|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
AVIAN NUTRITION: THE MORE WE LEARN, THE LESS WE KNOW ... By John Geary When Nikki first came into our lives, neither Ann or I knew much about parrots. We both assumed birds were fed mainly bird seed. That proved not to be the case, though. In the wild, greys feed on the fruits, seeds, nuts and berries of several native rainforest species, including the flesh of oil-palm trees. They usually gather food by climbing into the top branches of trees, or by foraging along the ground in the grasses or along river banks. Obviously, that's not possible to re-create for companion parrots, so we have to find other sources of food. Avian nutrition is a very complex subject, and you will find almost as many schools of thought about how and what to feed a parrot as you do parrot species: all-pellet diets, pellet diets supplemented by natural foods, all natural foods, all natural foods with vitamin and mineral supplements, ad infinitum. One
thing most agree on almost universally, though, is the fact that most birds
require more than seed to remain healthy. Jason
Caumartin is the Western Canadian technical product councilor for Hagen. While
the company manufactures and sells bird seed mixtures, it also advocates
strongly against a seed-only diet. “One
of the problems with feeding only seed mixes is the fact that like a young child, a
bird will pick out what it likes and leave the rest,” says Caumartin.
“It’s like putting a plate of broccoli, potatoes, roast beef, ice cream,
candy floss and licorice whips in front of a child. Chances are, they’ll eat
the ice cream and licorice before the vegetables.” The
result, of course, would be an undernourished child. Most birdseed mixes contain
peanuts and sunflower seeds. Both are high in fat and do not provide the
proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins many birds require. While not
usually harmful in
small amounts (although peanuts included in seed-nut mixes may contain a fungus
that can lead to aflatoxin poisoning) , a diet consisting solely of those items will result in a
malnourished bird that may be obese, tired and poorly feathered. “Every
bird should have as varied a diet as possible, from all food groups,” says Dr.
Kerry Korber, a Calgary avian veterinarian. “Seed alone is not going to cut
it.” Formulated
diets can provide a pet bird with many of its dietary needs. You need to
purchase the right kind of formulated diet for your bird, as nutritional needs
differ between different species. An African grey will not require the same
elements as a cockatiel, a cockatiel’s needs differ from a toucan’s, etc. If
you do choose a formulated pellet diet, it is a good idea to include some
vegetables and small amounts of fruit and seed in your bird's diet, regularly. In addition to providing variety, natural foods can provide simulated foraging opportunities for your birds, stimulating their intellect. Hanging fruit-and-veggie skewers in a cage or on a playgym is a good way to keep your bird entertained while providing some good natural food. Pet stores also sell objects in which you can "hide" fruit, vegetables and selected nuts so your bird has to "hunt" or work for his treats. This simulates the
foraging in which wild birds would need to engage and can provide a rewarding,
healthy activity for your bird. Note that not all your bird's food should
present a challenge; your pet should always have ready access to some basic
food, like pellets, and fresh water. The water should always be clean; a good
rule of thumb to follow regarding water - if you wouldn't drink it, do not
expect your parrot to drink it. It
is very important to be aware that some fruits
- like avocado - and some
veggies - like raw onions - are toxic to companion birds. For a list of other
toxic foods, as well as some really good fresh foods, see "Birdy Num-Nums"
and "Birdy No-No's". Also, some birds require more fruit than others.
For example, lorikeets consume fruit nectar; however, vitamin and mineral
supplements should also be used. While
formulated pellets are available for most birds, some birds, like finches, are
strictly seed and insect eaters. Even birds in this category can be fed some
greens, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements. “Every bird should be evaluated as an individual,” cautions Korber. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
If your bird has been eating a seed diet, weaning it to a pellet-based diet can sometimes prove to be frustrating. When trying to wean your bird to a healthier diet, please have patience. Do NOT give up after one or two days; I've had many people say to me, "Well, I tried to get him to eat peas (or pellets, or whatever), but he wouldn't eat them." In most cases, when questioned, they admit they only tried it for a day or two. Your parrot may not eat something new the first 20 times you give it to him - then on the 21st try, you might have a breakthrough. Obviously, if he will not eat it, you have to provide other foods, as well (which you should be doing anyway.) Do NOT EVER try to "starve" a bird into eating something it does not initially care for. This is cruel, counter-productive and could seriously harm your relationship with your bird. A previous owner raised our Congo African grey, Nikki, on seed. He would not eat pellets until he saw Coco, our second grey, eating them. Now Nikki eats them, too. This brings us to another tip about getting your bird to eat something new: eat it yourself. Often, if your bird sees you eating something, it will also want to eat it. In the wild, once one parrot sees other parrots eating something, she will eat it as well, figuring it must be safe to eat. WHAT DO WE FEED OUR BIRDS? Our birds have access to Hagen's Tropican pellets all day, as well as fresh water. In the morning, I prepare a steamed frozen veggie mixture (peas, carrots, corn, green beans) occasionally adding some rice or pasta (not often and not too much) or some edamame (cooked soy beans still in the shell). I also give them a few grapes or pieces of apple, a peanut, and a couple of almonds. |
BIRDY
NUM-NUMS Pet birds require good doses of many vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium and vitamin A. Calcium-deficiency can be a problem in some pet birds. Some good sources of calcium include:
The last three in the list are also high in vitamin A, as are fruits like cantaloupe and mango (be aware the skins of those two fruits can be mildly poisonous - be sure to peel them well.)
BIRDY
NO-NO'S. There are many substances that are not toxic to humans and other animals, but are toxic to birds. Some of the food items in this list are common sense; others may surprise you. DO NOT feed your bird:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
I add variety by sometimes serving fresh cooked squash or sweet potato rather than mixed veggies. I also put some fresh veggies and fruit on skewers and a peanut hidden in a plastic dish so they can "forage" for some food. Once or twice a week I add some hard-boiled egg in the shell (well-cooked to eliminate salmonella), or a few small pieces of skim mozzarella cheese (not very much, as avian digestive systems are not meant to process dairy products). During the day, I share my food with them, excluding items like chocolate, coffee, alcohol, avocado, junk food and anything else that is toxic to birds (see list at right). At bedtime, I refresh their water and provide them with some seed-nut-fruit mixture that I make myself, using organic nuts and seeds (flax seed, millet, almonds, dried papaya, raisins, pecans, walnuts), some fresh fruit and veggies like sugar snap peas, carrot sticks, apple, grapes, etc. plus another peanut each, some pine nuts (not too many) and sometimes an unsalted pistachio. When deciding what to feed your bird, the bottom line is: Do your homework. Talk to avian vets, read up-to-date information, and join a bird club, as clubs often feature guest speakers that present updates on new developments in avian nutrition. Most of all, bear in mind that birds, like children, can be notoriously picky eaters. To read more about this subject, visit the following websites:
SUGGESTED READING:
(Portions of this article were published in the Calgary publication, The Pet Pages, Spring 2003 issue) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
General Information About African Greys
|