Dog and parrot feeder setup that keeps birds out

A parrot near a dog's automatic feeder is a real problem — parrots are clever enough to trigger open feeders accidentally, and some will help themselves to kibble without hesitation. The most important features in any feeder are portion accuracy, mechanical reliability, and ease of cleaning — cheap models jam, dispense uneven amounts, and harbour bacteria in crevices you can't reach. Before I point you in the right direction: what breed and size is the dog, roughly how much do they eat per meal, and is the main goal portion control, covering work hours, or both?

A free-roaming parrot and a Labrador is a combination that rules out most standard timed feeders immediately — those have open trays or light lids that a medium parrot can peck open or tip. Given the portion size and the bird situation, I want to ask one more thing: does your Labrador have any history of trying to break into feeders himself? Labs are notorious for this, and it affects which model will actually hold up.

That settles it — you need a microchip-activated feeder, not a timed one. The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is the one I'd recommend here. It works by reading your dog's microchip and only opening when he approaches. The lid is a firm, weighted cover that closes the moment he steps away, so your African Grey cannot peck it open, cannot sit on it and trigger it, and cannot access the food at all when the dog isn't present. It's designed primarily for cats but handles medium-large dogs well up to around 35kg, and the sealed bowl means no stale food sitting out. It's also genuinely easy to disassemble and clean, which matters for a nine-hour window. You'd need two units for his two daily meals, or pair one with a basic programmable bowl for the second feed if you're home for that one. It's on Amazon UK and widely stocked — look for the Connect version if you want portion logging via the app, which is worth it for a Lab prone to overeating.

Yes — the SureFeed reads all standard ISO microchips, including the 15-digit chips used by UK vets. You just do a quick registration the first time: hold your dog near the feeder, it detects and stores his chip, and after that it only opens for him. Takes about two minutes. If for any reason the chip read is inconsistent, SureFeed also sells an RFID collar tag that clips on and works as a backup trigger — but most dogs register cleanly on the first attempt.

Good call — the app is straightforward and the portion data is genuinely useful for Labs, who will absolutely overeat if given the chance. Two Connect units will give you a clear picture of exactly when and how much he's eating across the day. Make sure you position them somewhere your Grey can't use the edge of the unit as a perch — she'll figure that out quickly. Good luck with both of them.