Feeding Your Pet Bird

Birds come in many shapes and sizes, which means that there are many diets and many theories on how best to feed them. Diets for pet birds have progressed significantly over the past 10 years, but there is still a great deal to learn. Pellets are now readily available and have done wonders to improve pet bird diets on average, but pellets are not always the best option. What works for one type of bird may not work for another. This article will provide some of the basic dietary information to help you determine an appropriate diet for your pet bird, and will hopefully give you some ideas on how to make your bird’s diet more interesting and nutritional.   

Often, the key to a healthy diet is to provide a variety of items that include lots of fresh foods from the produce department. Many of the healthiest pet birds I see are ones whose owners share their meals with them. Not only does this provide a varied diet, but it can provide regular social interaction with your bird. For dogs and cats, the advice is usually not to feed human foods, but for birds, the opposite is often quite true. Plus, it’s always entertaining to watch your pet deal with a plate of spaghetti noodles.

Call of the Wild

A good diet is the most important factor for maintaining a bird’s health. The key to determining the best diet for any type of bird is to understand their diet in the wild. A bird that feeds primarily on fruit in the wild will do poorly on a seed based diet in captivity. It’s easy to see that a finch requires a different diet than a macaw, but similar looking birds may also have different requirements. Some finches eat a diet comprised almost entirely of seed, while others may need lots of insects. Since most of us don’t have a rainforest full of exotic fruits and bugs at our disposal, it is impossible to provide the same foods that our birds would find in the wild. We can approximate it, however, by feeding a variety items that are available to us from the produce department and from feed stores. Variety is often the key.

The dietary requirements of the birds we keep may be closely tied to their wild ancestry, but we also must adjust for conditions in captivity. Keep in mind that captive birds do not have to forage endlessly to obtain the food they need. Their owners, without much effort on the bird’s part, provide it for them. It doesn’t take much logic to guess what an endless food supply and reduced exercise might cause. Obesity is a problem with pet birds that have steady access to rich foods and spend a large part of their time in a cage. The goal is a healthy diet, low in fat, and rich in vitamins and minerals.

General Types of Feeds

Seed - Seed is the type of food that is most commonly fed to pet birds. This is true in part because it is as readily available as a hamburger and fries, but also because most birds favor seed over other items and many will eat it as long as it is available. Unfortunately, many people feed a diet comprised entirely of seed. This will ultimately lead to a malnourished bird. Among other nutrients, seed is lacking in calcium, and vitamins A and D. Many commonly fed seeds such as sunflower and safflower are also very high in fat. Seed can be a healthy part of your bird’s diet, but it must be fed sparingly to be sure other items are consumed. Also be sure the seed is fresh. Seed will go stale if stored too long. To test the freshness of your seed simply soak it in water overnight then drain it. Spread it out on a damp paper towel then roll it up and let it sprout for a couple of days at room temperature. Nearly all the seed should germinate. If it doesn’t, the seed is too old and stale and has lost its nutritional value. Birds that are fed on stale seed can literally starve to death with full food dishes.

Pellets - Pellets are now readily available from a number of manufactures. In general, these are all good products. Some birds will thrive on a pellet diet, but other types of birds need more than just pellets. Pellets can be fed to provide a good foundation of a healthy diet. If feeding other foods in addition to pellets, it may be necessary to limit these treats so that the bird is motivated to eat the pellets as well. One great plus to pellets is that manufacturers are developing new breed specific formulas to help with the specific dietary needs of certain types of birds.

Beans and Grains – Also sold as “Sprout mixes” or “soak & cook mixes”. These usually include a mixture of beans and grains and sometimes pasta noodles. These mixes are excellent protein and vitamin sources with low fat content. Because these mixes are fed either cooked or sprouted, they are more digestible and nutritious.

Produce - Fresh produce is the area where we can really add to the variety of foods we can provide to our birds. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different items since just about anything that is nutritious for people is good for birds. Apples are universally accepted, but some really love fresh yellow chili peppers. The only items to avoid are avocado and apricot pits. The skin and pits of avocado contain potential toxins for parrots in addition to the fact that it is high in fat.

Insects – Thankfully, insects are not a part of most pet bird diets so don’t run out with bug jar in hand. Insects are important for many types of finches and softbills however. The easiest sources are mealworms and crickets that are commercially available from pet stores or fishing bait shops.

Summary

If you ask 100 different bird owners about the diets of their birds, you are likely to get 100 different answers. Since the advent of pelleted diets, there has been a debate over which is better, seed or pellets. The answer is neither. The objective for feeding birds is variety and this includes both seed and pellets along with whatever other healthy items you can get your bird to eat.

The question is often asked; how do you get a bird to eat a greater variety of fresh fruits and veggies? To understand the answer, it is good to ponder the following; if you offer a child an unlimited supply of pizza, chocolate cake, and broccoli, how much broccoli will be eaten? Birds, like children, will eat their favorite items first. These are not always the most nutritious items and they tend to be the high-fat items. It is up to us to provide different foods in the proper proportions to encourage a broad healthy diet.