|
Why can’t my bird eat seeds? Isn’t that what
they eat in the wild?
Yes, many of out pets birds do eat seeds in the wild. They also eat
insects, fruits, leaves and many times, anything else they can get their
beaks into. In captivity, our pet birds will eat whatever we give them.
Feeding fruits and veggies are great, but it is so hard to properly
balance their diets (especially since dietary requirements for each and
every type of bird is unknown). With our busy lifestyles, it is not only
more nutritious to feed a pelleted diet, but a lot easier on us. A bird
on a seed-only diet is much like a person eating fast food every day,
for every meal. And just like people, as a bird gets older, these sorts
of diets can really take their toll.
Will pellets make that much of a difference?
You may be pleasantly surprised how much shinier and smoother your
bird’s feathers will be after only a few months of eating a pelleted
diet. Birds can get sick from not enough vitamin A, or they can get
osteoporosis from not enough calcium. Feeding a balanced diet can keep a
bird from getting sick from malnutrition, which is good news for your
pocketbook and your bird.
What exactly is a bird pellet?
A formulated bird pellet is sort of the same as dog and cat food.
Instead of feeding a dog raw meat, feeding a formulated dog kibble
ensures that he/she gets all the vitamins and minerals, plus the proper
amount of protein, carbohydrates and fat. So a bird pellet is a balanced
piece of nutrition for your bird.
Are all bird pellets the same?
There are many different brands of pellets on the market. Many owners
like to feed their birds a mix of different kinds. Since we don’t know
the nutritional breakdown of all the species of pet birds, the formulas
are very general and based on nutrient requirements for chickens. There
is one diet based on the requirements of young cockatiels. Pellets come
in different colors, textures, sizes and shapes. Colored pellets may not
be ideal if your bird likes to eat all the pellets of one color. For
example, eating all the red pellets will turn the bird’s feces red. If
the bird were to have blood in its feces for whatever reason, it would
be difficult to tell if the feces are red due to the food coloring the
food.
Which pellet do I buy?
Your veterinarian can recommend a brand for you. Several brands like
Kaytee, Pretty Bird, Lafeber and Roudybush are available at pet stores.
Harrison’s Bird Diet is an organic diet that is only available through
our hospital and other veterinary clinics that care for birds. Choose a
pellet size that is right for the size of your bird. Your vet or the pet
store employees can help you choose.
How do I get my bird to eat pellets?
Some birds are very accepting of new foods and will convert from seeds
to pellets with no problem. Others will think you are trying to feed
them rocks and will refuse to eat them for months. Below you will find
general guidelines, tips and tricks for converting your bird to pellets.
Generally, the younger the bird the easier the conversion. Some birds
can take as long as 6 months to a year. Don’t give up, be persistent and
your bird will thank you. Please come in to speak with one of our exotic
doctors for tips and tricks on how to convert your bird to a more
nutritious diet. Never starve your bird to convert it to its new diet.
If the bird is not eating for more than about 6 hours, give it back some
familiar food. If the feces are very dark green or black, the bird is
not eating. Birds that have not eaten for days can often still make
feces. If you see only urates (the white part) the bird is not eating.
Monitor your bird’s behavior and feces very closely, until you are
positive that the bird is actually eating the pellets.
|
