Good Eats, Parrot Owner Edition Part 3

By Emily McNair

In this installment of Good Eats, we are going to focus on a timeless classic - birdie bread. Recipes for various sorts of bread to be served in different forms (normally in muffins form for ease of cooking) are a favorite among bird owners. Easy to make, easy to store, and even easier to serve, birdie bread takes away the stress of constant cooking for your companion. Here are some quick and easy birdie bread recipes.

Strawberry Pellet Bread

3 cups pulverized pellets (food processor is great for this) 1 cup of strawberry yogurt 1 cup of strawberry jam 1 cup of honey 2 eggs 1 package Bisquick biscuit mix Mix well. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

This recipe is simply titled A Great Birdie Bread, and we agree.

2 C cockatiel crumbles (or larger depending on the size of your bird) 1 banana 1/3 C wheat germ oil* 6 eggs--with shell 3T pumpkin, yams or squash 1/3 C vegetable oil 1 1/2 T applesauce or 1/2 apple 1 C thawed frozen mixed vegetables 1 C cooked dry beans 1 C cooked brown rice 2 C corn meal 4 T baking powder Food process first 8 ingredients. Add beans & rice and blend til pulverized. Add to cornmeal and baking powder. Mix well. Add water if too thick. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes til done.

*You can find wheat germ oil (for horses) at most feed stores. Freeze the stuff crumbled, zap about 1 T. per bird per day.

Pineapple Carrot Bread

3 cups flour 2 cups sugar (can use less) 1 t. baking soda 1 t. cinnamon 3 eggs 2 cups shredded carrots 1 cup vegetable oil (or 1 c. applesauce) 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, drained 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon. In another bowl, beat eggs, add carrots, oil, pineapple, nuts & vanilla. Stir moist ingredients into dry ingredients, mixing just until moistened. Spoon into 2 greased & floured loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 65-75 minutes or until loaves test done. Cool 10 minutes in pans before removing to wire racks. Makes 6 mini loaves.

Breeders Best

1 cup yellow corn meal 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup Miller's bran 1 cup soy bean meal 1/2 cup brewers yeast (nutritional, not bread raising kind) 1 cup raw wheat germ 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 cup baking powder 1 cup parrot pellets (We use Pretty Bird, small size) 1 cup Petamine 1/2 cup wheat germ oil 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 dozen eggs, with shells, ground up (use blender) 1 cup chopped spinach 2 cups shredded carrots 2 apples, shredded 2 bananas, mashed 1/2 cup honey 2-3 cups milk or enough to make a heavy batter Mix up everything in a huge bowl. Use your blender for the eggs and apples and bananas. Bake in foil lined pans sprayed with pam. 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in pans, cut in 3x4 squares, store squares in freezer. Defrost as needed. Give each bird a small piece daily in addition to regular seed mix.

We hope this was enough information to get the ball rolling. Once you've had a practice run with a couple types of different breads, let your imagination take over and see what you can create. I guarantee your birds will like it. Birdie bread is an easy way to sneak healthy foods into your birds diet, especially if you have a picky eater. These recipes don't have to be made in 'bread' form, either. Traditional form, that is. For ease of serving, consider spooning out these recipes in cupcake or muffin form, which will allow you portion control and easier storage then actual bread slices.

Emily is very active in the avian community participating in numerous websites and online communities for parrot owners. Emily is also a moderator at http://www.BirdBoard.com She is head writer for http://www.BirdToys.com and online shopping portal for fun and unique bird toys, bird food, cages, and supplies.

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