“Ask The Bird Experts” Interview, or “I’m Not an Expert but I Can Talk About “Chop!”
August 14, 2009 by Patricia Sund
I’m being interviewed Sunday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on a Webcast at: “Ask the Bird Experts” Here’s the link:
And they want me to talk about my “Chop” recipe. No surprise there. And I’m happy to do it because It’s a concept I can believe in.
It’s been a little overwhelming because while I thought people would be interested in the idea of making “Chop” for their birds, I didn’t quite anticipate the overwhelming positive response to it. Man! But I think it’s terrific and I can just see birds all over the world looking better, feeling spunkier and getting healthier due to their diet of “Chop” along with sprouts, nuts, treats and a formulated pelleted diet. I can also almost feel them getting more active and driving their families a little nuts due to it! But it sure beats having a bird with vitamin deficiencies and liver issues due to an all-seed diet. So if you have a little time on Sunday, tune in. It ought to be at worse, funny at my expense, and at best, a lot of fun. You can also ask questions about the “Chop Concept” or better yet, you can tell me and the Hosts, Tamaran and Quincy Scarborough what you do to make “Chop.” Tell us about your “Chop” Parties, the ingredients you like to add, or how you mix or package it.
Tell us any old thing about how you make your “Chop.” I’m always learning from people and get the best ideas from those who make it. I’d love to hear about your “Chop Parties,” or great stories about how easy it is in the day-to-day for you. Can’t wait to hear from you!
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Posted in essays and articles, Patricia Sund, Posts About the "Chop" Concept, Uncategorized | Tagged "Chop" Concept, African Grey, bird food, Bird Talk Writer, Cincinnati Zoo, feeding birds, Parker the Grey, Parrot, parrot diet, Parrot Nation, Patricia Sund, preparing food for birds, taking care of parrots | 11 Comments
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Patricia Sund
This sounds like a cross between John Stoodley mash diet from the 1970s, Alicia McWatters Mash (who had a nutrition, that was pretty much the same as Mike’s Manna Mash. The preferred updated version of these mashes was developed in the 1990s with fresh produce not frozen and updated as blood work showed the need. This is nothing new.
Hi Ann,
You are absolutely right, it’s not new at all. What’s different is the renewed interest in actually doing this. I never stated that it was new, or original. I am merely saying this is a great way of getting great nutrition to your bird.
I’m just happy that there is a revived interest in the “concept.” I am merely trying to get people away from an all seed diet. If I can accomplish that, it’s a good effort.
I tell people that fresh and frozen vegetables can be used. I don’t give a recipe. It’s the concept that is important: feeding your birds well by making big batches of food and freezing it for the “day-to-day.”
I am reviving a concept that is great for the Human Companions of today. It works and I happen to be in the position to get the word out to people. It shouldn’t matter that it is old or new.
When I came up with the concept of “Chop”, I had never heard of “Mike’s Mash.” And there is still very little on it. I’d love to see people talk about Mike’s Mash more, because it’s essentially the same thing. I agree with you. the concept is the same: “Everything old is new again.”
Thanks so much for your comments. I so appreciate your input!
With Respect,
Patricia
do we need to cook all the vegetable before mixing? What about the sweet potato?
Rgds,
Rahman
No, you don’t need to cook the vegetables at all. You don’t have to cook the sweet potato either. You only need to cook the grains; things like rice, quinoa, barley, or pasta.
Do we have to sign up at this website to seach the “back issues” of the seminars? I’ve only got Sally B. and Liz W.’s saved on my computer, is there perhaps a different link you can give us so we can listen in?
Thanks
I have seen some nocturnal birds in Central America and also in El Paso, TX that fly in a bat-like fashion. I assume that they must live in Mexico too. They fly close to the ground for relatively short distances and seem to be attracted to car headlights. They don’t actually crash into headlights, but like flying acroos the light beams. What is this creature?
I simply don’t know, but I’ll ask my friend Steve at the Cincinnati Zoo Bird House and see if he knows!
Dear Patricia, A friend and I are enjoying bird watching and have two books for reference, but we are unsure about two we keep seeing. One looks like a phoebe but the book says it is not in this region. It is a bit larger than a sparrow, its color is divided horizontally — top charcoal and bottom, light gray; feeds mostly on the ground. The second bird looks like a towhee. Can we be right about the towhee?
Thanks for your help. Lee
Have you checked online with some birding sites or gone to some of the Bird Encyclopedias online? They might be able to help you with this. As you have not told me where you are, I can’t be of much help. But Im sure you could probably look it up on a regional directory on Google and find it. Please bear in mind, that a lot of birds are not in their summer home right now as they have migrated. So what you might be seeing is a bird that is “wintering” in your area. But again, I don’t know where you are. Good luck with the identification and let me know what you find out. Thanks for stopping by!
Patricia
Thank you for the Chop Video. I have used versions of it for 20 years for my African Grey. The sound of the video was difficult to hear. What did you say you used for thickening agent for the chop? Oatmeal or Baby food cereal?The recipes I have used for everyday these last 20 years has been Sing’s green bird cakes. I make a month worth and feed Goya twice a day. ( sometimes 3 times /day. The receipe was published on Bird Talk way, way back in the 90′s.
I primarily use dry oatmeal. I had some baby cereal leftover from rehabbing a bird, so I threw that in as well. But I don’t ordinarily use baby cereal. I don’t use it as a “Thickening Agent,” it’s in there primarily to absorb moisture. You want the chop on the dry side as it freezes better that way and seems to be more appealing to my parrots when it’s drier. It maintains it’s crispness a little better and holds up in the freezer.