Oatmeal advice

[Sucre]

I've noticed a lot of people feed parrots oatmeal.

Do you cook it? Quick oats, rolled oats, flavored oat packets?

Is it okay for smaller parrots, as well as larger ones?

[Lady]

I have heard you shouldn't use milk as birds do not digest it. Use whole rolled oats and water or some have used unsweetened apple juice. I have even heard it is okay to use a bit of cinnamon to make it even more appealing. Raisins and honey sound good too. I'm sure you could even sneak in some veggies if you wanted too, but not everything at once of course. And yes it should be cooked.

[PlaxMacaws]

I think oatmeal is good for all of them. Oats are a very healthy food. I usually use quick oats with rice milk instead of milk or water. Salsa, especially, really loves it. While he doesn't like it as well as he adores hominy grits, the oats are far better for him (much more nutritious). Moreover, the hominy is fortified with a few substances, some of which aren't very good for birds (e.g., iron) when given beyond very low trace amounts. The oats are simply pure rolled oats with all of their beneficial goodness. And I get the unfortified, organic rice milk.

[spiritbird]

Higgins makes bird foods similar to oatmeal that is cooked. My little birds and other big birds seem to love Kung Fu Yum. They cannot seem to get enough. I make up a batch and freeze in small containers so when I am not quite awake in the am I can just warm it for them. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[Sucre]

Dianne, I placed an order before I responded!

I tried oats with water, diced up an apple in it. They all picked the apple out and let the oats set up like concrete! Will try again...They rarely appreciate anything the first time we try it.

[spiritbird]

There are little noodles in this mix my birds love. The pumpkin seeds are too big for little beaks so I cut them with scissors.