Selecting Food For Your Bird
When selecting the appropriate food for your bird, it is important to think about certain things and ask yourself several questions. You should keep in mind the type of bird or birds you own and their size. Do they need a seed and pelleted diet? Do they like to eat food from their talon, or out of their dish? Does your bird make a large mess when eating. Does your bird have any known health problems?
Some foods can help certain problems like feather picking and vitamin deficiencies. With so many different types of food on the market, it can be difficult and confusing. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you keep them on a well-balanced diet.
One common misconception is that birds need seeds in their diet, and the truth is they do not. Peanuts are very high in fat content and I recommend giving your bird no more than one per day. Sunflower seeds, which can be prevalent in some seed mixtures are also high in sodium and fat. It is ok to give your bird a few seeds, but if your bird is eating them anymore than 10% of their diet, that is too much. Most birds need to be on 90% pelleted diet. Seeds, nuts and other treats can make up the other 10%. Also included in most parrots diet can be fresh fruit and vegetables. These can seem like a treat to your bird, but are actually very healthy.
There are some brands of food which are 100% organic. These are best for your bird as no chemicals are used when growing the ingredients. Organic foods also contain no preservatives and no artificial coloring. Birds can be sensitive to those things.
Human food in very small quantities can be ok for your bird, but should not be practiced regularly. One human food that is great for birds is the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are filled with Vitamin A, which the Eclectus parrot needs in their diet because it aids in digestion. They also contain Vitamin C and Iron and are relatively easy to cook and store as well.
Two foods that can kill your birds are chocolate and avocado. You should never feed your bird those foods in any amount.
Article Source:Kimberly Webber