Proper Feeding

PROPER FEEDING

Proper nutrition in any life form is the base requirement for growth, health and reproduction. Even plant life requires proper nutrition. Without adequate nutrition no life form can reach its maximum genetic size, optimal immune system function or greatest reproductive ability. Even with superior genetics, advanced husbandry and state of the art disease prevention, sub-adequate nutrition will prevent success.

Health care management begins with nutrition. Approximately 80 percent of all medical problems reported in birds are related in some way to poor nutrition. Unfortunately we are under the delusion that elaborate cafeteria style diets which satisfy our own egos will be good for our birds. This is not the case. Although birds in the wild instinctively know what to eat, captive birds offered this type of diet will simply eat their favorite few ingredients and leave the rest, while begging for more. Unknowingly we are cheating our birds of their proper dietary needs. The only way these type of diets work is to know exactly what our birds need, know what foods contain these nutrients, and in what proportions. Then, they must be fed measured amounts in such a manner that everything is completely eaten. If this is not done properly, we will see poor results and usually get more elaborate, which is totally the opposite of what is needed for a proper diet. Although nutrition is extremely important, a change in diet will not solve all existing problems. Problems that could also be related to poor husbandry, poor genetics and a lack of disease control will not subside.

Breeding birds have different nutritional needs for egg production and coping with other stresses related to breeding. Maintaining an adequate plane of nutrition is a must to prevent problems such as egg binding due to insufficient calcium, or improperly developed eggs caused by a lack of certain amino acids required for proper egg development. Many breeders believe that certain dietary changes are needed to stimulate breeding in birds. This is simply a myth. They are overlooking the fact that environmental changes are really the triggers. Extended photo light periods, humidity, temperature and changes in barometric pressure are the triggers for breeding. Since these changes also promote more production of natural foods in the wild, many breeders think that adding fatty foods to their birds' diet will stimulate breeding. This is not necessary and can actually cause problems in fertility due to improper vent contact and egg laying problems due to obesity.

When we feed our dogs, cats and other domestic animals we use processed diets, even the fish that we keep in our aquariums usually get a formulated diet. It seems like most of us have a mental block when it comes to feeding our birds. Unfortunately there are as many opinions on diet as there are bird owners. Today's processed diets are the obvious choice to deliver adequate nutrient levels to our birds. Seed diets are lacking in many of the important vitamins, minerals and amino acids needed to keep our birds healthy. There are five common reasons people object to processed diets.

1. Processed diets are unnatural
Seed diets are also not natural to most parrot type birds. Very few parrots live in areas where the seeds that comprise store bought diets are naturally found. You should also realize that most of the seeds that make up seed mixes are probably only harvested once a year. Therefore they could have been warehoused for up to a year before being mixed and bagged. Then warehoused again before being sold to the local pet store and sitting on the shelf before you buy it. I am not totally knocking seed, I use some in my birds' diets. It seems that there are some natural fibers, fats and fatty acids in seeds that they need. I use it in very limited proportions. Seed diets are very high in bacteria and molds. A healthy bird with a good immune system should have no problems but if you have a compromised bird you should consider withdrawing their seed mix until the problem is resolved. Baking the seed mix on a cookie sheet at around 200 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes and keeping it in the freezer will minimize the molds and bacteria. This is not really feasible if you have a large number of birds.

2. Processed diets are boring
All wild animals including birds are geographically located near their needed food source. Normally only one or two main ingredients make up the larger portion of an animal's diet. For example; a Hyacinth Macaw's diet is mainly comprised of palm nuts. In fact about 70% of what a Hyacinth eats is solely palm nuts. Wild birds instinctively eat the same thing over and over day after day. Watch a Robin some time. Worms and grubs, that is about all that you will see them eating. Black Palm Cockatoos comprise their diet mostly of the fruit of the Pandanus Palm. In captivity, we should not rely on food to keep our birds occupied. Toys and branches to chew on should be offered to keep our birds content. Humans who eat from boredom soon become obese. Birds are creatures of habit just as our other pets. How many dogs do you see pulling out their fur because they eat Science Diet every day?

3. It is difficult to convert birds over
Most birds readily convert to formulated diets. Some birds are more difficult, especially budgies and love birds. With persistence and patience any bird can be converted. Mixing moist corn kernels, peanut butter, softened monkey biscuits or even fruit juices with the pellets will make them initially more desirable. After the bird begins to eat the mixture, gradually reduce the amount of what ever you are mixing in with the pellets until the bird is eating the pellets alone. I find that mixing the pellets with their seed mix usually does not work. They tend to throw the pellets out of the bowl to get to the seed or other food that they are familiar with. Using a mixture as previously mentioned in a separate bowl will eventually convert the most stubborn bird. Once you get your bird to eat the formulated diet you should feed that as their main food source for about a month. This tells them that this is what they are expected to eat. Then gradually add a mixture of vegetables and other foods including some seed. Watch carefully when adding the other foods to be sure that your bird is still eating the pellets. The ideal diet should contain about 50% to 60% formulated food.

4. Not enough adequate research
To date, much more research has been done on processed diets than on standard seed diets in all the previous years. Formulated diets are much more likely to provide our birds with the nutrients they need. They provide a guaranteed nutritional base to build on. There is much more research needed on the long term effects of these diets, but we know the effects of seed diets are poor nutrition. Seeds in most commercially produced diets also have traces of systemic fertilizers and pesticides which may not be excreted, building up in your bird's system, slowly poisoning them. Many formulated diet manufacturers advertise their diets as a sole diet. Although these diets are better for our birds, I do not feel that they should be used as a sole diet except possibly for a short period of time when they have been first converted.

5. Too expensive
Forty percent of the seed you feed your bird is inedible hull. Another 20% to 30% is a particular seed that your bird does not like. Realistically your bird is eating only about 30% to 40% of what you are paying for. The majority of seeds have been proven to be nutritionally inadequate. Therefore you are spending a lot of money for almost nothing when it comes to nutrients. Seeds coated with vitamins are a waste of money since your birds do not eat the hulls and the vitamins are depleted with exposure. Fortified seeds have simply had a pellet added, which your bird usually will not eat because it prefers the seeds it is mixed in. Vitamin supplements are very expensive and do more harm than good. Vitamins added to water are rapidly depleted by exposure to light and oxygen and promote bacterial growth in the water and may also discouraging drinking. Vitamin supplements sprinkled over fresh foods may discourage eating and there again are rapidly depleted with exposure. Rice and bean mixes are very nutritional, but literally provide a breeding farm for bacteria if not stored properly once they have been prepared. Formulated diets are the easy, economical, healthy way to feed your birds what they need. Research shows that many species of birds have their own specific needs. By using a pelleted diet as a foundation to build on and supplementing it with a few select vegetables, fruits and nuts, you can meet their specific needs. A proper diet should be comprised of about 50% to 60% pellets, to fulfill the basic nutritional needs. The other 40% to 50% should contain ingredients that fulfill the specific additional needs of that type of bird. An occasional treat or some table food is fine as long as it is occasional and is not too high in salt or fat.

Specific additional needs of some species:
Note: These are considered to be a general recommendation
as compared to other species. They are not recommendations
for supplements to this diet.

Macaws--higher fat than most birds
supplement with a mixture of nuts in the shell (limit the number of peanuts). Hyacinths require a higher fat lower protein diet than other macaws.

Eclectus Parrots--higher vitamin A
supplement with dark leafy greens, foods high in carotenes, spirulina.

African Gray Parrots--higher calcium and vitamin A
supplement with broccoli, kale, small amounts of cheese, yogurt, dried beans, cuttlebone, mineral block, dark leafy greens, spirulina.

Cockatoos-- lower fat and protein than most birds
supplement with lots of mixed vegetables to reduce total fat and protein in their diet. The exception here is the Black Palm. They seem to need a diet very similar to the macaws. Rosies seem to become obese so there fat intake should be watched very closely.

Cockatiels--same as cockatoos

Amazon Parrots-- lower fat, higher carbohydrates supplement with pastas and breads.

I find that feeding the mixed frozen vegetables is an easy way to supplement a pelleted diet. The veggies are almost sterile when thawed. They are a good mix high in vitamins and minerals. They are pre-cut which reduces waste and preparation time and they can be thrown back in the freezer until later. They do not seem to grow bacteria after falling to the bottom of the cage as fast as fresh vegetables. Fruits have limited nutritional value to psittacines. Parrots produce vitamin C in their gut from other nutrients so an external source is not required. A compromised or stressed bird should be supplemented with vitamin C because they may not be producing their own. Full spectrum lighting is a must for proper calcium absorption and storage. Fresh drinking water should be provided in clean bowls daily. Adding a few drops of apple cider vinegar to the water will increase the acidity and slow bacterial growth, suppressing that slime that you always find when cleaning their bowls. Water bottles are great for preventing the soup of poop and food that your birds love to make in their bowls daily. Don't forget that bottles still need to be cleaned every few days.

One of the most common problems I see with people who have birds on a pelleted diet is that the birds are so willing to eat a widely varied menu (the birds would rather eat anything other their pellets, this sounds funny but it is a good thing), that owners unknowingly slip in their feeding habits. As time goes on it is such a joy to have a bird that wants to eat almost anything. We forget that about 50% to 60% of their diet should be pellets. We start letting our birds control their food intake by giving us the pleasure of having a bird that wants to eat anything. This is what I call killing your bird with kindness. If you have ever had a bird that is a picky eater, which will only eat a few things, you know exactly what I mean. You usually see this dilemma in seed eaters because seed eaters seem to only want seed. In fact I think that is why some people claim that seed is addictive to birds. Unfortunately what is best for our birds is what they want to eat the least. It is up to us as their caretakers to control the balance between the amount of formulated food they eat and all other components of their diet. I think it has to be separated out in just that manner to keep a proper perspective of what they are actually eating. Sometimes it is best to let them eat their pellets during the day and feed their fruits, veggies and treats at night. This is the technique I recommend to get them back on track if they go astray in their eating habits.