Nutritional deficiencies are among the most common welfare problems in captive parrots, causing preventable suffering and shortened lifespans.
Parrot malnutrition is almost entirely owner-caused and preventable. The widespread persistence of seed-only diets despite clear veterinary guidance reflects the difficulty of converting birds habituated to seeds and the lack of owner awareness. Nutritional education at point of sale, veterinary guidance, and dietary conversion support can dramatically reduce malnutrition-related parrot suffering.