How to Quickly Prepare Fresh Chop

If you’re like most of us, you’ve been told to give your birds fresh fruit and vegetables to supplement their diet and provide them with a more natural and varied selection of foods. But how much? How often? And, most importantly, what?

The idea behind “chop” is that you chop up fresh, washed (organic or home-grown in an organic manner) fruits and veggies into bite-sized pieces and mix them together to create a buffet for your bird. For larger birds, you may choose to keep some pieces large enough to become “foot food.” You can add other foods just prior to serving, such as hard-boiled egg, cooked whole grains, pasta, etc., but these are not essential when creating your chop.

Chop should be fed at least several times a week and, ideally, daily. As a rule of thumb, approximately 50% of your bird’s diet should be fresh veggies (half green and half colorful), 40% pellets (and seed for many of the smaller birds), and 10% fresh fruits. Some birds take a while to adjust to chop. Don’t force it, just keep changing the ingredients and, before you know it, your bird will be enjoying a healthier diet!

Chop has four main components—green vegetables, colorful vegetables, fruits, and supplements.

Green Vegetables – Approximately 40% of your Chop – Choose three or more from:

Colorful Vegetables – Approximately 40% of your Chop – Choose three or more from:

Fruits – Approximately 20% of your Chop – Choose one or two from:

Supplemental Herbs and Spices – Just a Sprinkle – Choose one or two from: