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Tropes that don't make sense (Original Post) Aerows Oct 2015 OP
They fed them weevils from the ship's biscuits Recursion Oct 2015 #1
I had a cockatiel for 15 years. Aerows Oct 2015 #2
Tiels like bugs less than true parrots Recursion Oct 2015 #3
I just never imagined that he would have liked bugs Aerows Oct 2015 #4
Actually, parrots are omnivores sarge43 Oct 2015 #7
See... RobinA Oct 2015 #6
Come on, now, everyone knows parrots eat crackers. malthaussen Oct 2015 #5

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
1. They fed them weevils from the ship's biscuits
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 02:43 AM
Oct 2015

It's kind of unfortunate that many bird owners think seeds are what birds should eat. As an occasional treat it's fine, but most parrots do much better on a diet of invertebrates and fruit. (Cockatiels and cockatoos can do fine on a mostly-seed diet, but true parrots and macaws will not do as well.) Back when I had my conure, I would give him fresh fruit and every other day or so pick up some mealworms from the bait shop. Not exactly for the squeamish, but he loved it.

In addition to being kind of interesting pets to have on board, and fetching a good price back in Europe, tropical birds were appreciated on ships because they would eat the weevils from ship's biscuit and mostly leave the biscuit alone (Melville talks about this in either Billy Budd or Typee).

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
2. I had a cockatiel for 15 years.
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 02:48 AM
Oct 2015

I loved him.

I had no idea they could eat bugs. Maybe he'd still be with me if I fed him more bugs than seeds.

That just took the wind out of my sails for this post.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
3. Tiels like bugs less than true parrots
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 02:50 AM
Oct 2015

Cockatiels and cockatoos are the ones that really like dry seeds, but a 'tiel will probably gulp up the occasional bug given the chance.

That just took the wind out of my sails for this post.

Sorry! I just love naval history and I thought that was an interesting enough answer to deflate an otherwise great trope-buster!

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
4. I just never imagined that he would have liked bugs
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 02:54 AM
Oct 2015

I love birds. I have pet-sat for large birds, too (African Grey that made everybody scared of losing a finger but loved me) and I really love them.

Didn't think about introducing bugs into their diet, but maybe I should. Fewer bugs, healthier birds. Win-win to me.

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
7. Actually, parrots are omnivores
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 03:24 PM
Oct 2015

They'll eat pretty much anything. About the only things that aren't good for them are chocolate, very fatty foods and most milk produces, although a bit of plain of yogurt isn't amiss and anything with alcohol.

My 'tiels love veggies, rice, pasta, cooked eggs (nobody they know), popcorn, cooked beans, lentils

My macaw's breakfast: a little parrot seed, spinach, beans or peas, some whole wheat bread, a piece of fruit, some grape tomatoes and nuts.

If the captain of the ship is dining well, so is his parrot.

RobinA

(9,874 posts)
6. See...
Tue Oct 20, 2015, 12:43 PM
Oct 2015

I keep telling my chickens this, but they don't listen. They free range in addition to getting some feed at night. However, they hang out a lot of the day under the bird feeder to catch seeds the wild birds drop. I tell them to go scratch for bugs instead of trying for easy food, because chickens don't eat an all-seed diet. They walk away, but next thing they're back fighting over chickadee spillage.

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