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Although the exact nutritional
requirements for all birds have not been determined, there are many diets available
that have proven to be effective in hand feeding, raising and breeding psittacine
birds. Three broad categories of psittacine nutrition will be discussed: hand feeding
baby birds, diets for adult birds, and special diets. In order to prevent re-inventing
the wheel, a handout on nutrition from the Association of Avian Veterinarians has
been included.
Diet Groups
Just as with human diets, avian diets can divided into four groups: cereals (grains),
fruits and vegetables, meats, and dairy. Since psittacines are not mammals, their
dairy requirements are minimal. Dairy products are best used in moderation for calcium
supplementation. Alternatively, avian diets can also be divided into the five components
of any diet: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins/minerals and water.
1. Proteins
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. When ingested, proteins are broken
down into amino acids which will be used to form new proteins; ultimately to make
up tissues like skin, muscle, feathers, keratin and other essential elements. Protein
deficiency results in muscle wasting, anemia, weakness, beak and feather abnormalities
and other structural problems. Protein waste products are eliminated by the kidney
in the form of uric acid; the white portion in bird droppings.
2. Carbohydrates
Simple and complex sugars make up the carbohydrates found in fruits, vegetables and
seeds. Carbohydrates are used by the bird for energy and heat production. Deficiency
results in the bird utilizing other forms of energy; mainly fat and protein, which
can lead to muscle wasting. Carbohydrate excess may result in obesity as the sugars
are converted into fat. Carbohydrate is eliminated from the body in the form of carbon
dioxide, water and heat.
3. Fats
Fats are energy-dense molecules made up of smaller fatty acids. Fat is the most lightweight
form of energy storage but too much will weigh a bird down. Psittacines' frugivorous
or granivorous (fruit or grain eating) nature precludes these birds from coming across
many fatty foods. Consequently, birds "see" fat as an excellent source
of energy and metabolize it very efficiently. Fat deficiency in captive birds is
usually only associated with disease states. Unfortunately, fat excess is rather
common and will lead to obesity and can ultimately predispose a bird to fatty liver
disease. Fat is eliminated by metabolism, resulting in heat and energy production.
4. Minerals and Vitamins
Minerals are required for structural components such as bone and egg shell. Both
minerals and vitamins are necessary for proper metabolism. Vitamins are divided into
two groups; fat soluble and water soluble. Most vitamins can be synthesized by the
bird but some need to be supplemented in captive birds, such as vitamins A,D,E, and
K. Vitamin deficiencies and excesses will be discussed later.
5. Water
Often overlooked as a dietary component, water is absolutely essential for all birds.
Some mammals have developed a water independent lifestyle by obtaining "metabolic
water" derived from digesting and metabolizing food. There are no birds, however,
that have developed a 100% water independence. Deficiency results in rapid dehydration
and death.
Diet Components
There are many components that may make up a psittacine diet. The most common
foods fed include seed mixes, pelleted foods, fruits and vegetables, and human foodstuffs.
Additional supplements are often added, such as: vitamins and minerals, grit, calcium
sources and other animal foods (i.e. monkey chow, dog kibble). The main points to
remember are that the food must be palatable, nutritious, and resist spoilage.
1. Seed mixes
These usually contain various combinations of sunflower, safflower, peanuts, corn,
millet, wheat, canary, rape, flax, poppy, sesame, pumpkin seeds, etc. Some mixes
add vitamins and calcium block pieces; while others contain dried fruits and vegetables.
The calcium and mineral content of seed mixes is generally very low as is the protein
and vitamin levels. Most seeds are especially low in Vitamin A and very high in fat.
In many birds, an all seed diet can lead to bone disease, obesity, liver disease
and oral and nasal abscesses. It is recommended to supplement seed diets daily with
fruits and vegetables, calcium sources and vitamins. The greatest advantage of seed
diets is their convenience.
2. Pelleted foods
Pelleted diets may be intended for psittacines only or may include items such as
dog food kibble, monkey chow or rodent chow. Monkey chow and some dog kibbles have
proven to be very nutritious diets for adult and baby psittacines (if ground up and
hand fed). There have been some recent special diets developed for different disease
syndromes. To date, I do not feel there exists a single diet to feed all psittacines
and still meet each species' nutritional needs. Many birds do well on pelleted foods
which are supplemented with fruits and vegetables but very few birds will thrive
solely fed a pelleted food. It is recommended all pelleted diets be supplemented
with occasional seed mixes, daily fresh fruits and vegetables and a mineral block
or cuttlebone.
3. Fruits and Vegetables
Different fruits and veggies can be used to adjust your bird's diet to control weight
loss, weight gain, vitamin/calcium/mineral intake, water intake and dietary protein
and fat. Legumes (peas, nuts, beans) generally contain more protein than other veggies;
whereas coconut, papaya and mango are higher in calories from fat and carbohydrates.
Fruits which are orange and yellow in color tend to contain higher amounts of *-carotene
which is converted to Vitamin A. The highest concentration of *-carotene is found
in carrots but, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, peaches and papaya are good
alternatives. Kale, broccoli, chard tops and collard greens are fairly good vegetable
sources of calcium.
4. Human foods
Generally, if you eat very healthfully, most foods you eat can be fed to your parrot.
The following items are not recommended:
- Fatty foods. High
fat in the diet leads to obesity and may result in lipomas (fatty tumors), lipemia
(fat in the blood), and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). Any greasy, oily
or otherwise fatty food should be avoided. Commonly overfed fatty foods include nuts,
French fries, crackers, marbled meat, peanut butter, butter, etc.
- Sugar foods. Obviously,
frosting is high in sugar and an undesirable foodstuff. Similarly, soda pop, candy
and these types of foods are not recommended.
- Dairy. Birds lack
the digestive enzymes needed to break down milk sugar and milk proteins. Uncultured
milk products such as milk, cream and butter should not be fed but yogurt, cheeses
and dried milk can be supplemented in the diet in moderation (they are also high
in fat).
- Lettuce. A typical
filler food, lettuce is low in everything except water. It is not recommended as
a food supplement since it offers little, if anything, for the bird. If leafy foods
are desired by your bird, try feeding spinach, collard greens, tops of bok choy,
carrot tops or kale.
- Avocado. Although
higher in fat than other veggies and used in other countries to condition birds for
breeding, avocado has been shown to be toxic in some birds and its feeding is no
longer recommended.
5. Vitamins/Minerals/Calcium
Vitamins can be added into the seed mix, sprinkled on fruits and veggies, mixed into
the drinking water and injected or force fed. Many products are available, but my
two favorites are Avicon and Super Preen powders. Avitron is a good liquid vitamin
for the water but forms a "scudge" in the water container. Minerals are
seldom needed as a dietary supplement if the bird eats its fruits and veggies but
can be added in the form of powder. Vionate and bone meal are good sources of mineral
supplements. Calcium deficiency is all too common in pet birds, due mainly to all
seed diets and persistent egg-laying hens. It can be supplemented in many ways. Bone
meal, Vit D-Calcium-Phosphorous powders, crushed oyster shell, dried milk powder,
cuttlebones, mineral blocks and some veggies are the most common means to add calcium
to the diet. Alternatively, calcium water medication is available but it is expensive
and used primarily for disease conditions such as persistent egg laying and fractures.
Even if a bird never uses a cuttlebone or mineral block, one should always be provided
in the cage. If the bird destroys mineral blocks, try putting larger mineral bricks
in the cage or feed a mix which contains smaller chunks of mineral blocks.
Although vitamins are needed for proper metabolism, too many in the diet can also
be harmful. Always follow the directions when using vitamin supplements.
6. Grit and gravel
Many aviculturalists are in debate as to the necessity of grit in the psittacine
diet. Grit is made of small stones and facilitates grinding of the food in the bird's
gizzard (ventriculus). Birds which do not hull or crack their seed, such as pigeons
and poultry, definitely require grit. Psittacines usually do not require grit in
their diet since the gizzard is able to grind the soft, hulled seeds. Budgies, cockatiels
and other small psittacines often do better if they are offered occasional grit (a
pinch) three to four times a year since they eat mainly seeds and not many softer
fruits and veggies. Grit should be limited in most psittacines and not offered free
choice.
7. Treats
Honey sticks, chew toys, nuts, etc. are all fine if not fed as the sole diet but
offered only occasionally as treats. They are often high in sugar but provide entertainment
for the bird. If you feel your bird deserves a treat, give it nutritious food and
a lot of attention.
Hand feeding Diets
Hand feeding baby birds is probably best left to those with the experience and desire
to do so. It requires patience, dedication and a little know-how. It is recommended
to purchase birds which are fully weaned since minimal, if any, benefit is derived
from hand feeding your own bird. As far as diets for hand feeding are concerned,
there are as many formulas as there are ways to feed. The more common ingredients
in homemade diets include: monkey chow, dog kibble, Gerber's baby food, honey, sugar,
peanut butter, powdered milk, egg, etc. Many breeders also utilize some of the commercially
made products such as Zeigler's, Pretty Bird, Lake's, and Kaytee Exact formulas.
Certain people claim some foods are better for certain species. In general, all these
diets are pretty good and possess characteristics that make them more desirable than
their counterparts. For example, Zeigler's mixes very smoothly, contains a moderate
amount of fat and can be fed through a fine gauge feeding needle. Pretty Bird mixes
well, seems to work for small and large species, and comes in low fat and higher
fat formulas. Exact is also a good formula but tends to separate into liquid and
solid layers if not prepared properly. When questioned, most hand feeders do not
feed the diet straight but add other ingredients to provide a higher fat content,
a smoother formula, electrolytes or other desired characteristics.
Hand feeding Diet Characteristics
1. Purity
The diet should be free of contaminants such as bacteria, fungus, insects and preservatives.
2. Reproducibility
The ingredients should be available throughout the hand feeding stage such that other
ingredients will not need to be substituted. The formula should be written down and
followed closely each time so that improvements can be made, if needed, later.
3. Stability
Although the diet should be prepared fresh with each feeding, the dry mixture should
have a stable and long shelf life. Moldy smelling formula should be discarded.
4. Viscosity
It can be difficult syringe feeding a baby bird if the formula keeps clogging the
syringe. The formula should be smooth, like pancake batter, when fed.
5. Hydrosolubility
The formula should not separate from the water but should remain suspended in solution
and actually absorb the water. Gerber's dry baby food and ground monkey chow are
excellent in this respect.
6. Nutritious
Last, and most important, the diet should provide adequate nutrition for the species
being fed.
Homemade Hand feeding Diets
It seems there is a different formula for each hand feeder, but each one possesses
the main components of any diet: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins/minerals and
water. The sources and quantities of these components may vary but too many supplements
can ruin an already good diet. Always use fresh ingredients when preparing handfeeding
formulas. A reliable hand feeding formula is given below:
Dr. Greg Harrison's Recipe
35 ZuPreen monkey chow bisquits (finely ground)
1/3 cup Carnation non-fat dry milk
Store dry ingredients in a covered container
Mix the amount needed for one feeding with hot water and let stand about 5 minutes.
Feed at 102-105°F. |
Nutritional Diseases
1. Obesity
Obesity is the most common nutritional disease. Any bird has the potential to get
fat but it is most commonly seen in Rose-breasted Cockatoos, Amazons, Macaws, Cockatiels,
Budgies and Pionus Parrots. All seed diets, which are high in fat, will predispose
the bird to obesity.
2. Hypovitaminosis A
Unfortunately, this also is a common disease and is also due to all seed
diets which are high in fat and low in vitamins. Vitamin A is needed for proper functioning
of the mucosal glands and deficiency results in the disease squamous metaplasia.
Glands in the mouth and sinuses become abscessed and the kidneys may also become
damaged.
3. Hypocalcemia
Low dietary calcium may result in weakness, seizure-like activity and muscle spasms.
This disease is very common in African Greys but may occur in other species as well.
4. Metabolic Bone Disease
If a diet is low in calcium, calcium is leached from the bones. This weakening of
the bones may result in pathologic fractures or osteopenia (decreased calcium in
the bone).
5. Hypervitaminosis D
Too much vitamin D in the diet can result in mineralization of the soft tissues.
The kidney may be damaged with mineral deposits and the birds often suffer from kidney
disease. It is most common in hand fed baby birds which are given overdoses of vitamins
in the formula.
6. Lysine Deficiency
Low lysine levels (an amino acid) has been shown to cause poor feather color and
may result in yellow plumage. It is sometimes seen in birds fed mainly corn.
7. Vitamin K Responsive Disorder
This disease causes bleeding in birds that receive minimal amounts of dietary Vitamin
K. Conures seem to be affected most often and manifest signs of bleeding disorders,
such as: small hemorrhages in the beak, hemorrhages on the bottom of the feet and
epistaxis (bloody discharge from the nostrils).
8. Vitamin E and Selenium Responsive Disorder
Known as White Muscle Disease in other animals, Vitamin E and Selenium deficiency
is most often seen in cockatiels. The disease causes paralysis of the legs which
may be permanent.
9. Iron Storage Disease
Though not common in psittacines, this condition causes severe liver disease in passerine
birds like mynahs, toucans and birds of paradise. It is prevented by feeding a diet
with virtually no iron. Many dog foods are good for this purpose (i.e. Hill's C/D
Diet).
10. Stress Bars
Stress bars manifest as waves, bends, breaks and color lines in the feather vane.
In nutritionally ill baby birds, every feather may have stress bars present. Stress
bars may be produced from non-nutritional causes as well. Bacterial, fungal and viral
infections can produce stress bars as will cold brooder temperatures, trauma and
individual feather damage. Fortunately, these damaged feathers will moult and be
replaced by normal, healthy plumage.
Special Diets
1. Obesity
Reducing fat requires either burning calories or limiting caloric intake. Obesity
diets are low in fat, moderately high in fiber and high in protein. A diet high in
pasta and legumes is good for this purpose.
Small birds- decrease the amount of seeds, offer free choice fruits and veggies,
legumes and pasta.
Medium birds- feed parakeet or cockatiel seed, fruits and veggies, legumes and pasta.
Large birds- no nuts, lg. hookbill/cockatiel seed, fruits and veggies, legumes and
pasta.
2. Liver Disease
When liver disease is diagnosed by your avian veterinarian a diet can be fed which
contains no fat, low protein and high carbohydrates. Pasta, corn, wheat, oats, rice
and a small amount of hard-boiled egg are included in this type of diet.
3. Kidney Disease
This type of diet should contain a moderate fat content, high carbohydrate and minimal
protein. The protein should be easily digestible and preferably of plant origin (as
these protein sources are also high in water). This is one time when sunflower seeds,
safflower seeds and nuts will benefit the bird. Corn, wheat, oats, rice and an extra
source of B vitamins may also help. Legumes like garbonzos beans, lima beans, butter
beans, kidney beans and peas are good sources of vegetable protein.
4. Hypocalcemia
The same regular diet with added calcium sources is necessary for hypocalcemic birds.
The calcium can be supplemented in a combination of the following ways: mineral block,
crushed mineral block in seed mix (i.e. Topper's seed mix), cuttlebones, egg shells,
cultured milk products like cheese, dry milk powder sprinkled on moist food, crushed
oyster shells (great for pigeons and doves too), bone meal powder sprinkled on moist
food, Vitamin D/Calcium/Phosphorous powders sprinkled on food, feeding kale and collard
greens and by adding Neocalglucon in the drinking water.
5. Hypovitaminosis A
Feed fruits and veggies yellow and orange in color. The best sources for *-carotene
are carrots, yams, cantaloupe, pumpkin and papaya.
6. Malnutrition/Starvation/Anorexia/Emaciation
Underweight birds often have underlying disease conditions which are not nutritionally
related. Getting the bird back in condition can be difficult. Try feeding foods high
in fat and vitamins to encourage the bird to eat. Seed mixes with nuts, sunflower
and safflower are usually helpful in stimulating an appetite. Spray millet stems
are also very enticing. Fruits high in calories include papaya, mango and coconut.
Always offer fresh food free choice and provide the bird with its regular seed mix.
Conclusion
Many birds are still presented to avian veterinarians with severe nutritional
problems. Hopefully, with increased awareness and education, nutritional diseases
will play a minimal role in the health of our feathered companions.
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