Avian Nutrition Avian Nutrition

NUTRITIONNUTRITION When it comes to avian diet, there is a huge When it comes to avian diet, there is a huge

controversy.  Avian vets, breeders, pet shop controversy.  Avian vets, breeders, pet shop professionals, bird guardians, researchers, professionals, bird guardians, researchers, rescuers, etc all have their own opinion as to rescuers, etc all have their own opinion as to what constitutes the perfect diet and each of what constitutes the perfect diet and each of them makes claims to it. them makes claims to it.

But the sad truth is that none of them is correct But the sad truth is that none of them is correct because nobody knows what most birds’ because nobody knows what most birds’ nutritional needs are.  nutritional needs are. 

NutritionNutrition

HEALTHY BIRDS EAT HEALTHY HEALTHY BIRDS EAT HEALTHY DIETS DIETS

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PACKAGED ‘COMPLETE DIET’ PACKAGED ‘COMPLETE DIET’

SPECIES EVOLVE TO THRIVE ON SPECIES EVOLVE TO THRIVE ON FOOD AVAILABLE IN THEIR FOOD AVAILABLE IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT NATURAL HABITAT

BIRDS DO NOT CHOOSE TO EAT BIRDS DO NOT CHOOSE TO EAT WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEMWHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM

Food

Bird

Nutrition

Ingredients-Composition-Variability

Nutrients-Availability

Feed Manufacturing-Quality

Management

Requirements

Environment

Diet Formulation

Clients

Bird Characteristics

Assessment

Flock/Bird Nutrition Considerations

NutrientsNutrients

Protein (Amino Acids)Protein (Amino Acids) FatsFats Minerals Minerals VitaminsVitamins Water*Water*

WaterWater

Fresh, plain water with no additives Fresh, plain water with no additives should be provided at all timesshould be provided at all times

If bottled water is used, spring or If bottled water is used, spring or drinking water, not distilled water, drinking water, not distilled water, which lacks necessary salts and which lacks necessary salts and minerals (iodane), should be chosenminerals (iodane), should be chosen

NUTRITIONNUTRITION In the wild, most In the wild, most

parrots eat very parrots eat very low‑fat, low‑protein low‑fat, low‑protein diets, and are diets, and are extremely well extremely well adapted to such adapted to such diets. diets.

MineralsMinerals

Macro or Major (concentration -%)Macro or Major (concentration -%) Calcium - bone; egg shellCalcium - bone; egg shell PhosphorusPhosphorus Sodium, potassium, chlorideSodium, potassium, chloride Magnesium, sulfurMagnesium, sulfur

Trace minerals Trace minerals

Copper, iron, manganese, selenium, Copper, iron, manganese, selenium, iodineiodine

VitaminsVitamins

Vitamin D (Vitamin D3 activity)Vitamin D (Vitamin D3 activity) Some synthesis of:Some synthesis of:

Vitamin CVitamin C CholineCholine Niacin Niacin

Nutrient Adequacy Nutrient Adequacy

RequirementRequirement DeficiencyDeficiency ExcessExcess ToxicityToxicity

Good FoodsGood Foods Vegetables 10-20%.

Especially vegetables high in Vitamin A, such as broccoli, red chard, red kale, carrots, sweet potatoes, and garnet yams. Hot chiles, which are high in Vitamin C, are also very good.

Seeds are most notably low in vitamin A and protein, and high in fat

More Good FoodsMore Good Foods

Fresh fruits in moderationFresh fruits in moderation High quality natural (preferably organic) High quality natural (preferably organic)

pelletspellets Brown riceBrown rice Clean water — change it at least twice a Clean water — change it at least twice a

day; if it’s too dirty for you to drink, day; if it’s too dirty for you to drink, change it.change it.

Treats (one or two almonds in the shell Treats (one or two almonds in the shell per day; unsalted, unbuttered, hot air-per day; unsalted, unbuttered, hot air-popped popcorn once in a while; small popped popcorn once in a while; small pieces of whole-grain bread) pieces of whole-grain bread)

Commercial FoodsCommercial Foods

There are three concepts to There are three concepts to understand regarding the ideal understand regarding the ideal diet in pet birdsdiet in pet birds There is no “generic” parrot and each There is no “generic” parrot and each

species has its own, different species has its own, different requirementsrequirements

The requirements are not well known for The requirements are not well known for any species of parrotany species of parrot

The pelleted diets available today are The pelleted diets available today are based on dietary requirements of based on dietary requirements of chickens and cockatielschickens and cockatiels

Diet LabelingDiet Labeling

Product name and purposeProduct name and purpose Feeding directionsFeeding directions Ingredients (in order of magnitude Ingredients (in order of magnitude

of use)of use) Guaranteed AnalysesGuaranteed Analyses

Protein and Fat (min)Protein and Fat (min) Fiber and Moisture (max)Fiber and Moisture (max)

www.mazuri.com

ZuPreemZuPreem

Foods to AvoidFoods to Avoid

Parrots are junk Parrots are junk food junkies. The food junkies. The worse it is for worse it is for them, the better them, the better they seem to like they seem to like it. We recommend it. We recommend that you do NOT that you do NOT feed your bird the feed your bird the following:following:

AvoidAvoid Animal fats, animal protein, Animal fats, animal protein,

and fried foods (French and fried foods (French fries)fries)

Commercial seed mixes Commercial seed mixes (fattening); a few sunflower (fattening); a few sunflower and safflower seeds and safflower seeds occasionally are okay.occasionally are okay.

Salty foodsSalty foods Onions and garlicOnions and garlic Nuts (other than almonds) Nuts (other than almonds)

for parrots other than for parrots other than macaws (who need nuts in macaws (who need nuts in their diet)their diet)

CACA — caffeine, alcohol, CACA — caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, avocadochocolate, avocado

Nutritional DisordersNutritional Disorders

Iron storage diseaseIron storage disease Vitamin A deficiencyVitamin A deficiency Vitamin D Vitamin D

deficiency/toxicitydeficiency/toxicity Goiter (enlarged Goiter (enlarged

thyroid gland. thyroid gland. Gout (Gout (metabolic metabolic

arthritisarthritis) is a ) is a disease created by a disease created by a buildup of uric acidbuildup of uric acid

Iron Storage DiseaseIron Storage Disease

Hemosiderosis (excess iron in tissues)Hemosiderosis (excess iron in tissues) Hemochromatosis ( excess iron Hemochromatosis ( excess iron

causing toxicity)causing toxicity) Primary - genetic predispositionPrimary - genetic predisposition Secondary -Secondary -

high dietary level (water?)high dietary level (water?) chronic stresschronic stress fasting/refeeding fasting/refeeding

Vitamin A DeficiencyVitamin A Deficiency

Unsupplemented Unsupplemented seed dietsseed diets

SymptomsSymptoms swollen foot pads swollen foot pads

(bumblefoot)(bumblefoot) feather picking and feather picking and

dry skindry skin susceptibility to susceptibility to

respiratory infectionsrespiratory infections submandibular submandibular

swelling swelling

Vitamin DVitamin D

DeficiencyDeficiency Insufficent diet or Insufficent diet or

sunlight (UVB) sunlight (UVB) exposureexposure

Metabolic disruptionMetabolic disruption Deficiency Deficiency

symptomssymptoms bone; egg shell bone; egg shell

deformationsdeformations bones; beak rubberybones; beak rubbery

Vitamin DVitamin D

ToxicityToxicity Diet excessDiet excess Supplements in addition to diet Supplements in addition to diet

supplementsupplement Species differences (macaws sensitive)Species differences (macaws sensitive)

Toxicity symptomsToxicity symptoms soft tissue calcification-kidneyssoft tissue calcification-kidneys

Other speciesOther speciesResearch first. What do Research first. What do they eat in the wild??they eat in the wild??

Force feedingForce feeding