your African Grey more than enough with two feedings a day. If they appear hungrier, consider giving them a snack option in between, but try not to overdo it as they can gain weight very quickly.
How big of portions?
With the notion that African Greys should eat ¼ to ½ of their weight a day, their meals should be roughly half of their required calories. Since it’s ideal for feeding them twice a day, definitely try to give them equal portions for their two meals.
Tips for Feeding Your African Grey
As straightforward as it might seem to feed your African Grey, there’s a lot tied to how you can adequately provide them. Considering some African Greys are pickier than others, and other food issues in general, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Nevertheless, here are a few tips to feed your African Grey:
Double-Check it’s not poisonous
As touched upon earlier, African Greys have susceptible digestive systems, meaning you need to make sure that whatever it is you’re feeding them isn’t poisonous.
Don’t force them to eat
Never in a million years try to force your parrot to eat something. If they’re not eating enough, there might be a lingering issue, which means a trip to the vet is necessary.
Keep calories in mind
If you ever tried to lose or gain weight, you obviously know how vital it is to track your calories. Don’t be afraid to apply this same thought process to your parrot to ensure you’re feeding them right.
Look at what they like
Every African Grey has a favorite food, meaning you should do your best to treat them to their favorite food, as long as it’s not too unhealthy. Even if it isn’t the healthiest, a treat every now and then isn’t a huge deal.
How to find the right food for your African Grey?
Finding the right food for your African Grey may seem complicated, but it’s much more of a more straightforward process than you might realize. Take a more in-depth look at these examples to help you get an understanding.
Size
Remember that you’ll need to feed your African Grey roughly ¼ to ½ of their body weight, which can point you into how much you’ll need to feed them by knowing their size.
Ask their vet
Vets are there for a reason, don’t be afraid to reach out to them about how much and what you should be feeding them.
Look for recommendations online
Generally speaking, the parrot community is a tight community with loads of information for each other. Check out an online forum for some parrot food recommendations.
How they react
If your parrot has an odd or plentiful reaction to something, take note of it. No matter if it’s bad or good, your parrot’s reaction will tell you if your feeding them something they enjoy or not.