Maw or poppy is more often fed to finches than parrots but it is worth trying with the smaller parrots.

Hemp is an excellent food, a favourite of most parrots. It is very expensive to purchase but its food value is high and it is economical to use because it has a thin husk. The dangers of this seed used to be greatly exaggerated and one was often re­commended the number of grains to give daily; the main point to remember is that it does have a high fat content and larger parrots should not be given it in quantities which could cause obesity.

Oats and groats (oats without the husk) will be enjoyed by many birds. They can be fed dry or soaked; in either condition they break down easi­ly in the crop and are therefore useful for birds rearing young.

Few of the other small seeds available are likely to appeal to par­rots. I have tried radish seed, for example, after reading that it was en­joyed by Cockatiels, but all my birds, regardless of species, refused to sample it. Sesame, however, will be enjoyed by small birds but it is expensive and not easily available.

While the quality of small seeds obtained from reputable merchants does not vary greatly, there is, in my experience, considerable variation in the quality of sunflower seed, especi­ally since the mid 1970s, when the best sunflower seed started to be used for human consumption. Occasionally the seeds are so slim that the birds will make no attempt to husk them but will drop them uneaten. If fed such seed, the health of a parrot which relies mainly on sunflower will suffer. It is therefore most important to buy good quality seed which is plump and full in appearance.

Most parrots prefer white to striped sunflower and show least enthusiasm for black sunflower which, when fed in a mixture of sunflower seeds is often wasted, probably because the birds are influenced by appearance rather than taste. Unfortunately, white sunflower is more expensive than striped and has become more difficult to obtain. Striped sunflower is sold in two sizes by some seed merchants: the small grade is usually used for finches and very small parrots only.

A seed which looks something like small white sunflower, and is much less expensive, is safflower. I have not been able to persuade parrots to eat it when sunflower is available. Pine nuts which are nutritionally superior to sunflower seeds, are a relatively new addition to the choice of parrot foods available. Many of the larger species consume them with frantic enthusiasm, even to the exclusion of sunflower seed, if al­lowed to do so. The danger here is that the supply of pine nuts has proved erratic, with supplies failing for long periods. In appearance they are dark brown. Two types are available in the UK: Russian (large) and Chinese (small). If there is any sign of exterior mould they should be returned to the supplier or washed well before feeding. No more than can be eaten in one day should be fed to birds in outdoor aviaries in wet weather as if left un­eaten for a few days they could become mouldy.

Peanuts, fed either in the shell or as kernels, preferably should be those sold for human consumption. Accord­ing to an eminent aviculturist and veterinary surgeon, those sold for birds have sometimes been discarded for human consumption because they are infected with the poisonous mould, Aspergillus flavus. He found that liver damage by chronic poisoning was common in captive parrots and con­cluded that, in many cases, peanuts were to blame.

Soaked seed is of great value for birds rearing young and for newly fledged young as it is easier to digest than hard seed and it is essential for those which do not receive greenfood. Seed should be soaked for 24 to 48 hours. It is important that the water in which seed is soaked is changed after about 24 hours and that the soaked seed is thoroughly washed before being offered. Some breeders provide only soaked seed while young are being reared or ensure that some soaked seed is always available. For soaking and sprouting, sunflower, canary seed and oats are most often used. Sprouted seed is even more beneficial. After being soaked it should be washed and placed on trays or blotting paper in a warm place and left for at least 24 hours until small shoots are seen.

Those fortunate enough to be able to obtain wheat in the ear will find that it is a favourite with many birds. Some cockatoos which will not eat loose grain will eat various foods in the ear, whether it is corn-on-the-cob or spray millet.

Corn-on-the-cob is one of the most valuable foods it is possible to offer to parrots rearing young. Some would rear on nothing else if given the oppor­tunity. In northern temperate climates, the season for fresh corn is a short one in autumn but frozen corn cob which has been thawed is equally acceptable. Unfortunately, it is expensive to pur­chase but, even so, the quantity needed to rear a nest of the larger parrots will cost only a fraction of their value.

An inexpensive alternative, which may be less eagerly eaten, is whole maize which has been boiled for about two hours and until soft, then washed and drained.