The Parrot Garden makes Chop for their birds. They make it about every six weeks for their hundred or so birds currently on the premises. The cockatiels get Chop every day and the bigger birds get it three times a week. This method of feeding has cut down on waste and has cut their grocery bill by about 70%. This money can be used for other purposes such as buying new toys, new perches and upgrading the Parrot Garden. This is how they do it:
Patricia Sund
Patricia Sund is a Free-Lance Writer residing in Florida with her three African Greys. She has been published in About.com, Bird Talk Magazine, Birds USA, In Your Flock Magazine, Good Bird Magazine as well as numerous websites and newsletters. She is currently doing research for a book titled "Parrot Nation".
Best Friends Animal Society, Posts About the "Chop" Concept, Recipes for your Parrots
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Bird Blogs, bird food, blogging about parrots, feeding birds, Jacque Johnson, Parrot Blog, Parrot Blogs, Parrot Nation, Parrot Rescue Sites, Patricia Sund, preparing food for birds, taking care of parrots
Patricia Sund
Parrot Nation 
September 28, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Enjoyed this video very much.
LikeLike
September 28, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Yep…the well oiled machine at Parrot Garden..Love you all:)
LikeLike
September 28, 2012 at 9:22 pm
What a brilliant idea of putting in the uncooked teeny tiny pasta to help absorb the excess water from the vegetables. I’m gonna give that a try in my next batch of chop!
LikeLike
September 28, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Loved the video, when I could hear it…LOL…my parrot kept commentary with the birds in the vid. 🙂 I got lots of ideas of how to make my next batch of ‘chop’ – thanks so much!
LikeLike
September 29, 2012 at 2:54 am
heartwarming to see so many people pull together and work as a team for the birds [and all other animals for that matter] Enjoyed the peek at King O 🙂
LikeLike
September 29, 2012 at 11:30 am
Thanks for the great video! Certainly got my boys calling 🙂
LikeLike
September 29, 2012 at 7:55 pm
is this recipe written anywhere?
LikeLike
September 30, 2012 at 7:27 pm
I’d like the written recipe also if possible. Thanks!
LikeLike
October 5, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Okay….I tried this (large scale like you guys) & didnt have much luck…it’s all mush. I normally soak, cook that same bean mix & then rinse w/ cool water thoroughly….then let drain….then bag that along with separately cook pasta, rice & maybe some raw green bell peppers. I add my mixed frozen veggies AT TIME of warming up the mix normally. Because I drain the bean so well (& RINSE immed upon being cooked) they arent mushy when I break them off & reheat them from the foz bag later. I LOVE your idea here (pls dont think I dont)….but IT WOULD HELP to have the WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS/RECIPE so that we can all follow it exactly to have your good results also. Please HELP. 🙂 And, yes, Ive added many other things as you suggested.
Also….WHAT ITEMS (pls specify) do you put in the food processor? I took it that it was JUST the fresh veggies. ?
I’m going to be off facebook for a bit….so if you’d be so kind to send any further info to my email addy, Id really appreciate it. paloma.perch@comcast.net
Many thanks,
Cathy aka Paloma
LikeLike
October 6, 2012 at 8:38 am
First of all you need to pulse the food processor. Start-stop-start-stop. Don’t over-process the vegetables.They should look rough cut, not looking like baby food. Cut up only the vegetables and the vegetables should be uncooked.
Undercook the pasta, rice and quinoa a bit, or do as Jacque does at Best Friends and add uncooked small pasta to absorb the moisture. Add dry items at th bottom of the pot: Twin Beaks Herb Salad, multigrain oatmeal, wheat grass powder, unsweetened, dried coconut, bee pollen, and healthy seed. If you look at the videos again, you will see what I mean by “pulsing.” Kris Porter has some precise recipes if you are interested in pursuing that way, here: http://www.parrotenrichment.com/nutrition/recipes.html I will also mail you my paper presented at the AFA for additional resources and help.
LikeLike
October 6, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Thanks so much Patricia. I will look at the other info you sent me too. I actually think maybe I just shouldve drained the beans after cooking like I usually do. I didnt do that this time, thinking the dry ingred’s would soak up any moisture. I also usually RINSE them after cooking to stop the cooking & I think maybe that keeps them from getting mushy too….maybe removes the starch? I did hand cut & then pulse the veggies & did them separately (carrots, kale, chard, bell peppers, parsley, celery, etc..)….but I think you’re right….I may have OVER-processed them. I prob need practice to not over pulse. I have the same Cuisinart processor that you all showed in the video….love it…..but I’m not used to using it much. OH……I ALSO am NOT used to using jalepenos for the birds either. And, I just chopped those by hand (2). ****GREAT TIP (that I didnt follow)……….WEAR GLOVES when handling the jalepenos AND the final hand-mixing of all the ingreds in the big tub! My fingers are still burning! lol.
I think I added everything you guys mentioned in this video except ginger…..plus added a few things like wheat germ, chia seeds, wheat berries, pearl barley.
I made ALOT…. I filled 10 one-gallon sz freezer bags! And when I freeze big bags like that, I find it helps to partially freeze, then break it up in the back, then freeze longer, then break up again….etc. That way when it’s totally frozen, it’s already broken apart in the bag…..I dont have to thaw the whole bag out to use it (I have 5 parrots). SO! My extra freezer is going to be full! I still have it half filled up with nuts from last year. And… seed mix (which I’ve almost stopped feeding now).
I HOPE my birds will get used to this chop mix & like it…..because I have enough for a year I bet! LOL. Thanks all of you for making the video….I love the idea. It will save alot of time & money in the long run.
Hugs,
Cathy 🙂
LikeLike
January 9, 2013 at 1:54 pm
You guys might consider using a rotating compost barrel to make this. It would probably go even faster.
LikeLike
January 9, 2013 at 2:08 pm
What a great idea!
LikeLike
January 9, 2013 at 3:44 pm
FYI – This model looks perfect – decent price and free shipping to boot!
http://www.buylifetime.com/products/blt/pid-60076b.aspx?gclid=CKz_v62O3LQCFYKK4Aod5EMAPQ
LikeLike
October 24, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Hello Patricia, I was wondering if you had a list of the exact ingredients and the amount of each used. I have 4 tiels, an African Gray, Ringneck, Cockatoo, and a Conur. Finding something they will all eat has been a chore and after watching this video, I think this might be the step in the right direction for them. I feed them chop, mash, fresh veggies and fruits….however, most of it get thrown away, maybe it is the way I prepare it. So trying to use some of the recipes on here to see what happens. Thank you very much.
Christinea
LikeLike
October 28, 2013 at 10:50 am
No, I don’t, but if you take notes watching my Chop videos, it will give you a pretty good idea about what to use and the amounts.
LikeLike
January 4, 2014 at 11:24 am
One thing bothers me about this; the Teflon spoon that is used in the boiling cooking water. I know that Teflon at high temps releases deadly fumes; I wonder about toxins going into the water from the spoon….
LikeLike
January 26, 2014 at 10:19 am
It’s a plastic spoon, Joan. So no harm done.
LikeLike