When you need a quick snack, thaw a few of these bird bread balls from the freezer. This dish does not involve any cooking at all, other than microwave softening the sweet potato. You may produce a large quantity of goodies that freeze nicely with this reasonably easy method. Your bird will benefit greatly from the abundant nutrition found in the fresh fruits and veggies, and the cereal gives the balls a satisfying crunch.
| Prep Time: | 20 mins |
| Cook Time: | 5 mins |
| Additional Time: | 15 mins |
| Total Time: | 40 mins |
| Servings: | 80 |
| Yield: | 80 bird balls |
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
- 1 banana
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 cup diced apples
- 1 ½ cups quick-cooking oatmeal, corn flakes, granola, or similar cereal
Instructions
- Pierce skin of sweet potato several times with a paring knife or skewer. Cook in the microwave on high power until tender, 5 to 9 minutes; turn the potato over halfway through cooking. Allow to cool until cool enough to handle.
- Peel potato and place flesh into a large mixing bowl. Add mixed vegetables, banana, raisins, apples, and oatmeal. Mix with an electric mixer on high speed until vegetables have been reduced to tiny pieces and mixture is thoroughly combined. If mixture is too dry, add a little water until soft enough to roll into balls.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper.
- Roll mixture into marble-sized balls and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Feed Polly a couple now, then place the baking sheet into the freezer until completely frozen.
- Remove treats from parchment paper and store them in a resealable plastic bag. Defrost treats before serving.
Reviews
My African Grey’s AV said she needed to eat more Veggies. These Sweet Potato Balls are perfect for this and she loves them. I used a large Ruby Red Sweet Potato, little over a cup of fresh vegetable chop, added crushed up Harrisons and walnuts to the Oat Meal, one Banana, and 1 cup (1/2) peeled and chopped Granny Apple. I give her a couple after I have removed the chop from her cage. She demolishes them. My Nanday Conure also gives his Beak approval. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
My conure loves these. I used this as a base but added applesauce, some peanut butter and a few additional veggies. I put them in a freezer bag and just take them out and put on a plate and defrost in microwave (defrost button) for 1 minute. Thanks for a great recipe.
The birds loved these treats. You can add or subtract ingredients that you have in your pantry. It makes a lot, too.
This is one of those recipes I feel very stupid for making and reviewing before seeing what I was making it other then for a photo. SO laugh all you want because I am. SO, I did not clue in….this was a recipe for a bird. Yes, I didn’t pay attention to the bird word in the recipe title. AND yes I did try it, on a personal note, it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t great either, it was okay. Then I’m sitting here wondering, why, am I doing this…this way?! And that’s when I read, what this recipe was why it was….my husband has laughed at me all evening. And it’s okay, I’m laughing too. Because I don’t have a bird. So as a friend suggested, I’ll freeze these and break them in pieces for the birdies that visit my property over the winter. I’m sure they will love it….and I added millet seed to some of them they were easy to hold shape. But great recipe for birds…I tell you 😉
My macaw loves these! I used mixed tropical fruit bits instead of just raisins and added some chopped walnuts – he ate 3 of them while I was still rolling them and declared them to be “gooooood yum!” – his highest compliment. These will be a staple in his diet. Thanks for a great recipe.
My cockatoo loves these and I love that I can customize them with whatever bird friendly food I’ve got on hand. I’ve made them with corn, peas, applesauce, granola, you name it! It makes a lot and is so much cheaper than nutriberries, plus I like knowing what is in it and that there’s no preservatives. I microwave a ball for 10 seconds just to take the chill of the refrigerator off of it and my bird grabs for it as soon as it hits his cage.