Echo's Haven Macaw Rescue Sanctuary The Complete Bird Community
Our goal is to provide a free-flight home for formerly abused, unwanted or problem Macaws.

The Bird and Animal Hospital
12521 So. Dixie Hwy, Miami FL 33156
Thomas L. Goldsmith DVM MS
305 259 6677

The exact nutritional requirements of caged birds are unknown. In spite of claims by some product manufacturers, retailers and breeders to the contrary, far too much emphasis has been placed on seeds and seed diets for caged birds. They represent a relatively nonperishable convenience for bird owners but are a miserably deficient food for your pet.

Such diets are excessively rich in oils (and therefore, fat), extremely deficient in certain vitamins (notably Vitamin A), and possess an unacceptable calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

 

SEEDS AND SEED MIXES SHOULD NOT CONSTITUTE MORE THAN 20% OF YOUR BIRD’S DIET! 80 – 100% OF THE DIET SHOULD CONSIST OF:

1. ANIMAL PROTEIN SOURCES

 

Cooked meat (red meat, poultry, fish, etc), dog/cat kibble, monkey biscuits, cooked eggs (yolk and white with optional egg shell if hard boiled), hard cheese. It is recommended that you do not feed milk.

2. WHOLE GRAIN PRODUCTS

Dry cereals, cooked cereals, rice, uncooked oatmeal, granola, breads (especially whole wheat), muffins, pasta (cooked or uncooked) crackers.

3. NUTS

Keep very limited (1 – 3/bird/day) due to very high fat content.

4. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fresh, frozen, or canned, although fresh is the most nutritious.

5. JUNK FOOD

Only in moderation. Salty foods are acceptable if limited and free access to water is provided.

6. PELLETS

There are many brands of pellets on the market at this time. Most are good and are intended to make up 90% of the bird’s diet. The remaining 10% should be fruits and vegetables. The most important factor with pellets is which brand your bird prefers. Don’t give up on pellets after one or two tries. It will be worth it in the end, both in terms of the bird’s health and your convenience (less mess, insects and clean up.)

 

SMALL BIRDS (CANARIES, FINCHES, PARAKEETS, COCKATIELS)

 

Offer daily: small pieces of greens (broccoli, carrot tops, Romaine lettuce, bok choy, celery leaves, parsley, etc.), grated carrot, grated cheese, hard-boiled or scrambled egg, canned tuna (in water) dry cereals, whole wheat bread (toasted or stale) crumbled, and assorted fruit and vegetable pieces. Offer these alone before seeds in the morning when your bird is the most hungry.

NOTE: It is a wise idea to get your bird accustomed to a daily treat of a 1" square piece of pound cake. Later, if your bird should get sick, medication can be soaked or sprinkled onto the pound cake saving your bird and you the stress of daily handling to administer medication.

 

A QUICK WORD ABOUT VITAMINS IN THE WATER

 

In spite of what it says on the package or what the pet shop owner tells you, vitamins degenerate rapidly in water and are not an effective way to supply vitamins to your bird. The vitamins must go on the food.

One essential vitamin for a bird’s health is Vitamin A. It is necessary for healthy eyes, skin, feathers, intestines, reproductive and respiratory systems. Food rich in Vitamin A are: wheat germ oil, cooked liver, egg yolk, apricots, carrots, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, broccoli (stems and leaves), parsley and red-hot chilies. Seeds are a very poor source of Vitamin A.

Sunlight is also essential. A glass window filters out all benefits of sunshine. A bird should receive a few hours of broken sunlight every day to help him maintain healthy bone, skin and feathers. This is of course, not always practical, but you should keep this requirement in mind and give your bird some time in the sun whenever possible.

Bacteria and mold are a constant threat to your bird’s health. The food and water in his cage can be a source of infection. Clean bowls every few days if not every day. Some birds like to drop food in their water. If this sounds like your bird, then you should wash the water bowl daily.

Fruits and vegetables should be washed first. Granny Smith applies are preferred due to the general use of chemicals on other types of apples. Baking for 20 minutes or microwaving for 5 minutes can reduce bacterial levels on seeds. Some seed companies take the time to doubly clean their seeds. Since most of the bacteria and mold is found in the dust on the outer shells, this assures a cleaner, safer food to begin with.

Bacteria are also known to grow in water pipes and hoses. Let your water tap run for a few minutes before filling the water bowls. Those few minutes can be used to wash the bowls or spray around the cages as may be. Bottled water, of course, is always a preferable alternative.

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