The single healthiest food you can feed your bird friend are fresh sprouts. Soaking or sprouting seeds and grains are an easy way to provide your parrot with fresh live food that is similar to what they would be eating in the wild. All birds, from finches to macaws benefit from and enjoy eating live food. There are different sizes and types available for every size of bird. By soaking dormant seeds they germinate and are brought back to life again. Sprouts are like little vegetable plants packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids and protein. Did I mention that not only is this one of healthiest additions to your parrot’s diet, but it’s also one of the least expensive too?
Why are Sprouts so Nutritious? When any seed, nut, grain or legume is sprouted its entire chemical composition is enhanced. Sprouting is the relatively simple process of soaking, draining and rinsing seeds until they germinate. The germinated seeds, grains and legumes must then be allowed to grow in order for them to reach their peak nutrition. The germination and sprout growing process transforms whole foods into avian super foods!
Packed with Vitamins, Minerals and Antioxidants
The sprout growing process causes the formation of vitamins and an increase in all vitamins present. This makes sprouts a rich source of vitamins C, E, B complex and beta-carotene. Any minerals present become chelated, making them easier for the body to assimilate. Sprouts also contain an overwhelming quantity of life-enhancing antioxidants. Antioxidants come in a variety of forms, each one provides unique chemical components as they target and bind to specific free radicals. When the level of free radicals rise above what the body can manage, they begin altering the way cells code genetic material.
Abundant in Enzymes
When sproutable foods are germinated and allowed to become sprouts they now provide an abundant source of enzymes. By nature enzymes are catalysts, substances that induce hundreds of thousands of biochemical processes in the body. Enzymes are essential for good health and they make every single biochemical process possible. The brain, nervous system, vascular system, cell regeneration, growth, immunity, the digestive system, and all the vital organs (liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs) all depend on enzymes to function properly. According to Clinical Nutritionist Phyllis Balch, in her book “Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, sprouts (not soaked seed but sprouts) are the most abundant source of enzymes available. Although all raw foods contain enzymes the amounts present in sprouts can be 10 to 100 times greater than the amounts that are present in raw fresh fruits and vegetables.
Protein Rich Like enzymes, proteins are also essential to life. Proteins form the structural basis of chromosomes. Each DNA strand contains the genetic code that is the formula for making that cell’s unique protein chain. Proteins are the primary building blocks that makeup every cell in the body. Proteins build healthy muscles, blood, skin, feathers, nails, and vital internal organs. Proteins are essential for proper growth, development, reproduction and a well functioning immune system. Having a diet rich in complete protein is a fundamental nutritional requirement for a parrot to cope with stress effectively. When feeding a sprouting blend that contains all the essential amino acids you are providing an easily digested source of complete protein.
The Benefits of Feeding Sprouts The avian body requires hundreds of different nutrients daily. Malnutrition is the leading cause of illness, disease and premature death in captive parrots. This statistic is tragic, especially since malnutrition can be prevented and reversed. Sprouts provide a wealth of nutrients that are easily assimilated and utilized by the body. As the body receives the type and quality of nutrition it craves, regeneration and healing can begin at the cellular level. This results in improved health, increased longevity, a more congenial temperament, and beautiful plumage. Introduce your flock to the superior nutrition of sprouts and watch your birds transform as they receive the benefits only this outstanding super food can provide. What positive changes have people seen after feeding their birds nutrient rich sprouts? Many have reported observing:
significant improvements in feather condition and color,
fewer illnesses, and birds with health issues have experiences strong recoveries,
reversal of obesity problems, and
reduction in feather destruction behaviors.
Achieving Successful Sprouting Results There are several reasons why seeds, nuts grains or legumes do not sprout:
Age - If a seed, nut, grain or legume is no longer viable (i.e., dead) it cannot germinate.
Using a poor quality or poorly formulated sprouting blend, or
Using a sprouting method that is incompatible with the climate where you live.
To ensure success:
Purchase sproutable foods from organic sources that are known to be fresh and viable.
Follow recommended procedures as to soaking times, rinsing cycles, temperature and light.
Use GSE (Grapefruit Seed extract) to eliminate the potential for bacterial growth.
Will my Parrot Like Sprouts? Experience has shown that 70 to 90 percent of the birds introduced to sprouts enthusiastically eat them the first time. Parrots have an instinctive ability for selecting and eating foods that have medicinal properties, or are rich in nutrients their body’s need. When sprouts are fed as the foundation food, along with a wide selection of organic fresh fruits and vegetables you are providing the highest quality nutrition possible.
Sprouting Doesn't Need to be Complicated!
Start easy, seeds and grains germinate and are ready to eat after just a rinse and overnight soaking. You can also continue to repeatedly rinse and drain them for a few days in order to sprout root tails on them, too.
Some popular options to get you started:
wheat
oats
spelt
barely
millet
quinoa
buckwheat groats
sunflower seeds
short grain brown rice
sesame seeds
amaranth
corn kernels
How to get started
Buy your seeds and grains from a health food store. Human-grade organic ingredients are safer, fresher and much better quality.
Just use a very small amount at a time. A little spoonful of seed goes a long way, and you want to make small amounts so you use them all up quickly when they are fresh and most nutritious.
Start by inspecting for any damaged broken seeds and toss them out. Put your seeds into a strainer and give them a good washing by running lots of fresh water through them. The fine mesh stainless steel strainers work really well.
Now put them in a clean container with plenty of cool fresh water. They will expand to at least double the amount, so add enough water to cover them completely while allowing them room to expand. Soak overnight.
The next morning give them a good rinsing and drain them well. You now have nutritious, live, germinated seeds. That’s it, it really is that simple. Grains and seeds can be fed after just a simple soaking that bring them to life.
You may also choose to let them grow just a little further until they visually sprout. Leave them in the strainer and rinse and drain very well at least twice a day until you see little buds of white sprout tails. This usually takes 1-3 days, depending on the seed.
You can stop the sprouting process at any point by rinsing the sprouts and placing in the refrigerator for storage. Cooling sprouts stalls the germination process.
Worried About Bacteria?
It's true, some sprouts or even the sprouting process, can come with a risk of bacteria. The easiest way to avoid this is to make a "sprout wash" for your sprouts just before serving or storage. Mix together equals parts: Water, GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract), and ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar). Soak your sprouts in the sprout wash for 15-30 minutes, drain and rinse well. The ACV and GSE contain natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, while adding all the health benefits of a gut boosting superfood!
Helpful Hints:
Glass is preferred over plastic for soaking and storage, since glass can be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly. Plastics may leech into foods.
Don’t cover your sprouts, they need fresh clean air during the entire soaking and sprouting process. Also keep them in a cool spot and out of direct sunlight.
Sprouts do NOT need fancy grow lights or ANY light at all while sprouting! The only time sprouts need light is once they become GREENS, with emerging stems and green leaves.
Most birds will love sprouts even if it is a new food for them. Sprouts are seeds, and most birds are seed junkies! If your bird is stubborn about trying new foods, typically your food on your plate is more enticing to them. Share with your bird and eat with them to get them to try new healthy foods. Even offering new food on a plate versus a dish can have them thinking it's a "human food" treat.
Cautions:
Don’t forget about or neglect your growing sprouts. You’re making fresh live food. You don’t want to grow mold or bacteria in your sprouts. Rinsing very well and draining very well each day is crucial to the well being of your sprouts. Always wash your hands before handling sprouts. Sprouts should smell fresh and earthy, never foul or sour smelling. Toss them out if there is ever any question about their freshness.
Once you feel comfortable and confident in sprouting you may want to sprout some legumes too. This includes garbanzo beans (chick peas), adzuki beans, mung beans and lentils. Legumes are not safe to eat when raw. You must be sure to sprout them until you see the root tails, this can take three or four days.
Also, as a final note, be sure you are sprouting something that is actually safe and okay for parrots to eat. There are toxic beans that should never be sprouted so don’t experiment with something that you don’t know for sure is safe for parrots.
Now have some fun and grow your bird some healthy live food! Oh and, sprouts are great for you, too ya know! ;)