Bean Recipes

Bean Mix For Birds

by Mary Beth Voelker
NCS Online Pet Consultant

2 lbs assorted dried beans, soaked & cooked as per package directions.  Cook the big ones in one pot & small in another so the little ones don't get too mushy.  You don't have to separate for cooking - it is just my personal preference. 

1 cup of brown rice cooked per package directions.

Optional - barley, millet, etc. as available or desired.  Drain everything & mix it up.  After it has cooled add a cup or two of pellets to sort of take up the moisture. 

Optional - Tablespoon of Brewer's Yeast (not active bread yeast).

Freeze above in ice cube trays - put cubes in Ziplock freezer bags.  Serve a cube daily for a pair of birds or more for breeders.  Thaw in microwave & crumble through fingers to check for hot spots.  It's a big batch that lasts for a couple of months in the freezer.  (Well it did when I first wrote this -- it now lasts 5 birds only about a month.)

Birdie Blend

by Catherine A. Leitch

This is very easy to make.  It freezes well and my tiel and budgies love it:
bullet1 cup brown rice
bullet1/4 cup dried split peas
bullet1/4 cup dried lentils
bullet1/4 cup dried yellow split peas
bullet2 cups water

Put it all in a saucepan and cook for about 40 minutes. Add extra water if necessary.

Since this freezes well.  I usually make a double or triple batch and freeze a lot of it. Break the frozen mixture into chunks and thaw or microwave when you need it.