About Baby Hyacinth Macaws
Cages for Hyacinth Macaws
About Large Parrot Toys
Things to Consider Before Buying

Feeding your hyacinth macaw.

One of the most frequently asked diet related questions, regarding the hyacinth macaw, is “do they need a high fat diet?” While the hyacinth macaw does require a diet higher in fat a balanced diet is what is important for good health. As the saying goes, more is not necessarily better. Too much fat for example can effect how calcium is metabolized and can damage the kidneys. 

Studies of the hyacinth macaw in the wild show that while they eat a variety of fruits and other vegetation their diet primarily consists of several types of palm nuts. Since it is impossible to feed them what they would be eating in the wild experienced aviculturists recommend feeding a variety of fruits and vegetables along with a mixture of nuts in shell that include the macadamia nut. Here at Hyacinth Haven we feed the following nut mix: 

We recommend a small serving of nuts in shell be offered to the hyacinth macaw daily. Nuts are naturally nutritious, cholesterol free and an excellent source of vitamin A, mono-unsaturated fats, amino acids, calcium, phosphorous, niacin, protein, fiber and provide hours of beak conditioning fun.

The hyacinth macaws cage should accommodate three bowls, one for nuts in shell the other two for water and pellets. Pellets are not a substitute for a balanced diet but are regarded as another nutritional option with the convenience of being safe to leave in the cage without concern about it spoiling. 
 
Soft foods such as fruits, vegetables and cooked mixes should be fed regularly. We simply remove the pellet bowl and replace it with the soft food bowl. After a couple of hours the soft food bowl is removed and the pellet bowl returned. Raw or moist food should not be left in the cage for more then a couple of hours because bacteria and mold grow rapidly in that environment. It is also important to keep bowls, utensils and food preparation areas clean and disinfected.

Fresh Produce For Parrots

Eating fresh produce daily is as important to maintaining excellent health in parrots as it is to human beings. The benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables are improved health, vitality, attitude and a strengthened immune system. It is wise to be as knowledgeable as possible regarding nutrition, not just for your parrot but also for you and your family. There has been new research and exciting developments regarding food and nutrition in the past few years. 

For instance, I would bet many of you were not aware of how healthy watermelon is for you. I was surprised myself to learn that the American Heart Association recently recognized watermelon's nutritional properties by giving it the "heart healthy" seal of approval.

Watermelon is virtually fat free, low in calories and is high in energy. Watermelon contains excellent levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, and a variety of nutrients that are vital to good health.

Vitamin A is important for optimal eye health, can help prevent night blindness, and boosts immunity by enhancing the infection-fighting actions of white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Vitamin B6 is used by the body to manufacture brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin, melatonin and dopamine. Preliminary research shows vitamin B6 helps the body cope with anxiety and panic. Perhaps a couple chunks of watermelon a day will help to manage feather-picking behavior in parrots? 

Vitamin C can help to bolster the immune system's defenses against infections and viruses and can protect a body from harmful free radicals that can accelerate aging and conditions such as cataracts. 

The point is to research. Stay up to date on nutritional information. You never know what you will learn. Watermelon is now a part of our flocks diet. They love the lush juicy fruit and I feel good knowing that with a little research I learned of another healthy food choice to offer my birds. They deserve it! 
 
The following list is a few of the safe fruits and vegetables we feed to our hyacinth macaws:

Be sure to remove the pit from fruit before feeding. The pit contains toxic properties. Apple seeds also contain a small amount of toxins and are best removed prior to feeding by coring the apple.

Avoid feeding dried fruits and vegetables that contain sugar, salt and other additives. There are mixes available that have been organically grown and processed without these additives. 

It is good to feed as many foods as possible in their whole and natural state. Just make sure what you are feeding is safe to feed to a hyacinth macaw. Thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before serving will remove toxic pesticides and bacteria. Organically grown food is best but there is nothing wrong with carefully selected produce from your grocer. Life in captivity does not allow them to forage and harvest their own food therefore they should be given every opportunity to enjoy, for example, tearing into an ear of corn or half of a whole cantaloupe. The average pet hyacinth in the home today can have a fairly happy existence but it certainly cannot compare to living and flying free in the wild. With a little added imagination and effort we can turn an otherwise average existence into something much better.

Hyacinth macaws are sometimes picky eaters when it comes to fruits, vegetables and soft foods. The problem eater will either ignore the soft food cup all together or dig in merrily tossing food all over the place. They can be taught to eat these foods if offered in smaller amounts rather than a bowl spilling over the top with fruits and vegetables. A bowl with that much food is an invitation, and irresistible food throwing opportunity few birds can resist. Feeding overly large servings can actually condition a macaw to throw their food and turn an otherwise good eater into a difficult one. A small serving sitting in the bottom of a large food bowl makes flinging food more difficult thus taking the fun out of playing with the food, which in turn leaves the other option – to eat the food. Those that show absolutely no interest in eating fresh fruits and vegetables will be intrigued by a bowl that requires a little effort to see what is inside and hopefully encourage some nibbling while there. Patience, creativity and persistence will eventually correct eating problems.

It is best not to use any vitamin supplements unless under the supervision of a veterinarian. Vitamins are not necessary if you are feeding your hyacinth a balanced diet. It is very easy to cause death or severe damage to internal organs by using vitamins improperly. D3 is very dangerous in excess. Just because a supplement states it is safe for parrots on the label does not mean that it is. There are very few supplements truly researched and manufactured specifically for parrots. It is the responsibility of the consumer to verify these products prior to using them. 

The important thing to remember is that a nutritionally balanced diet will keep your hyacinth macaw healthier and happier longer. The best way to determine your hyacinths health is to consult with your veterinarian. An avian chemistry panel will indicate any deficiencies that need to be addressed. Age, activity level and health status are other factors your veterinarian will take into consideration when making evaluations.