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Keeping your parrot healthy is a full time job, but do you know what they should eat? Read about conure and quaker diets here: the importance of balanced nutrition Avian nutrition is a topic that is ever-evolving; as parrot owners it is our responsibility to be informed and growing our knowledge in this area to ensure we are taking the best care of our birds. What your bird eats is so often neglected, which leads to a multitude of health issues such as moulting disorders, respiratory disease, growth abnormalities (beak, nail, tumours, etc), poor reproduction, egg binding and poor immune function. It is of utmost importance to learn and provide the most appropriate diet to our birds to keep them healthy, happy and problem free. In the wild, birds have access to literally hundreds of foods; their environment like a never ending buffet. Fruits and vegetables should be a main staple for your bird. Offering an assortment of food items will ensure your conure remains healthy throughout its life, given daily and served fresh, as spoiled fruits and vegetables will make your bird sick. It is recommended to provide a base diet of formulated pellets, supplemented with seeds, nuts, fruit and vegetables. what do we feed our parrots? We wean our baby birds onto a diet of our DIY pellet mix, chopped vegetables, soaked seed and sprouts. Pellets In Australia, we are quite fortunate to have such a wide variety of quality pellets. Pellets are a compact, formulated diet made from grains, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and fortified vitamins and minerals. This prevents birds from picking out preferable seeds from their dish and helps to bridge the gap to balanced nutrition. As a 'base' for a parrot diet, pellets should make up approximately 40-60% of their overall food intake. However, a pelleted diet does not provide the variety and stimulation that parrots require and would receive in a wild environment (this is where the other elements come in, like fruit, vegetables, seed and foraging toys). Offer a dish of pellets available to your bird at all times, mixing a small amount of quality seed in additionally. A mix of three or four different pellets will increase the enrichment value of foraging, while also creating that variation that they crave. Some products we recommend are: You can find the above pellets at most independent pet shops and online, here are a few to check out: Get Flocked (Vetafarm, Zupreem, Hari, Harrisons) Chipper Parrots (Vetafarm, Zupreem, Hari) Parrot Supplies (Vetafarm, Zupreem, Lauke Mills, Hari, plus also Versele Laga, Tops) Pet Shop Direct (Vetafarm, Zupreem, Roudybush, Hari, plus Versele Laga) Pet Circle (Vetafarm) Petstock (Vetafarm) Petbarn (Vetafarm) There are other brands, such as Versele Laga, TOPS and Harrisons, which are premium quality, imported products however we have not had the chance to use them yet, in favour of more affordable, easily obtainable options like those above. We have also tried Vetafarm B Calm, its unclear for us whether it actually improved anything. Use at your own discretion. It does look like Roudybush has been discontinued but still available sporatically. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES It is extremely important that conures have access to fresh vegetables and fruit (sparingly) multiple times a week. Not only is this closer to their natural diet, but also provides hydration having a high moisture content. There are some foods, however, that are toxic to birds, so it is important to know what you can and can't give to your feathered friend. FRUIT Apple (no seeds) Banana Blueberry Cherry Dates Goji berries Grape Kiwifruit Lychee (no seed) Mango Nectarine Orange Papaya Passionfruit Peach (no seed) Pear Pineapple Plum (no seed) Pomegranate Raspberry Strawberry Watermelon HERBS Parsley, mint, basil, etc. VEGETABLES Beans Beetroot Broccoli Carrot Capsicum Chili (birds have no heat sense) Cauliflower Corn Cucumber Celery Fennel Greens (bok choy, chard, endive, rocket, silver beet, kale) Parsnip Peas Pumpkin Sweet potato Zucchini BEANS & LEGUMES Chickpeas (garbanzo), kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, etc. Wholemeal rice, wholemeal pasta OTHER Alternative seeds: chia seeds, flaxseed, alfalfa, barley, buckwheat, oats, sunflower, wheat berries, millet, quinoa, pepita (pumpkin seed) Nuts (unsalted): Almond, Brazil, Cashew, Peanut, Hazelnut, Macadamia, Pine nut, Pecan, Pistachio Cuttlefish (especially breeding hens) Boiled eggs Plain/unsalted rice cakes TOXIC Alcohol Avocado Cheese and dairy Chives Chocolate Coffee/tea Junk foods Mouldy foods/grains Mushrooms Iceburg Lettuce (gives diarrhoea) Onion Rhubarb (especially the leaves) seed mix It is becoming more commonly known that an all-seed diet is not nutritionally balanced. Seeds given in moderation (just like the tip of the food pyramid) is beneficial, and some species like cockatiels and corellas can handle a higher percentage of seeds in their diet. But offering a seed-only diet to your conure or quaker would ultimately be sacrificing their health and wellbeing, and setting them up for poor quality of life and shortened lifespan. It leads to your birds ageing a lot faster than they should, making them vulnerable to respiratory diseases, obesity, fatty liver disease, bone deformities and dull brittle feathers. Let's look at the purpose of a seed, botanically: it provides a large amount of energy (in the form of fats) to power the germination and sprouting into a new plant. It then expends that energy as it grows and changes form (i.e. inert seed to living plant) and changes chemically and nutritionally. So providing an all seed diet, high in fats, oils and lacking in many minerals, amino acids and vitamins; is essentially feeding small parcels of starchy, fatty calories equivalent of a life eating only hamburgers. Seed mixes, like Avigrain Cockatiel Blue or Peachface, or a mixture of both, are a great choice. Some commercial seed mixes contain sorghum and corn, which are fillers that are not usually eaten. Alternatively, sprouting seed and giving it to your birds changes the nutritional value of them and is highly beneficial and a great, nutrient dense food. sproutED seed Sprouted seed has a much higher nutritional value than dry or soaked seed. As the seed, pea or bean germinates, it starts to use that stored energy and convert it to a highly bioavailable food source with more protein and less fat. It is best to allow the sprouts to grow small tails before you feed. Sprouts are great for breeding birds, making it easier for parents to feed their young a softer, palatable food, as well as the nutrients it provides for growing muscle and new feathers. A good sprouting mix will be economical, fresh, easy to germinate and fantastic fuel for your little parrots' body. You can find our comprehensive article on sprouting at home here.

BIRDS FOR SALE freight information We are excited to be able to offer freight within QLD or interstate to our clients. It is still just as important to us to match a baby's emerging personality with the type of family and environment they will be living with once they leave us. We also freight breeding pairs for breeders. We understand it can be a nerve-wracking decision to fly your new companion interstate for you, especially if you've never experienced it before. It is normal to worry about how the noise, smells and even fumes may affect your bird, and whether the stress would pose a negative effect either short or long term for them. In our experience, they generally are pretty happy to get out at the other end, have a drink of water and meet their new humans. In the case of hand reared pets, some will look for physical interaction and be off exploring straight away, and others may want to have a big sleep first. It is important to read their body language and not to overwhelm them in their new environment. The process of getting your new family member freighted to you is quite simple: we do all the work for you! HOW WE BOOK FOR AIR FREIGHT 1. Let us know which airport is closest to you, which day works best and a preferred time. (Please note: Green cheeked conures and quakers are prohibited in WA, and cannot be freighted. Tasmania will need a movement application.) 2. We ring the airline and request a quote. We will only send by air cargo as it is the most reliable, fastest and least amount of stress on the birds, especially when compared to road freight. Currently, our preferred freight service is with Virgin Australia Cargo, however we can book with Qantas to those airports that don't have Virgin Australia access like regional and rural airports. 3. We come back to you with a price*. Unfortunately flight prices haven't been immune to increases this year, and have jumped significantly for certain airports. We strive to keep our price affordable for you, while considering the flight cost plus airline approved freight box and small allowance for tolls and fuel. We do end up absorbing some of the cost to make sure it is as economical as possible. *Prices subject to change, please message us to confirm. Destination One Bird Two Birds To Adelaide $195 $215 To Mackay $180 $200 To Melbourne $195 $215 To Rockhampton $180 $200 To Sydney $180 $200 4. Once we confirm the price with you and get the all clear, we require payment in full. We will send through our bank details, and once it has cleared into our account, you will be sent through your receipt for proof of payment. 5. Booking the flight: We need your full name, email address and phone number, as you will need to show your Driver's Licence or ID card in order to pick up your bird at the cargo agent. 6. Once the flight is booked and paid for from our end, we will send you the details of your flight, including the Airway Bill Number, flight code, date, departure and arrival time, and pick up address. 7. On the day of your flight, we will be sure to send you plenty of photos of your bird/s, before they are placed into the freight box. The boxes are airline approved, strong plywood construction with sliding door at the back secured shut with screws to prevent risk of escape. It also has small, grated windows in the front and a perch on the inner base to make sure they have grip and cannot slide about and hurt themselves. We send pairs in a box with separate compartments to ensure their safety in a stressful environment, even if they are a bonded or breeding pair. Inside the boxes we place some of their regular pellets and seed, and a large piece of apple for hydration as water dishes are not permitted. Don't be alarmed if you notice they haven't eaten as much as expected, the new sights, sounds and going on an aircraft would be quite a scary experience and likely not to feel like eating very much in transit. You may also like to track the flight via live radar on Flight Stats or Flight Radar 24 using your flight number (eg: VA1396). This will keep you updated as to any delays in arrival time and maybe ease a little of the anxiety that comes from the long awaited trip. 8. We take the journey from our home to the Brisbane airport to arrive two hours before the flight is due to leave, which is just over an hour's drive. The crate is then lodged at the cargo depot, and will be sent to the plane when they are ready to load. We will let you know when they have been dropped off. 9. When the flight arrives at your airport, it is normally about 20-30 minutes before they are ready to be collected at the depot. Please have your photo identification ready for them to verify who is picking them up. As a matter of courtesy, please also send us a quick message to confirm you have them safely in your possession. 10. When you are back home, be sure to never force them out of the crate. Majority of the time, they will happily fly out, whether into your home or into their new aviary. For young handreared birds, make sure you are in a smaller space and lift the door up and off. Talk softly to them, and if they are hesitant to come out, just be patient and wait; they will come out in their own time. Have water ready to offer them after their journey, as it may have been upwards of 5-6 hours since they last had access. Take it slow, and do not rush up on them; offer a slow moving hand and watch their body language, change your actions if necessary. For aviary birds, place the crate inside their cage or aviary if possible, and lift the door up and off. Do not force them out of the crate, shake or bang the sides. Allow them time to get their bearings and assess their new surroundings as being safe; they will come out when they are ready, there's no rush. Make sure they have water and food available to them straight away. For majority of shipments, things go completely smoothly and the birds are not affected and keep a close eye on the flight times to let you know if there are any expected delays. We maintain that air freight is the only adequate way of transporting our premium quality birds with minimal risk. There are many reasons that we do not risk road transport of companion parrots, firstly it is a significantly longer journey in which we have no control over how the birds are stored, handled, fed or watered. A trip that would take 2 hours by air would take 3 or 4 days, even longer if heading to one of the southern states. In the early days, we have sent by road as per our customer's wishes, but against our better judgement and against the plethora of negative reviews and experiences shared online and by people we know. Thankfully the experience did not end in death, injury or sickness, but our birds were not fed or watered, their cage was filled with chicken feathers and dirt, the crate that was provided was rusted and for a service that took much longer yet the same price of a flight, it was not worth the risk. We vowed that we will only send by air from here on out. Secondly, it is a much greater risk to biosecurity, which we take very seriously. Yes, birds may be air freighted along side dogs, cats and other animals, but road transport is primarily used for livestock such as chickens, ducks, even goats. These animals are much more likely to pass on disease and parasites to your new bird, and it is our responsibility to make sure your bird gets to you just as healthy and happy as it was when it was here. By air travel, your parrot has a much lower exposure time to any potential illnesses, and is in a more enclosed crate compared to an open cage. They also would feel more secure in a darker, smaller crate for a short amount of time rather than a cage for many days surrounded by other animals. The babies we raise from the time they open their eyes are just as special to us as they are to you, and it is our duty of care to ensure you receive not only what you paid for, but your bird deserves the continued health and utmost care as they leave our home and join yours. That is our promise to you.

Handraised Birds for Sale Our birds We take great pride in providing high quality, companion parrots for all ages and the exceptional support and guidance you need. Viewing of birds is by appointment only, which can be made through our contact page, Facebook page or calling 0423 470 041 . We breed conures and quakers for both pets and aviary breeding, and specialise in premium colour mutations. If you are looking bird which is not yet available, subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of updates, or visit our Facebook page for up to date pictures and news. A non-refundable $100 deposit is required per bird to secure your bird prior to weaning. You will be supplied with a receipt as proof of payment. The remainder of the balance is required before the bird goes home. All prices are subject to change at our discretion, dependant on availability and market pricing, however a quoted price is locked in from the time of deposit and will not increase. We do not sell any unweaned or juvenile birds, and here is why . Freight is available to most major airports via Virgin Australia and Qantas (regional), to read more about what is involved in air freighting, click here . All our birds are handraised in a loving family home and are well adjusted to busy households. Handraised babies are sold DNA tested, closed leg banded and come with an information pack including certificates, care information brochure, samples of food (pellet mix, sprout mix) a foot toy and safe shreddable toy. Last updated: 14th June 2025 green cheeked conures Ready now: DF Violet Turquoise Opaline girl $600 Very snuggly and inquisitive, steps up and flies for treats See our Facebook page, in the Featured Post for this season. Wondering what each colour looks like? Click here to check out our chart. quakers Why settle for a standard blue or green, when you can have a quaker in a unique colour? None left this season, watch this space! Click here to check out our chart showing the different colours. Bourke's Parrots Watch this space!

Hey everyone! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve updated the blog, I’m so sorry! WOW it is breeding season again! Feels like I haven’t even really had much of a break to be honest, but the birdies certainly feel quite differently. Lots of hormones going on with the nest boxes going in over the last few weeks. Bring on spring! KEMPSEY AUCTION IN NSW We are proud to announce we will be attending the first Mid North Coast Avicultural Society’s ‘Fly into Spring’ Bird Auction on Sunday the 24th of September, 2023 in Kempsey NSW. This is a great opportunity to get your hands on some awesome breeding pairs, save on freight costs and have a chat. We will have a fair few of our past season babies up for sale, so if you are interested in wetting your feet with mutation quaker breeding and want to have access to genetic support, please come and say hi! The auction will operate under the ‘bid card’ system, and you will be able to walk through and view all the birds before the auction starts at 10:30am. To see what quakers we are taking with us, click here: https://www.maranathaaviaries.com/aviary-for-sale NEW SPECIES ALERT: BOURKE’S PARROTS We are thrilled to have the chance to handraise some gorgeous little Bourke’s parrots this season, in two colours Rosa (opaline) and Cream (fallow). Bourke’s make such great, placid companion parrots in such gorgeous pinks and yellow hues. Their page on the website is in progress! Stay tuned 😁 COLOURS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR Since we specialise in the less common mutations in both the conures and quakers, it is going to be an exciting season seeing what mutations end up being produced this year. In the green cheeks, we will of course still have our gorgeous single and double factor violets in turquoise combinations (straight, opaline, cinnamon and pineapple), plus the high red pineapples. In the quakers, we are able to produce a whopping 38 different colour combos this season! Of course, there is no guarantee to produce all of them but it certainly makes for a fun wait for those feathers to pop through 😁. There should be plenty of colours to choose from out of our normals, opalines, pallids, pallidinos and inos. Check out our comprehensive colour charts for each species by clicking the buttons below: THINKING OF A NEW FAMILY MEMBER THIS YEAR? Getting a new bird can be a really daunting but exciting experience, and you might be wondering if it is the right time or decision to purchase one. And that’s okay! Take a few minutes to read this article about the realities of owning a parrot. Deposits are now open also to secure your spot for a particular colour you had your eye on, you can flick me an email or give me a call on 0423 470 041. We require a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold a bub for you until it is ready, and will send a receipt confirming your payment has been received. You will be updated at every stage and get plenty of baby pictures while they grow so we can work out the best fit for you and your family. To find out more about buying a bird from us and what is included with your new feathered family member, you can read about it here. AVAILABLE HANDRAISED QUAKERS As of 15/9/23, we have just a few playful quakers left from last season, if you were looking for a bub. Here’s what we have left: 🦜Cobalt Pallid girl 🦜Mauve boy 🦜Blue Pallid boy https://www.maranathaaviaries.com/handraised-for-sale We have some more exciting updates coming shortly, watch this space! Until next time,

As the weather starts to cool off after a pretty mild Queensland summer, I'm looking forward to a few short months respite following the chaotic hubbub of another breeding season. It's always a joy to raise these gorgeous little feathered faces, and meet so many new clients and wonderful people to take care of them. The last few clutches are being raised now, so if you were still wanting to add a new family member we have just a handful left: (as of 22/2/22) Green Cheeks: Green Pineapple Hen (higher red) Green Single Factor Violet Turquoise Opaline (yellowsided) - awaiting DNA results Turquoise Opaline (yellowsided) - awaiting DNA results Double Factor Violet Green Opaline Cock Quakers: Blue hens Thank you to everyone I've met over the past 6 months, its been such a pleasure to get to know so many new families and match birds to you. Until next time,

Happy Spooky Season! 👻👻👻👻 I hope you are well and enjoying this wonderful rain we've been blessed with the last few days. I know my young kids have appreciated the muddy puddles more than I appreciated the mess to clean up! It has been another busy month here, with two clutches of green cheeks, a couple of bourkes parrots and a gorgeous baby quaker baby which weighed a whopping 3.5g at hatch. In the incubator we have a few clutches of quaker eggs developing well; we even got to see the heartbeat in one and the umbilical cord in another! VIOLET & TURQUOISE GREEN CHEEKS Our first clutch of green cheeked conures for 2020/21 ended up with three sf violet turquoise pineapples, three turquoise pineapples and one sf violet turquoise. As of 26/10, all are sold except one violet. GREEN PINEAPPLES We now have a clutch of four high red green pineapples, with a gorgeous amount of orange and red from the belly all the way to the cheeks. They are growing well and are roughly 3-4 weeks old. (26/10: Three available) COMING UP Out in the nests, we have one pair on a clutch of four pineapple babies, and another two on eggs, which will give us our violets and non-violets in green and turquoise pineapple again. If you would like to be placed on our waiting list, send us a message and we will be more than happy to chat to you :) OUR LATEST ARTICLE Thinking of getting a new family member, and not sure if a parrot would be suited to your family? Check out our new article: Is A Parrot The Right Pet For You? For daily updates and pictures head on over to our Facebook Page! Until next time,