Exotic Bird Nutrition
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Exotic Bird Nutrition – plant matter – florivore penguins, herons – animal matter – faunivore specialists feeder – oligivore quail, pheasants, cranes, crows – omnivore – eats plants and animals generalist feeder Food Consumption Patterns insects – insectivore swifts, woodpeckers, swallows fish – piscivore loons, pelicans, Osprey terrestrial vertebrates – carnivore hawks, owls, eagles – animal matter – faunivore specialists feeder – oligivore Food Consumption Patterns – hummingbirds, lorikeets, honeyeaters fruits – frugivore (tucans, birds of paradise) nectar – nectarivore – sparrows, finches, parrots grasses – graminivore (geese, swans) grains, hard seeds – granivore – ostrich, grouse, some ducks leaves, buds, shoots, grasses – herbivore – plant matter – florivore specialists feeder – oligivore Food Consumption Patterns facultative – eat what’s seasonally available feedstuff composition dietary specialization requires a stable food supply dietary generalization is favored when food resources vary over time or location monophagous - eat a single food item stenophagous - eat a restricted number of food items euryphagous - eat many different food items more terminology “The majority of companion and aviary birds are considered opportunistic omnivores; that is, they will eat a large number of the foods that are available to them at any specific time.” - Randal N. Brue, Ph.D., vicepresident for research, Kaytee Products adapts to feedstuffs digestive tract anatomy large – chickens, turkeys, grouse, quail large to medium – ducks, geese, swans vestigial – larks, finches, jays, wrens vestigial to absent – pigeons, doves absent – parrots, lories, macaws cecal characteristics cockatiels, budgies - some research – practical experience – breeding success from approximations of poultry diets – vitamin supplementation - just in case exotic birds - anecdotal – scientific research chickens and turkeys well What Do We Know – what we know Poultry diets - scientific research – what works Anecdotal - success stories – narrow scope, a few points in time Ecological data - what’s in their crop Places to Start psittacine - parrots passerine - finches, canaries columbiform - pigeons, doves Selected Bird Families psittacines and seed eating passerines basis -poultry NRC, research and formulation experience conservative - i.e. used highest concentrations unless species specific used gross energy pet bird nutrient profiles animal protein sources whole grain products fruits & vegetables nuts, trail mix junk food – moderation or not at all seeds & seed mixes (20% max.) table food 80-100% (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) FEEDING LARGE BIRDS cheese cooked lean meat canned lean meat hard boiled egg low fat cat or dog kibble animal protein sources conures (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) FEEDING LARGE BIRDS Kashi cereal Chex cereal Shredded Wheat Cheeros puffed cereals mueslix cereals granola uncooked, dry pasta cockatoos whole grain products – equal parts, any, all (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) FEEDING LARGE BIRDS canned thawed, mixed frozen beans & peas legumes dark green & yellow preferred fresh vegetables Blue and Gold macaw (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) FEEDING LARGE BIRDS fresh frozen dried canned fruits African Grey Parrot (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) FEEDING LARGE BIRDS in moderation nuts are high in fats & oils nuts, trail mix Hyacinth parrot (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) FEEDING LARGE BIRDS may be used as replacement for cat or dog kibble commercial parrot diets (conures, parrots, cockatoos, macaws) FEEDING LARGE BIRDS dry cereals, stale or toasted whole wheat bread carbohydrates grated cheese, hard boiled or scrambled eggs, canned water packed tuna protein spinach, broccoli leaves & florets, carrot tops, celery, parsley, grated carrots greens (canaries, finches, budgies, cockatiels) FEEDING SMALL BIRDS society finch canary budgie cockatiel size of food appropriate for species observation of consumption of unfamiliar food by other birds converting groups is easier than singles 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20, 100 offer in the morning – appetite strongest withhold favorite foods ‘til later in day mix new food with old Accepting New Foods theobromine chocolate microbes, lactose raw milk or raw milk products plant and skin?, allergic reactions avocado What Not to Feed feed pound cake occasionally this accustoms birds to eating it can soak it with liquid medications makes administration of some medications easier other suggestions put in water replace after each water change thoroughly clean waterer once or twice a day liquid sprinkle over fruit, vegetables, and other table food or commercial kibble NOT on seeds dry powder VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION protein lysine energy calcium vitamin A vitamin D3 vitamin K grit Known Needs optimum protein level – 20% 15% or less & 25% or more were worse cockatiel chicks Known Needs - protein optimum lysine level – 0.8 to 1.2% 0.6% or less depressed growth 2% lysine was poorer, marginal amino acid imbalance? cockatiel chicks Known Needs - lysine 220 kcal ME/day macaw, 1000 gm 100 kcal ME/day Amazon parrot, 350 gm 12 kcal ME/day canaries 12-16 kcal ME/day budgerigars Known Needs - energy susceptible to obesity Rose breasted cockatoos (galahs), budgerigars, Amazon parrots higher fat is good +25% fat over other species Hyacinth macaw Known Needs - energy 1% Ca max especially if vit D3 >= 2000 ICU/kg dry diet 0.3-0.35% Ca maintains normal egg production cockatiels Known Needs - calcium requirement 7000 IU vitamin A/kg diet budgerigars may have increased vitamin A needs Eclectus parrots, Blue-fronted Amazon Known Needs – vitamin A Gold & Hyacinth Macaw Cockatiel psittacine chicks - sensitive to hypervitaminosis D3 Known Needs - vitamin D3 gallinaceous, ratites, some insectivores yes most birds - no parrots - no carnivores, piscivores, insectivores, fruit eaters - egest grit
