Nutrition
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. 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. 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 local avian vet.
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. 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 local avian vet.
