Parrot treats are an important part of your bird's life. Just as we like to treat ourselves sometimes, your parrot deserves treats too!
If you are training your parrot to respond to commands, you will probably begin by using parrot treats, such as your bird's favorite food or seed, as a reward for responding properly. In this situation, the treat reward should only be given during training and never placed in the parrot's regular food or given at other times. Reserve that parrot treat for training. Of course, as your parrot becomes trained, you can stop using the food reward and provide love and praise as a reward in many cases.
A varied diet is important for parrot health. A regular diet based on a good quality seed mix or pellets designed for your species of parrot is a great start, but your parrot needs fruits and vegetables and other human foods as well. Just about anything humans consume except avocado, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, raw meat, raw eggs, or any potentially spoiled foods are great for your parrot. However, you must limit foods that are high in salt, sugar or fat to a very, very small quantity. Some parrots love a bite of non-chocolate cookie as a treat. There's nothing wrong with giving them a crumb of cookie from time to time. Just don't provide these parrot treats too often or your bird could become obese!
Many purchased parrot treats are healthy and well-loved by parrots. Yogurt covered fruit and nuts are popular. Millet sprays are a treat that some parrots love. There are even parrot cookie treats available. Find those that your bird really enjoys and let your bird have these treats from time to time. However, make certain your parrot is not eating too many treats and too little healthy fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, pasta, rice, and seeds or pellets. Many birds will try to get away with only eating parrot treats and nothing else.
If you really want to give your parrot treats, grow a small bird garden in your yard. Wheat is loved by parrots when it is fresh and green, served on the stalk. Fresh, green millet is another great treat you can grow. Plant a good quality parrot seed mix and anything that grows to create a seed head can be served after rinsing with water. Your parrot will love these treats!
Every parrot deserves treats. The key factor is to not overdo the treats and get your parrot to eat a healthy mix of foods. Find those parrot treats that your particular bird really enjoys and serve them the same way you serve yourself treats – a bit here and there, but not a daily diet of them. After all, you may love cheesecake but you can not live a healthy life on cheesecake alone. Your parrot will love parrot treats, but it can not live a healthy life on treats alone. Balance healthy foods with healthy parrot treats and your parrot will live longer, be happier and thank you for it.