*	Normal Range	Diet A  (see below)	Diet B  (see below)	Diet B
Date	*	4/09/98	6/6/98	12/04/98
Blood Serum Condition	Clear	Lipemic	Slightly Lipemic	Clear
Protein	2.8-4.3	7.2	5.1	4.5
Cholesterol	180-300	3234	980	251
Glucose	209-318	273	312	271
Calcium	7.5-13	8.5	9.7	9.3
Phosphorus	3.1-11	3.5	5.8	4.7
Potassium	2.5-4.9	4.1	*	*
Sodium	110-164	139	125	112
Uric Acid	3.5-11	17	10.8	10
SGOT	150-350	63	83	73
Albumin	0.3-0.9	1.6	*	*
Globulin	2.5-3.8	5.6	*	*
A/G Ratio	1.5:4.3	0.3	*	*

Red lettering represents out of range

*Subsequent tests after 4/09/98 were performed at a different lab that did not include these components in their tests.

Note:    Individual components within a CBC and normal values will vary slightly from lab to lab. The normals above were based on normals for adult cockatoos in general and what we have seen in other healthy Palm Cockatoos. These values will differ from species to species and age and gender of the bird in question. More accurate values will be obtained if the test are taken after fasting the bird. An avian veterinarian should always be consulted.
 

The only absolute method of testing to see if your bird is in nutritional health is to run multiple complete blood chemistries, as shown above, over many months or years. Food intake must be monitored very carefully. We found that the bird in question above did not actually eat all of the ingredients in diet A. This was the diet that the bird was on when purchased 4/09/98. We put the ingredients in separate bowls and observed the amount of food at the bottom of the cage and left untouched in the bowls to determined that he was only eating a few of the ingredients, mostly the nuts. In fact offering this diet twice daily, as we were instructed, further deterred him from eating the less desirable foods. He grew to know that his favorite items would be replenished later in the day.

As you can see above after changing this bird to diet B, a much simpler and more manageable diet, he improved dramatically over time. Different species of birds and individuals within a species may have different nutritional needs and metabolize foods at different rates. I have chosen this particular example because of the controversy that surrounds the nutritional needs of the Palm Cockatoos and the obvious poor nutritional state that this bird was in at the time of purchase. Notice the cracking and flaking of the maxilla in the picture above. We feel that this was due to a lack of nutrition. This is actually greatly improved from its original state at the time of purchase. The mandible was also cracked and flaking to the point that it was getting food lodged in the cracks. Here the mandible has greatly improved. Both the mandible and the maxilla continued to improve over time.
Liver and kidney conditions should always be a consideration when planning a bird's diet and can also be monitored through proper testing. A base diet of around 50% pellets and a varied mix of vegetables is a good place to start. The final diet should then be built around this base diet adding the necessary foods needed for that specific bird. Today, you can find a good amount of information about what is considered to be the general differing needs of many species of birds.

Diet A (Fed twice daily)		Diet B (Fed once daily)
Pretty Bird Daily Select Pellets		Breeder's Blend Pellets
Nutri-Berries		Pecans
Pecans		Hazel Nuts
Hazel Nuts		Almonds
Almonds		Walnuts
Walnuts		Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia Nuts		Pine Nuts
Pine Nuts		Brazil Nuts
Brazil Nuts		Raw Carrots
*Pandanus Fruit		Fresh Corn
Apple		**Mixed Vegetables
Mango		Cooked Pasta
Papaya		***Scarlet Seed Mix
Grapes		*
Monkey Biscuits		*
Fava Beans		*
Peas in Pod		*
Cerano Peppers		*
Raw Carrots		*
Raw Yams		*
Scrambled Eggs		*
**Mixed Vegetables		*
Fresh Corn		*

*    Pandanus Fruit is the major ingredient in the Palm Cockatoo's diet in the wild.
**  The mixed vegetables are the same as you can buy in your grocer's frozen food department, consisting of carrots, corn, lima beans, green beans and peas.
*** Used as about 20% of the total daily intake.
Note: All nuts used were in the shell. Diet B above reflects the general daily intake of this specific bird. On some days specific  ingredients may not have been eaten completely or at all. Some fruits and other treats were offered in moderation. Although fruits may offer psychological value, fruits in general do not offer much nutritional value to psittacines. Vitamin C, the most common nutritional benefit of fruits, is produced in the gut of a healthy bird from other nutrients. Therefore, an external source of vitamin C is not necessary. An external source of vitamin C, as well as other vitamins; A, D and B complex,  should be a consideration in a compromised bird whose gut may not be metabolizing properly. Consult your avian veterinarian.

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