Most parrot caregivers I encounter are feeding chop mix as a dietary supplement. They have been told that it’s one of the healthiest things they can do for their birds.
And while fresh foods are important, many people don’t realize that diet doesn’t just affect physical health – it also influences behavior through its impact on the production of reproductive hormones. Therefore, the ingredients included in a well-designed chop mix are important.
In some cases, well-intentioned feeding practices can actually contribute to the very behavior or health problems caregivers are trying to solve. If we are going to feed chop to our parrots, we should have baseline nutritional knowledge and adhere to some guidelines. I hope that this updated look at this popular mixture will make it easier to create a truly wholesome mix that fosters optimal health.
What Chop Is – and What It Isn’t
Chop is a mixture of grains and vegetables that is fed as a supplemental meal to augment the nutrition provided by pellets. (Some people include other ingredients, which we will discuss further below.) Chop is typically made in a large batch so that it can be frozen and used over time, making the feeding of fresh foods more practical.
Over time, confusion has arisen about exactly what constitutes chop. Pouring frozen mixed vegetables out of a bag is not chop. Making a fresh mix every morning from whatever might be in your refrigerator is also not chop. Providing a dish of large chunks of vegetables is not chop.
Making a new, fresh mix every morning has become popular among some caregivers, based on the belief that vegetables that haven’t been frozen are superior. While there may be some truth to that, this approach is not sustainable. It takes too much time, limits variety, and often fails when morning schedules become chaotic.
Benefits of a Well-Designed Chop Mix
In the wild, parrots typically forage for food twice each day. This is not just about obtaining nutrients – it is a natural, highly motivated behavior that occupies both time and attention. Several hours each day are spent in this activity.
A well-designed chop mix offers several important benefits when used appropriately:
- It allows birds to engage in natural foraging and choice-making behavior.
- It provides variety in both texture and nutrients.
- It includes essential fatty acids, phytonutrients, and enzymes that processed foods do not.
- It increases time spent interacting with food.
- It contributes to greater behavioral satisfaction.
- It allows new foods to be introduced without triggering. neophobia, since the overall appearance remains consistent.
- It can reduce the metabolizable energy of the diet as a whole.
When used thoughtfully, chop supports not only physical health but also the behavioral needs of the bird.
Diet and the Production of Reproductive Hormones
Diet plays a much larger role in hormone production than most caregivers realize.
In the wild, reproductive behavior occurs only when environmental conditions support it – most notably when food is abundant, and energy intake is high.
Research and clinical observation have shown that diets high in fats and simple carbohydrates can contribute to increased reproductive hormone activity in parrots. In addition, the constant availability of food in captivity creates a sustained signal of abundance—one that the body interprets as favorable for breeding. (IAABC Foundation Journal; Ritchie, Harrison & Harrison).
When high-energy foods are provided regularly, especially without corresponding opportunities for energy expenditure, this signal can become chronic. The result is a bird that remains in a hormonally active state rather than cycling seasonally as it would in the wild. I have become convinced that the majority of problems with feather-damaging behavior, self-mutilation, and cloacal prolapse are the result of such chronic reproductive activity. I hope someday to prove that.
The Problem with High-Energy Feeding
What do we mean by “high-energy feeding”? It refers to diets in which foods high in metabolizable energy are fed regularly as a significant portion of the diet. Metabolizable energy is measured in kcal/kg and represents the amount of energy assimilated by the parrot after losses in excretion.
Foods high in fats and carbohydrates are typically the most energy-dense. When fed regularly, they can result in a state of heightened arousal, increasing the likelihood of aggressive or excessively loud behavior. High-energy diets have also been implicated in disease processes such as fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis.
When we craft a chop mix, we want to minimize the inclusion of high-energy foods. Vegetables are generally lowest in metabolizable energy, so they form the foundation of the mix. However, a mix composed entirely of vegetables can be too wet to appeal to many parrots. For this reason, moderate amounts of cooked grains are often added to absorb moisture. I have also found tofu and legume-based pastas (uncooked) to be useful in both absorbing moisture and increasing acceptance in more reluctant birds.
The difference in energy content between common food types is significant, as shown below.
Relative Energy Content of Common Parrot Foods
| Food Category | Example Foods | Energy (kcal per 100g) |
|---|---|---|
| Leafy greens | Kale, collards, dandelion | 20–40 |
| Vegetables | Carrot, broccoli, peppers | 30–80 |
| Fruits | Apple, berries, mango | 50–100 |
| Seeds | Sunflower, safflower | 450–600 |
| Nuts | Almonds, walnuts | 500–700 |
Source: USDA FoodData Central (values approximate)
Grain values vary greatly depending on whether they are measured dry or cooked, so they are not included in this simplified comparison.
When high-energy foods such as seeds and nuts are fed regularly, the body receives a consistent signal of abundance. Over time, this can contribute to increased hormone production and associated problem behaviors.
This is one of the most commonly overlooked factors in the development of hormone-related behavior problems in companion parrots.
Rethinking Chop: A More Balanced Approach
Let’s look at our goals in creating a truly effective chop mix:
Goal No. One: Introduce greater variety into the diet.
Pellets cannot possibly supply all of the nutrients parrots need. Each species originates from a specific geographic area, where available plant materials differ and provide a wide range of nutrients. By feeding chop, we attempt to cover nutritional bases that pellets alone may not address.
Goal No. Two: Provide access to nutrients that are lost during processing.
Certain nutrients—such as phytonutrients and essential fatty acids—can be diminished or destroyed by exposure to heat, light, and air during manufacturing. Fresh foods can help restore some of these elements to the diet.
Goal No. Three: Control overall energy intake.
The chop mix should provide less metabolizable energy than the chosen pellet diet. This helps support appropriate energy balance and encourages continued acceptance of pellets as a primary food source.
Goal No. Four: Create a mix that birds will readily accept.
In many cases, a drier mix is more appealing than one that is overly wet. Texture matters, and acceptance must always be considered when designing any feeding plan.
A Sample Chop Mix
Some of you may be surprised to learn that I use mostly frozen vegetables in my chop. I have found that the end result is equal to or better than what I achieved using fresh vegetables. Frozen vegetables are flash-frozen at peak freshness. They are less expensive and reduce preparation time, since they are already washed and cut.
Using fresh vegetables is also perfectly acceptable. However, for those of us who live in areas with harsher winters, frozen options ensure the continued provision of a wide variety of vegetables year-round.
Chop Preparation from Start to Finish
Ingredients:
Grains: Kamut, quinoa, barley, Russian toasted buckwheat, farro, brown rice
(no more than 15 – 20% of total mix)
Frozen vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, green beans, winter squash, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, edamame beans, chopped bell peppers, chopped kale
Fresh vegetables: fresh carrots,optional additions
Moisture absorbers: brown rice or legume-based pasta
Protein addition and moisture absorber: extra-firm tofu. *Despite abundant conversation on social media to the contrary, current evidence indicates that soy is not problematic for parrots, whose reproductive systems differ significantly from those of mammals. (Murphy, Bianca).
Instructions:
This should take you about two hours, tops, if you work efficiently.
Step One: Cook grains according to package directions. Drain and place into your mixing container. (Spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, or curry powder can be added in moderation during the cooking process.) Tip: A clean, unused cat litter pan is the perfect vessel for this. The size and shape are perfect for mixing up a big batch of chop.
Step Two: Wash, then chop or shred your fresh vegetables. Add to your container with the grains.
Step Three: Process your larger frozen vegetables as follows. Take one bag out of the freezer at a time to prevent premature defrosting. Place the contents into a strainer and run under cold water for 10 seconds. Drain and cut into smaller pieces that your food processor will accept. Use the pulse function on your processor to cut the pieces into about the size of the grains. Add to container.
Step Four: Add all of the smaller vegetables that don’t need chopping – corn, peas, edamame beans, sweet potatoes, winter squash, chopped kale.
Step Five: Press all the liquid possible out of the block of tofu and then crumble it well into the mix.
Step Six: Pack into plastic bags or ice cube trays. (Example sizes: Quart-sized baggies for 3 medium parrots. Snack-sized for one medium parrot. Snack-sized for two small parrots.) Store in freezer until ready to feed. *Do not store for longer than three months to preserve quality.
Feeding Your Chop Mix
To feed, defrost one bag of chop in the refrigerator overnight. Cut off a small corner of the bottom of the bag to drain excess liquid. (This can be saved and accumulated in the freezer for the next time you cook grains or make soup.) Then, add two or three optional ingredients for added nutrition and interest value.
Examples of ingredients you can add at this time include: rolled oats or oat groats, fresh chopped greens, sprouts, dried goji berries, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, edible fresh flowers, or other small items of interest and nutritive value.
I feed this to my parrots every morning. Greys and Amazons get 1/4 cup of the mix along with some pieces of fruit on the side. *Fruit should never be included in a chop mix, due to it’s high water content. Pellets should be available at the same time. You will find that your parrots may combine pellets and chop for breakfast as they go back and forth between dishes. When given the opportunity, parrots like to move around quite a bit as they forage.
Final Thoughts
Chop mix is an important supplemental food for companion parrots. When designed thoughtfully, it can support both nutritional health and behavioral well-being. By following the guidelines outlined here, you should achieve good acceptance after the normal introductory period.
References
- IAABC Foundation Journal. Diet and Behavior in Companion Parrots
- Ritchie, B.W., Harrison, G.J., & Harrison, L.R. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application
- Clark, P. (my articles)
- Murphy, Bianca, DVM, DABVP (Avian). Balancing Nutritional Benefits and Myths
Author: Pamela Clark, CPBC, retired CVT
Leave a Reply