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The exact nutritional requirements of caged birds are unknown, in spite of claims to the contrary by some product manufacturers, retailers and breeders. Far too much emphasis has been placed on seed and nut diets for caged birds. They represent a relatively nonperishable convenience for bird owners but are a miserably deficient diet for pet birds, especially the larger hookbills. Such diets are excessively rich in oils, extremely deficient in certain vitamins (notably vitamin A) and have an unacceptably low calcium to phosphorus ratio which can result in bone fractures. Further, recent research has shown that the high oil content of these foods items confers an addictive quality on them.
WATER
Clean water needs to be available to the bird at all times. Animals like “fresh” tasting water so even if it looks clear, it should be changed twice daily.
FEEDING CAGED BIRDS
Larger caged birds (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) should be fed as follows:
• Seeds and seed mixes should NOT constitute more than 20% of what your bird consumes daily.
• 80 100% of the daily diet should be comprised of pelleted foods.
• Plenty of fresh table fruits and vegetables should be offered.
ANIMAL PROTEIN SOURCES:
Cooked meat (red meat, poultry, fish, etc.) dog/cat kibble, cooked eggs (yolk and white), cheese, cultured milk products (cottage cheese, yogurt, etc.). Raw and even pasteurized milk should not be offered because they contain coliform bacteria. Further, many caged birds are sensitive to milk sugar, which is present in milk but not in cultured milk products. However, tofu is well accepted by many birds and a good source
WHOLE GRAIN PRODUCTS:
Dry cereals, cooked cereals, rice, uncooked oatmeal, granola, breads (whole wheat in particular), muffins, pasta (cooked or uncooked), crackers.
NUTS,TRAIL MIX: In moderation (nuts are rich in oils and fats).
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:
Fresh, frozen thawed are all acceptable. Fresh fruits and vegetable are the most nutritious. Note: One parrot became ill after eating thawed frozen vegetables. Culture of these vegetables revealed harmful bacteria. For this reason, it may be advisable to cook thawed frozen vegetables, even though this reduces their nutritional value.
"JUNK FOOD" ITEMS:
In moderation or not offered at all.
• Remember: salty foods are acceptable for pet birds as long as they are given in moderation and as long as fresh water or fruit juice is always available.
• Remember: When birds eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, excess water is excreted in the form of urine. This increased amount of urine in the droppings should not be confused with diarrhea.
The following foods can be prepared and offered to large psittacines (conure, parrot, cockatoo, macaws) on a daily basis. This list has been compiled with consideration to ease of preparation, economy of time, and maximum nutritional value. You should offer at least one item from each of the following food groups daily.
WHOLE GRAIN FOOD
This replaces seed mixes and nuts. Make up a mixture of any combination of the following ingredients (equal volumes of each) and store it in an air tight container:
• Kashi cereal
• Chex cereals (rice, corn, wheat, bran, graham) .
• Shredded wheat
• Cheerios
• Puffed cereals (wheat, rice, millet)
• Mueslix cereal
• Granola
• Uncooked (dry) pasta (mix different shapes and colors for variety)
Your birds individual preference for the various cereals may vary somewhat and depend on its body size.
ANIMAL PROTEIN
• Cheese grated or chunks, refrigerated in sealed container
• Cooked lean meat
• Canned lean meat (chicken, turkey, water packed tuna)
• Hard boiled egg (chopped or quartered and refrigerated in sealed container)
• Milk hones
• Dog and/or cat kibble (add several handfuls to the cereal mix mentioned above)
VEGETABLES
• Fresh vegetables are most nutritious. Cut up ahead of time and refrigerate and sealed plastic bags or airtight containers Legumes (peas, beans etc.) and dark green and orange vegetables are preferred.
• Thawed frozen mixed vegetables (takes minutes to thaw when added to warm water).
• Canned vegetables are least nutritious of all choices.
FRUIT
• Fresh fruit is most nutritious. Cut up ahead of time and refrigerate in sealed plastic bags or airtight containers
• Dried fruit
• Canned fruit is be least nutritious of all choices.
These suggestions are made to accommodate bird owners who are bewildered by the apparent complexities of offering a "balanced" diet and who have very little time each day to prepare and offer the "right" foods. Bird owners who do not cook or eat at home will find these suggestions helpful because they can prepare all of these items with only moderate initial preparation and offer them daily with little effort.
Smaller caged birds (canaries, finches, parakeets, cockatiels) should be fed as follows:
Every day, offer greens (spinach, broccoli, carrot tops, celery leaves, parsley, sprouts, etc.) grated carrot, grated cheese, hard boiled or scrambled egg, canned tuna fish (packed in water), dry cereals, stale or toasted whole wheat bread (crumbled or in cubes), and small bits of other vegetables and fruits. Some birds may accept soft food items, such as peanut butter cooked cereals, applesauce, and other strained fruits and vegetables.
FOODS TO AVOID
The following foods should NEVER be offered to your birds:
• Avocado
• Raw milk or products derived from raw milk
• Chocolate
• Undercooked pork, raw meats
VITAMIN A
Vitamin A must be readily available in the diet and consumed in adequate quantities by caged birds to maintain health, eyes, skin, feather, and linings of the gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive tracts. Amazon parrots seem to have the most trouble with vitamin A deficiency. Foods rich in vitamin A include cod liver oil, cooked liver, egg yolk, apricots, corn, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach and parsley. Seeds are notoriously deficient.
SUNLIGHT
Caged birds rarely receive enough sunlight and, therefore, rarely benefit from its ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet (UV) light is necessary to facilitate certain chemical reactions within the skin to make Vitamin D3 that in turn, enable optimal absorption of calcium (necessary for healthy muscles and bones) by the intestinal tract. There is no UV light benefit when sunlight is received through window glass. Consequently, you should take your bird outside on warm, sunny days as often as possible. Your bird's wings should be clipped or the bird should be securely confined within a suitable cage. Make certain that neighborhood cats and wild birds are prevented access to your bird. It is also important for you to provide areas of sunlight and shade for your bird so that it can move into the shade if it becomes too warm. To accomplish these two goals (avoiding cat attacks and overheating) you should stay with the bird (not leave it unattended). Many bird owners use artificial UV light sources to replace the regular incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs in the rooms in which their birds are housed. The most popular and recommended light source of this type is the Vita Lite™. Although the lights do not burn out in 6 months, they should be replaced every 6 months because the UV light component fails long before the light filament. When you first start to use them, take a piece of tape and mark them with the date.
BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF FOOD
The subject of bacterial contamination of food and water for caged birds is rather controversial. Many apparently healthy caged birds harbor potentially harmful bacteria within their intestinal tracts. These organisms can create illness during periods of stress (short or long standing) for your bird. Many veterinarians agree that Gram negative bacteria (coliform type) can contaminate seeds, seed mixes, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and even tap water. Consequently, it may be advisable to bake or microwave seeds and seed mixes (spread seeds to depth of 1 inch in a Pyrex™ dish and bake at 350° F for 10 minutes, stirring once, or microwave on high setting for 5 minutes). This seems to eliminate these potentially harmful bacteria without a compromising the nutritional value of the seed. The skins of all fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before being offered to your bird. One study clearly demonstrated that colony counts of potentially harmful bacteria in tap water samples could be greatly reduced by allowing the tap to run for at least 3 minutes before the water cup was filled. Offering bottled water is probably an acceptable alternative, though bottled water dispensers occasionally harbor disease carrying bacteria. The spigot should be opened a few seconds and water allowed to run before filling the water container. The recommendations mentioned above should help you to offer the correct foods, but there is no guarantee that your pet bird will accept and consume any or all of them.
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