Bird treats are special snacks designed to provide avian companions with a delicious and nutritious supplement to their regular diet. These treats serve various purposes, such as offering entertainment, promoting foraging behavior, and providing essential nutrients.
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Not all bird treats are healthy
When it comes to bird treats, not all of them are necessarily healthy. It's important for bird owners to read the ingredients listed on the packaging to ensure that the treats are made from wholesome and nutritious ingredients. Some treats may contain additives, preservatives, or other ingredients that may not be suitable for a bird's diet. By carefully examining the ingredients, bird owners can make informed choices to provide their feathered friends with treats that contribute positively to their health and well-being.
Unhealthy Caitec Oven Fresh Bites Apple Cinnamon
Upon studying the ingredients on these popular bird treats there are some major issues: two sugars and shortening. Even though Caitec claims no sugar was added, two sugars were clearly added to this product. Shortening is purely fat with no health benefits and being the second ingredient in the product means it's mostly a shortening treats.
Nutritional Information for Caitec Oven Fresh Bites
IngredientsOatmeal, Vegatable Shortening, Rice Syrup, Millet Flour, Oat Flour, Honey, Flax, Diced Apples, Cinnamon, Whole Dry Egg, Whey, Witamin E (Mixed Tocopherols)
Sugars in Caitec Oven Fresh Bites Apple Cinnamon
Discrepancy between the product's claim of having no added sugar and the actual presence of sugars in the ingredients can arise due to different names for sugar or sugar-containing substances that might not be immediately recognized.
It's crucial for consumers to carefully read the ingredient list on food packaging to identify any hidden sugars or sweeteners that may not be explicitly labeled as "sugar." Ingredients like sucrose, fructose, glucose, and various syrups are examples of sugars that might be present.
As for Caitec Oven Fresh Bites Apple Cinnamon there are two sugars added:
Rice Syrup: Rice sugar is a liquid sugar that’s derived from brown rice and can be used as a substitute for honey or sugar.
Honey: Honey contains mostly sugar, as well as a mix of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc and antioxidants.
Vegetable Shortening in Bird Treats
Although not toxic, shortening is 100% fat and is very high in calories. While shortening is usually made from vegetables, it is low in vitamins and minerals, which is not beneficial to parrots. Excessive consumption can trigger many health issues in parrots.
Two points you should take form shortening:
Healthy Copycat Recipe for Caitec Oven Fresh Bites Apple Cinnamon Parrot Treats
Creating a healthy treat for your parrot involves using natural and nutritious ingredients. Including a variety of nutritious treats not only adds excitement to their meals but also provides additional essential nutrients.
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PDS Apple Cinnamon Parrot Treats
1 cup oats
1 cup millet flour
½ cup buckwheat flour
4 oz applesauce
4 oz water
1 tsp chia seeds
½ tsp ceylon cinnamon
½ apple
2 tsp coconut oil
Directions:
Turn the oven on to 350. Grease a cookie sheet with coconut oil and set aside. Measure out oats, flours into a bowl. In a second bowl measure out and mix the apple sauce, water, chia seeds, and cinnamon. Chop the apple into small pieces. Add the applesauce mixture and chopped apples to the flour. Mix until all the flour is moist. Eyeball about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Slightly flat the ball to form a disk. Place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Completely cool before serving.
How to store your parrot treats
Keep the apple cinnamon parrot treats in the fridge for 3 to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months. There are no preservatives in this recipe.
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Remember, while treats are a great way to enhance your parrot's diet, they should only constitute a small portion of their overall food intake. It's crucial to maintain a balanced diet. Always introduce new treats gradually to ensure your parrot tolerates them well, and monitor their overall health. If you have any concerns or questions about your parrot's diet, consult with your avian veterinarian for personalized advice.
More Articles On Parrot Recipe
Co-founder of Prego Dalliance Sanctuary, Artisan of PDS Parrot Shop
Monika Sangar, the co-founder of Prego Dalliance Sanctuary, a 501c3 non-profit organization, uses these blogs to share her hands-on experience with parrots.
She is a designer and artisan at PDS Parrot Shop, and her craft can be viewed below. (click on logo)
PDS is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax id #46-2470926) PDS parrot shop makes parrot toys to help fund our sanctuary, Prego Dalliance sanctuary, 501c3, non-profit. www.pdsnonprofit.org
Citation:
https://www.sugarnutritionresource.org/news-articles/what-is-rice-syrup
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-honey/art-20363819
3 comments
I made this today for my eclectus parrot and he absolutely loved it! Planning to freeze them so this can be a treat now and then. Thank you.
Thanks much for this apple cinnamon parrot treat recipe. They love apples so I hope they like it!
Thanks much for this apple cinnamon parrot treat recipe. They love apples so I hope they like it!