Sprouting for Parrots

Sprouts made up about 30% of my flock's diet (the other 30% goes to pellets, 30% fresh veggies and fruits; 10% treats/supplements, etc).

This is a pictorial guide on how I sprout for my parrots.

As for information about sprouting, please refer to this wonderful article written by Carolyn Swicegood:
http://www.landofvos.com/articles/sprouts.html

Step 1: Getting the Right Sprouting Mix

I basically create 2 types of mixes meant for differently sized parrots.

Small sprouts blend is meant for small and medium sized parrots. I also find that my cockatoo loves the small sprouts. Some have said that their greys love small sprouts as well. Therefore, even as this small sprout blend is mixed specifically for small perrots ranging from budgies to conrues and other medium sized parrots, you can use it to for other bigger parrots who love to eat small sprouts.

The diversity and balance of seeds, grains and legumes are complementary so that by feeding a variety, the sprouts blend alone give is capable of complete, all natural nutrients that the parrots require!

If you intend sprouts only as a supplementary food, such a variety is not compulsory. However, if you wish to offer sprouts as a substantial part of their diet in replacement of pellets or other fresh food, then it is very much recommended to offer a variety of sprouts as any single type does not offer all the nutrients the parrots need.

Small Parrot Sprouts Blend
(Herb seeds)
1) Alfalfa
2) Bishop’s weed seeds
3) Fennel
4) Radish seeds

5) Red clover seeds
6) Fenugreek
7) Mustard seeds (yellow, red, and black)
(Grain seeds)
8) Brown rice
9) Wheat (winter)
10) Oat (whole)
11) Rye
12) Millets (yellow)
13) Buckwheat (whole)
14) Quinoa
15) Amaranth
(Oil seeds)
16) Flax seeds
17) Sesame seeds (black, white, brown)

Small Parrot Sprouts Blend (dry)

Big Parrot Sprouts Blend

(Legumes)
1) Mung beans
2) Adzuki beans
3) Pinto beans
4) Black turtle beans
5) Garbanzo (yellow and brown)
6) Green lentils
7) Green peas
(Grains)
8) Corn
9) Rye
10) Wheat
11) Buckwheat
12) Quinoa
13) Millets
(Oil seeds)
14) Sunflower seeds (shelled)
15) Pumpkin seeds (shelled)
16) Sesame seeds (white and black)
(Herb seeds)
17) Radish seeds
18) Red Clover seeds
19) Fenugreek
20) Mustard (yellow, red and black)

Big Parrot Sprouts Blend (dry)

Step 2: Soaking

Wash the sprout mix till the water runs clear. Pick out any damaged seeds as these will not sprout but will decompose instead.

Soak it overnight or for 12 hrs, replacing with clean water as and when possible. You can soak the mix using glass jars, plastic containers, as below.

Plastic containers for soaking the sprouts blends.

Step 3: Rinsing and Germinating

Spread the soaked seeds, grains and beans over a tray or container in a well ventilated location, away from direct sunlight. Rinse several times a day to maintain hygiene as well as to keep them moist but not wet. I also use a grapefruit seed extract organic disinfectant to rinse the mixes. This is perfectly safe organic disinfectant that can kill off bacteria, virus, toxic chemical coatings etc in fruits, vegetables and fresh produce. Using this extract in my rinsing help reduce the probability ofr ancidity or decomposition of the sprouts. It is however, not compulsory as long as you rinse themixes well and regularly.

Allow the mix to germinate over a period of 1 to 2 days, with periodical rinsing as you deem necessary.

Below is a photo of the trays I use for sprouting. They can be stacked up for convenience of several days worth of sprouts.

Step 4: Serve!

The mix can be served even before the sprouts are seen as soaking triggered the germination process, thereby increasing the nutritional values of these grains, seeds and beans. They are however, best served when the sprout can just be discernable poking out of the seeds.

As different types of grains, seeds and legumes germinate at different rates, its impossible to feed a mix where every type of seeds are at their optimum stage of growth.

I usually just feed after 1 day of germination for the large sprouts mix as the bigger seeds then to germinate faster. For the small sprout mix, Iwill sometimes allow them to sprout for 2 days before feeding.

Big Parrot Sprouts after soaking and germinating for a day. See how the seeds are swelling and coming alive!


Day 1 Small Parrot sprouts. See how some of the sprouting teeth are poking out of the seeds. Some of these smaller seeds sprout faster than the bigger seeds.

Two day old small sprouts blend.