Healthy Diet for Healthy Birds

It's a well-known fact that obesity and poor nutrition are growing problems in our culture, but did you know that obesity is also a leading cause of problems in pet animals? Birds are no exception to this alarming trend, and it's important for pet bird owners to have the facts about avian nutrition and proper feeding.

Improper diet is one of the biggest causes of health problems in pet birds, so knowing what your pet bird's dietary needs are is essential. Most birds in the parrot family are florivores, which means that their diet is largely plant-based. Within this classification, there are birds who eat seeds and/or grains and nuts; those who eat mostly fruits; and others who eat insects along with their plant-based foods. Other birds, such as lorikeets and lories subsist mostly on nectar. Remember, these classifications are based on what each type of bird would base its diet on in the wild, and provide bird owners with good guidelines for dietary balance.

One mistake that pet bird owners often make is feeding birds a diet of seeds only. A bowl full of seed is often too much food for a caged bird. Pet birds generally get less exercise than their wild counterparts, because they aren't spending time foraging for food and flying. Additionally, many of the seeds commonly given to pet birds are lower in nutrients. When fed a typical seed mix, most birds are smart enough to pick out just the delicious types of seeds or nuts that they like, which are often high-fat offenders such as sunflower seeds or peanuts. The rest can be scattered around the cage, making it hard to tell what's really been consumed.

Foods specially formulated for birds, such as pelleted diets often offer a better nutritional balance. There are many types of formulated diets available, and bird owners should be careful to choose one developed specifically for their pet's species. These diets are a mix of fruit and vegetables, grains and seeds, and are usually supplemented with additional vitamins and nutrients. Even with the nutritional balance provided in a formulated diet, the dietary needs of the species should be taken into account, and additional fresh foods incorporated into the daily diet. Seeds, fruits and vegetables can account for 20-35% of the diet, depending on the species of bird.

We know that we should all eat more vegetables and fruits, and the same goes for our pet birds. There is a huge variety of fresh foods that provide added nutrition for birds. Many of these foods also provide added activity and interest for birds, keeping them mentally stimulated by varying textures, tastes, colors and shapes. Your bird may enjoy picking at broccoli florets, biting into a juicy piece of orange or melon, or holding a bright chunk of sweet potato to munch on. Try foraging toys or hanging food in the cage instead of just putting it in the dish. With a short list of exceptions, pet birds can be fed almost any fruit or vegetable. Foods to be avoided are fruit pits and apple seeds, persimmons, avocado, mushrooms and onions.

Bird owners should take the time to educate themselves on the most beneficial diet for their particular bird's species. The same habits that form a healthy lifestyle for humans are healthy for our pet birds.

Article by Wendy Rubicam for Wyld's Wingdom. Wyld's Wingdom, established in 1986, is the premier wholesale pet supply distributor for exotic and pet bird products including toys, food, cages, and supplies.