Pet birds traditionally fed primarily, if not entirely, a seed diet. Unfortunately, this practice has produced a scenario in which our pet and aviary birds suffer from dietary imbalances and medical issues. Old feeding customs (“wives tales”) have become so ingrained in modern culture that changing these “approved” techniques of care appears to be heresy.
The following issues can lead to severe malnutrition, weakened immunity, disease, and a significantly reduced lifetime in our beloved birds:
VEGETARIAN TYPE DIETS
Many people in the pet industry still recommend a “traditional” seed diet, a vegetarian diet. Regrettably, seeds, grains, fruits, greens, and vegetables all contain protein with poor biological value. The structure of amino acids in this vegetarian diet is dangerous since these meals are low in quantity and quality of critical amino acids. Essential amino acid deficiencies can and can occur, particularly in Cockatoo species.
Furthermore, according to scholarly publications, seed diets only offer 20% of an adult’s calcium requirements. Because of this diet, many new patients have suffered from metabolic bone diseases and other signs of Hypocalcemia that can cause egg binding and other symptoms.
UNBALANCED DIETS
Commercial bird seed companies tend to experiment with adding different types of pellets in their mixes to attempt a perfect balance of these deficiencies. Recommended Health Care for Your Pet Bird suggests that as good as the intentions may be, the combination only gives a balanced diet if the entire pellets serving is consumed. The texture and palatability of these extra pellets have not been adjusted or evaluated, resulting in a bird’s unlikely consumption.
Diets must be assessed using arithmetic, chemical analysis, and other methods.
Studies, including controlled feeding experiments with live birds over an extended time (3-5 years) to fully understand and determine whether the analysis is accurate.
You may check the Article: Cheese Ingestion Not Okay for Birds
CONFINEMENT IN SMALL CAGES
Continuous confinement might have an indirect effect on an animal’s nutritional state. A bird develops an avoidance behavior pattern in which it avoids anything unfamiliar. As a result, the bird will refuse any new meals. As a result, the bird sticks to a limited diet and is afraid of fresh items that might balance its diet.
Over a two-week or more extended period, regular presentations of fresh items in a comparable area or multiple locations in the bird’s cage might alleviate the trauma of confinement. A new kind of food gives the bird time to become accustomed to the new cage item and has shown to be quite effective in most circumstances.
FREE CHOICE FEEDING
Placing various foods in and letting birds eat among a free choice also leads to problems. Birds do not have the instinct to pick a balanced diet from selecting foods. When observing birds’ feeding behavior in the parrot family, you will notice that they will be biased toward a specific type of food and cause dietary greed. Instead of choosing what to eat, they first select those they don’t like and set them aside.
Regrettably, these bad eating habits may go unnoticed when birds are given the freedom to choose from a selection of items that are regularly placed in front of them. A bird that only eats one type of food and only obtains an excessive amount of some nutrients will result in a deficiency.
FAST METABOLIC RATE
A live bird’s average core temperature is 105 degrees Fahrenheit. They produce more heat than any other vertebrate, use more oxygen, eat more food per body weight unit, and run faster than any other animal. All of these criteria point to a bird’s quick metabolism. Birds require a different diet than other animals due to their high metabolic rate. They need a complete nutritional diet consisting of relatively large amounts of calorically rich, highly digestible food.
Weight loss, weariness, and feeling hungry often during the day are all indicators of a fast metabolic rate. It’s crucial to remember that these symptoms are frequently caused by other variables or severe health conditions unrelated to one’s metabolic rate.
Being able to check on them on what they eat or what they do while you’re busy with work or on vacation is one of the ways Bird Sitting Toronto can help you. We do not solely keep your birds caged during their stay. They will get world-class service. Starting at the meet & greet upon arrival. We will take care of your bird’s basic needs, such as daily refreshment of fresh water and food. We can serve diverse, healthy diets and meet your bird’s dietary restrictions. We always give our birds and our clients optimal flight times to get their daily exercise and play and interact with them. You’ll get daily updates of your feathered friend via email or text while you’re away. Reach out today!
