A proper diet is crucial for maintaining your bird’s health. However, current scientific research has yet to determine the exact dietary needs of every bird species. Replicating their natural diet in captivity can be challenging, but this guide will help you provide a balanced and varied diet at home.
1. THE FEED
Feed is now the food that should represent the majority of your bird’s diet. A high-quality feed from a recognized manufacturer should be offered every day and make up approximately 70% of the diet. This is recognized as being more balanced and complete than seeds alone. Your bird will therefore be able to have a longer and healthier life! The feeds that we recommend and have at AnimaPlus are: Harrison’s and Lafeber.
Here are some tips to help you increase your feed intake:
First, patience is essential. It can take several weeks for the change to take place. It is important to do it gradually. For example, start week 1 with 25% feed and 75% seeds in the same bowl. By week 2, it is 40% feed and 60% seeds, and so on. This is only a guide because the pace your bird will take may be more or less rapid. Do not be surprised if your bird wastes the feed and expresses its displeasure at first.
2. SEEDS
Seeds should represent about 10% of the daily diet. Despite popular belief, a diet consisting largely or only of seeds is not a balanced diet. Generally speaking, seeds are deficient in several vitamins and minerals. They are also too rich in proteins and lipids. Thus, they should be used as a supplement to the feed and not the other way around.
Did you know there are two types of seeds? The first type, known as "dead" seeds, cannot germinate, while the second type, called "living" seeds, retains the ability to sprout. Living seeds offer higher nutritional value compared to dead seeds. When provided in the right proportion alongside regular feed, they serve as a great complementary food. Additionally, there are products designed to combine seeds and feed, making the transition easier. Examples include Avicakes and Nutriberries from Lafeber.
3. VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
Vegetables are a crucial part of your bird's diet and should make up about 15% of their overall food intake. Raw vegetables provide more nutrients than cooked ones, but both can be offered. Always ensure they are fresh and thoroughly washed before serving. Try a variety of vegetables to discover your bird's preferences, and experiment with different presentations—grated, sliced, cubed, whole, cooked, or raw—to keep mealtime interesting.
The general rule is this: dark vegetables (green, orange, yellow, red) are the most nutritious. Examples include: kale, pumpkin, squash, escarole, fava beans, turnips, cooked sweet potatoes, parsley, peppers, corn, broccoli, carrots, endives, and spinach. Sprouted seeds are also often very popular. Fresh or dried, fruits are a good addition to the diet (do not exceed 5% of the diet). Try apricots, bananas, blueberries, figs, strawberries, raspberries, mangoes, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, apples, grapes, and cantaloupe. Remember that fruits contain a lot of water, so it is normal to see more liquid droppings. This is not diarrhea, but excess urine.
4. TABLE FOODS
Anything that is good for you is also good for your bird. Avoid anything that is too fatty, too salty, or too sweet. Offer whole wheat bread, pasta, eggs, low-fat yogurt, legumes, and couscous, at a rate of 5% of the daily diet, and present it all in the form of 2 meals per day. Peeling the food offered in large pieces (corn cob, large broccoli stalk, etc.) is an excellent activity for your bird.
5. FOODS TO AVOID
Chocolate, coffee, tea, soft drinks, alcohol, raw eggs, onions, avocados, raw potatoes, iceberg lettuce, rhubarb, raw meat, fruit seeds and pits.
6. WATER
Water should always be present; it should be changed daily and the water bowl washed. Always let the tap water run for 1 minute before filling the bowl. Spring water is preferable to tap water.
7. VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Vitamins and minerals are essential for supporting normal growth and maintaining your bird’s overall health. If your bird is consuming an adequate amount of balanced feed, additional supplements are generally not necessary.
For those looking to enhance their bird’s diet, AVIx Sunshine Factor is a beneficial supplement that provides essential fatty acids. However, if transitioning to a balanced feed is proving difficult, daily powdered vitamin and mineral supplements, such as Nekton, can be used. These can be sprinkled on soft food or seeds to ensure your bird receives the necessary nutrients.
Additional mineral support can be provided by placing a cuttlebone in the cage, which serves as a natural calcium source. However, we do not recommend the use of gravel, often labeled as sea gravel or aniseed gravel, as it can lead to obstructions and other gastrointestinal issues, such as irritation of the intestinal lining.
For birds that do not hull their seeds, such as doves and pigeons, a safer alternative is white oyster shells. These aid digestion and also serve as an excellent calcium source.