Tips n' Techniques #01

Caring for your Bird - I

Whilst there have been many advances in the nutritional requirements for pets such as cats and dogs in the last 20 years, advances in pet bird requirements have been relatively minimal. It is not commonly understood by most pet bird owners that seed alone is not always a sufficient source of nutrition to maintain a healthy bird. Seeds are invariably deficient in calcium, sodium, vitamins A, D3, K, B12, C choline and the essential amino acid lysine. Seeds are also deficient in many other vitamins and minerals and combined with insufficient greens birds can suffer from many nutritional related disorders.

'As many as 60% of birds taken to vets require treatment for a nutrition related illness.'

In addition to normal requirements, there are times when birds need extra nutrition. ie. During earlygrowth, laying, moulting or feeding their young. In the wild, birds must eat what ever food is available and birds that we know as seed eating birds will also eat nuts, grasses, insects, leaves,roots, bark, fruit, vegetables and scraps left by humans. The availability of certain food types will also vary depending on seasonal changes and migration patterns, therefore ensuring that birdsreceive a diverse diet.

Once a bird is kept as a pet, it is totally reliant on you for a balanced varied diet. It is for this reason that Bird Munchies Gourmet Blend has been developed. The seeds used in Bird Munchies Gourmet Blend have been chosen for your birds enjoyment as well as their nutritional value. The red and green seeds are de-hulled oats that have been coated with supplements to provide essential Vitamins and Minerals. Nuts and dried fruit are also included for variety along with shellgrit to aid digestion and provide additional calcium. Seeds such as wheat and sorghum (a round brownish/red seed) have intentionally been left out of the blend as most birds do not eat them and they are therefore wasted.

In addition to a balanced diet of Bird Munchies Gourmet Blend, you can provide greater variety and interest for your bird by adding some fresh foods. Birds have individual tastes and so it will take time to find fresh food your bird prefers. Eating habits change slowly so food they refuse at first may become their favourite later.

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