fbpx

Healthy Diet Tips for Your Pet Bird

eb_oldsmar_6Providing pet birds a healthy diet is essential. Without proper nutrition, birds can become sick and even stressed to the point of displaying unwanted behaviors such as biting and feather plucking. One of the biggest mistakes that new pet owners make is giving birds a diet solely or primarily of seeds. The problem is that seeds are deficient not only in vitamins but also amino acids and minerals, things that birds need.

In a natural environment, certain parrots to include parakeets, cockatiels, and even some macaws and cockatoos depend on a heavy seed diet but considering there are more than 60 types of seeds in the wild, the diet is well-balanced. In comparison, the quantity and types of seeds used in commercial bird food are inadequate for captive pets since they have extremely low levels of vitamins A, D3, E, and K, as well as calcium, minerals, and amino acids. For this reason, most companion birds are weaned completely off seeds.

More than likely, a bird given only seeds would develop a vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to bad feather quality and a compromised immune system, making the bird more susceptible to infection. Simply put, a well-balanced diet ensures the health and happiness of a bird. In addition to variety and quality, parrots need to be stimulated, which is why so many are naturally drawn to foods of different colors and shapes.

Healthy Food Choices

Below are suggestions for a bird’s healthy diet:

  • Some commercial products such as Harrison’s Bird Foods, ZuPreem, and Lafeber Company offer excellent nutrition in a convenient pellet form although this alone is not considered an adequate diet
  • Fresh greens and vegetables should be offered every day
  • For vitamin A, choose dark leafy greens and orange vegetables such as bell peppers
  • Calcium rich foods include scrambled eggs and dark leafy greens, which more than any other mineral are necessary to ensure a bird’s metabolism and strong bones. In fact, African Grey parrots are prone to a condition called Hypocalcemia or low blood calcium. Therefore, this particular parrot breed needs foods high in calcium.
  • In small amounts, the following foods can also be offered to most pet birds:

o   Papaya, berries, mango, and other nutrient-rich fruits

o   Walnuts, palm nuts, and similar nuts

o   Certain whole grains such as unsweetened cereal, bread, and pasta

  • As a rare treat, birds can also be offered:

o   Boneless white fish

o   Well-cooked meats such as chicken livers and ground beef

Foods for High-Energy Periods

During egg-laying, birds need a higher level of protein, calcium, and protein. In addition, foods that produce energy are necessary during periods of egg-laying, molting, and growth. Some of the best choices are listed below:

  • Wild rice
  • Wheat germ

Breeding Birds

There are also special requirements when breeding birds. The goal is to provide a variety of foods and those needed for stimulation such as the following;

  • High-fat nuts

 

  • Berries
  • Bean sprouts
  • Soft foods that have been slightly warmed

Proper Digestion

For proper digestion, certain birds to include finches, pigeons, canaries, and doves, need grit in the diet. Interestingly, some birds such as parrots remove seeds from shells before eating while finches, pigeons, canaries, and doves swallow the shell and seed whole. Because of this, these birds need grit in the diet to aid digestion. However, when stressed or sick, some birds will gorge on grit to the point of causing intestinal blockage, which is why the amount needs to be monitored.

Special Needs

Along with the more basic diet, there are birds that need to follow a special diet such as soft bills, lorikeets, lories, and nectar eaters. Then for toucans and mynah birds, a diet low in iron is critical.

Keep in mind that when switching a bird from a poor to healthy diet, the conversion must be gradual. Very small amounts of new foods should be introduced, one at a time. Based on the amount of food being consumed and the level of dropping production, adjustments may be necessary.

Other Considerations

On a final note, the information provided below will help ensure the health of a pet bird:

  • Salt, sugar, and/or fat should never be added to cooked foods
  • Vitamin and/or mineral supplements should be offered only when advised by an avian veterinarian since some commercial foods are already high in supplements, thereby creating risk of an overload
  • Produce needs to be washed thoroughly
  • Every time new food and water is offered to a bird, old food needs to be tossed out and old water changed

Secure Payments

We offer safe and secure payment options and financing through EasyPay. Photo ID required from purchases $600 and up.

We Ship Birds!

We ship birds within the continental US via Delta. Animals are shipped with same day delivery in secure crates with access to food and water.

Local Delivery

We can provide local delivery to customers in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Call for more information.