Nutrition
What does your bird need? We now know that seed is not the
only food needed by pet birds, and in fact, birds on a seed only diet, are very
unhealthy. Only 50% of a bird's diet should be seed. Of the other 50%, fruits
and vegetables are the most important. This is where he obtains vital minerals
and vitamins. If your bird is reluctant to try new foods, try cutting the fruits
and vegies into small, seed size pieces. Sometimes mixing them into the seed
helps. It is all right to cut back on his seed a bit. "Hunger is the best sauce"
as they say. It is also okay to remove his seed for most of the day, offering it
only for an hour in the morning, and an hour in the evening. During the day he
will have only fruits and vegies to eat. If he is a little hungry, he will try
new foods.
Out in the wild, birds eat a wide variety of nuts, small pieces of meat, even
another bird's eggs occasionally. So how do we duplicate this variety? A good
rule of thumb is, if a food is healthy for a human, it is healthy for your bird.
Birds enjoy spaghetti or a bit of chicken. Hard boiled egg is often a big hit.
Almonds, walnuts or other nuts are fine in small quantities. Many birds love
cheeses and yogurt. Monkey chow is a tasty treat and an excellent source of
protein for birds. It is available at most pet stores. Cuttlebone and mineral
blocks are a good source of calcium. If you have any questions about whether a
food is good for your bird, call your avian vet for more information.
To make sure he's getting everything he needs, supply fresh water. Some species,
such as cockatiels and budgies, drink very little water and may benefit from a
powdered vitamin sprinkled on moist food.
