CUT OPERATING COSTS PA YS FOR ITSELF IN A FEW WEEKS! ~+ TO VACUUM CLEAN SEED Feeding Parrots I ( FROM WASTE SEED AT LAST AN INEXPENSIVE CLEANER THAT WORKS' ,f Clean All Types Of Seed ,f Use Any Vacuum ,f All Steel Construction the Right Way ,f Lifetime Guarantee MAKES A GREAT GIFT! $19.95 by Dr. Matthew Vriends + 6.95 SHIPPING L & M AnimalFarm, Pleasant Plain, Ohio & HANDLING t CLEAN SEED NY Res. Add 8 1/4% Sales Tax PETLAND JUNCTION 452 Castleton Ave. - Staten Island, NY 10301 It is a well-known fact that only a meaning to this statement. (718) 442·4762 small percentage of our cage and avi Another error often made is giving ary birds are fed according to their a too monotonous diet. This soon physiological needs, while many leads to problems - especially with others are more or less forced to take the so-called seed eating species. This ABOUT BIRDS items of food which they, in general, problem usually arises with single, " (815) 648-4078 ~ are not accustomed to. Take, for tame pet parrots or parakeets, which I'a~ Roudybush Diets \i'J example, the various lory species are allowed to "eat at the table;' Handfed & imported birds which are frequently just "kept alive" receiving all manner of smoked, with various seeds, when the natural salted, spiced items which are really 11508 Rt. 173 HEBRON, IL 60034 diet of most consists mainly of nectar totally alien to the bird and can do a and pollen, plus fruits, blossoms, lot ofdamage. berries, buds and (especially the There are many other incredible smaller and medium sized species, feeding mistakes made by some "bird AVICULTURAL Lorius, Trichoglossus, etc.) some fanciers" and I hope, in this introduc SOCIETY OF insects and seeds. Indeed, lories and tion to the feeding of parrots and QUEENSLAND lorikeets play an important role in the parakeets, to steer the serious hobby Welcomes new members natural pollination of many flowering ist in the right direction. I have been An Australian Society catering to all birds both in captivity and in the wild. We publish a bi-monthly trees and plants. In this respect, I like fortunate in being able to study birds magazine on all aspects ofaviculture and conser Rosemary Low's remark, "I feel in various parts of the world and as vation. Anyone interested in membership please strongly that anyone who is not pre an aviculturist have been engaged contact Ray Garwood, 19 fahey's Road, Albany Creek, 4035 Queensland, Australia. Annual pared to go to the bother ofproviding with many species of cage and aviary subscription, $22 (A) airmail, or $ 16 (A) surface. lories with fresh nectar daily should birds, both professionally and as a Please remit monies or bank drafts in Australian keep seed eaters, or preferably not hobbyist. The proverb, "So many currancy. keep birds at all." The "amateur" men, so many minds;' is very appro birdkeeper with just one or two birds priate to our fancy, especially with is often the culprit who, usually regard to feeding. One may fre OUR 40TH BIRDMART through ignorance, will provide his quently hear the statement that if a birds with just commercial packet certain foodstuff "works" (that the EVERYBODY'S seed and, sometimes, a few supple birds appear, for the time being, mentary table scraps. healthy), then one is on the right One of the most common faults is track! Is that really right? Would a BIRD MART giving birds in small cages food gradual change in the menu (and I June 23, 1991 which is too rich in energy. The natu would emphasize "gradual") perhaps L.A. County Fairplex Bldg. #4 ral progression from this is birds work even better, and encourage the Pomona, California which are too fat. This is especially birds to breed? evident in pet budgies (parakeets). I can say with conviction that a 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Budgerigars weighing more than 30 good diet is one which keeps a bird at Admission: $3, Youths 5-15: $1 grams can be regarded as obese and an optimal standard of health, full of The Bird Mart has become the require a change in diet and much energy and joie de vive. A good diet marketplace for buyers andsellers. BIRDS· CAGES· FEEDERS· NESTBOXES more room to move about! Unfortun will guarantee a long, trouble-free life VITAMINS· SEED· PERCHES· GIFT ITEMS ately, there are lots of budgies which for all of our birds. As we keep the a division of weigh 50 to 60 grams. Dr. Gerstenfeld birds in our homes and gardens, we J. Williams Financial Services Inc. hits the nail on the head when he says must take the full responsibility of P.O. Box 1112, La Canada, CA 91011 such birds "would need a long run their care and management on our (818) 790-7876 way to get off the ground." I am shoulders - induding the provision convinced that there is double of the best diet imaginable. If we are The Original, The #1 Bird Mart
afa WATCHBIRD 47 not prepared to do this, then we home to relatively few bird species, Food consists of a number of should not be involved with the bird both in tropical and temperate cli chemical components grouped under fancy, at least never keep them in mates. The most favored places are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vita cages or aviaries. where trees, shrubs, expanses of mins, minerals and water, all ofwhich It is well known that cage and water and flat lands are all repre are required in varying amounts, by aviary birds have entertained man for sented. Here the greatest variety of every member of the animal king many, many generations. There is, foodstuffs - seeds, fruits and insects dom. However, body constituents of indeed, a great variety of bird accom - will be found. Here there is less various animals are closely related. modations, and bird-keepers may be competition for food and each spe For example, taking a chicken, a found among every level of the popu cies will seek food in its own manner. horse, a sheep, a steer and a pig, we lation from bus drivers to medical Seed eaters will forage mainly close to will find that the percentage of mois practitioners and from garbage col the ground, while insect eaters will ture in the bodies is 54 to 60, protein lectors to dukes. From these groups of dine in the tree foliage. A fish eater 15 to 21, fat 17 to 26, and ash 3.2 to people the specialists have arisen. will have no competition from a nec 4.6. As an animal ages, the moisture Most hobbyists are, understandably, tar feeder and all birds will live in percentage decreases and the fat per members of a national or local bird peace and harmony - at least until a centage increases. Among individuals society or club. One can also be a meat eater appears. of a particular species, we will see member of a specialist club which Taking a closer look at the birds, we variations depending on the type of deals with a particular type of bird; will observe that they are adapted to habitat in which it lives and the type, lovebirds, canaries, cockatiels, for their methods of feeding. This is quality and quantity offood it eats. example. The members usually apparent in the general build of the Birds require a diet containing receive a regular magazine or news body, the shape of the beak, the energy, proteins, fats, minerals, vita letter will all sorts of useful informa tongue, the feet, and the wings. There mins and water. A deficiency of one tion and there are exhibitions, are also less obvious differences in or more of these constituents will meetings and various bird markets all the digestive systems and the internal result in bodily malfunction. This can of which add to our collective know organs. We recognize the strong, happen after a week or may take ledge of the birds. I consider mem practical beak of the seed eater; the longer. In growing birds, these mal bership ofsuch a club to be of utmost sharp, hook-like beak of the flesh functions will usually manifest much importance to every bird fancier. eater; the narrow and somewhat faster than in adults. A particular curved beak of the insect and fruit deficiency malfunction will, in most Much has been done with regard to eaters; and the broad, sieve beak of cases, show a particular symptom. species descriptions and there are the water birds which remove small It is not always easy to estimate many interesting books on this sub animals from the water. Ifwe examine amounts of dietary constituents ject. Field guides are often very useful the feet of the various birds, we will required by particular birds. In prac in identifying particular species or find just as great a variety, designed to tice, deficiencies are often a combina subspecies. Meritorious work on the match the species' way oflife. tion of shortages of various items and accommodations of cage and aviary Birds' wings are not only designed it may be difficult to ascertain which birds has also been carried out, while to enable them to fly, but also to help items these are. Another complication studies on diseases and treatments of protect them against predators. Some of dietary deficiencies is that the such birds are becoming ever more species have wings designed for long weakened bird will lose its resistance important. Various universities carry periods of gliding or hovering; others to transmittable diseases and can out much useful research, and the have evolved means of flying back become secondarily infected. Food Association ofAvian Veterinarians has wards as well as forwards. Some birds items which a bird cannot live with various, exceptionally expert, avian have wings designed for swimming out are known as dietary essentials. veterinarians among its members. underwater in pursuit ofprey. By essentials, we mean those items of Over the years, many bird foods A well developed crop is necessary food necessary to keep the body in from the native lands of the birds for the breaking down of seed. In good condition and allow it to per have been imported. These are often some birds, crop milk is produced for form its biological functions. Such good, but some fanciers ignore the rearing the young. Birds which feed items must be included in the diet experiences of successful breeders on soft or semi-liquid food do not which we give our birds, bearing in and provide their own brand of food have a well developed crop. Seed mind that captive birds have little mixtures. eating birds have a well developed choice in the matter. Nothing new is stated when we say gizzard and stomach. There are some It is not hard to determine which that enormous research has gone into birds which do not possess a gall items of food are essential, but rather the nutritive requirements of agricul bladder. more difficult to determine how turally important animals. The poul much of these items are required. try industry is of special interest to What is Food? Factors such as the type of bird, its the bird fancier and many aspects of Food is a mixture of the materials activity, climate, time of year and so breeding, housing, lighting, behaviors which each organism requires for on will affect it. Breeding and egg and feeding can be related to our normal growth, reproduction, devel laying, molting, etc. will see an hobby. opment and protection against dis increase in requirements. Some diet In the wild, most species of birds ease. Growth is the increasing in size ary constituents can be stored in the occur in the various vegetated zones. of the body and comes about by cell body and kept in reserve. Others must This can be the edge of the forest, division. The greatest amount of be consumed on a daily basis. If not, near water or where there is a great growth occurs in young birds as they then after a short time, or eventually, variety of trees. The forest itself is develop and as the plumage forms. a deficiency problem is sure to arise.
48 April/May 1991 Food Requirements ofWild Birds The International The availability of food in nature Loriidae Society depends on the type of habitat in which a bird lives. The amount of presents its full color available food will vary depending on limited edition print ofthe the season and the climate so that, throughout the year, varying amounts Lory of seeds, fruits, insects and so on, will Tahitian be available. It is a difficult and time (Vini peruviana) consuming task to study wild birds from a beautiful with regard to what and how much they eat. This can be done by examin painting by ing the contents of the crop and stom Eric Peake ach, but it does not necessarily give us a true picture, other than telling us This edition of300 prints. what the bird has just eaten. We numbered and signed by the would have to examine the crop and artist. is the first ofa stomach contents of many birds at all series of 12. times of the year before we had a Overall size IS" x 22" good general knowledge of the diet. (approx.) However, as this would mean the death of large numbers of birds, it is a Funds derived from the sale ofthis print will benefit rather drastic and unacceptable The Loriidae Conservation Fund for field studies ofthe family Loriidae method. The most acceptable method 00 00 is careful study of the bird itself. Gen $50 USA ... $55 foreign eral body shape, type of beak and (Please remit in U.S. funds. Price includes postage and handling.) build of the alimentary canal will give Send checkor moneyorder to: us some good indications as to what The International Loriidae Society it mainly eats. We know that many so-called seed 17704 S. Tapps Dr. E., Sumner, WA 98390-9172 eating birds will sometimes take insects as well as seeds and fruits, depending on the requirements of the birds and the availability of inverte brates. As specialist feeders cannot change their diet so easily, some spe Candling without handling. cies take the drastic step of migrating to a different habitat which may sometimes be thousands of miles away from the original one. Factors Which Influence the CiJ------:.. -.:::::::-~ Food Requirements ofBirds Candler comes with New Candler Lamps: The food requirements of a bird are a protective cover that $6. each or 3 for $15. determined by its physiological con may be used as a Plus $2. S&H dition, its degree of activity, and the handle extension demands of the habitat. The most (Maximum length Z7'~ important phenomenon is the requirement for energy which is sup Now with the new recessed Candler Lamp! plied by the diet. Energy is essential • Better Illumination • Less light loss • Longer life for a bird to be active and to maintain its body temperature at an acceptable level when environmental tempera The MDS Candling Light tures are low. Should the body tem features a high intensity, perature of the bird become too high, prefocused lamp on the end of a or too low, its resistance will be 101/ flexible shaft. The new style candler lamp is recessed in a .!)L reduced and it will be susceptible to metal sleeve to fit the egg con ~~ all manner of diseases. MDS Incorporated tour. All new Candling Lights 1-800-537-2790 Hunger and satisfaction are totally come with the new-style lamp different aspects of feeding require or order replacement lamps for 1640 Central Ave. ments. Indeed, some "foods" can sat your existing Candlers. St. Petersburg, FL 33712 isfy the hunger, but the bird could starve to death within 24 hours. The physiological demands on
afa WATCHBIRD 49 birds and their resulting dietary feathers. The quality of food received done with care. In Japanese bird requirements are influenced by by hatchlings is very important for breeding establishments where birds growth, breeding and rearing young, optimum growth and bone and are hand reared, the food usually con molting, etc. feather development. sists of a mixture of boiled rice, soya A. An adult, non-breeding bird At this stage, it may be prudent to meal, fish meal, vitamins and miner kept in a cage or a large aviary will, in briefly discuss the manner in which als. Next they receive a few extra each of these situations, have differ parent birds feed their young. The things for variety and finally they are ent food requirements. Much activity papillae inside the beak of the gradually weaned off to a seed and a lower temperature will require nestling play an important part. In mixture. more energy which must originate most cases, the parents swallow the Birds also recognize items of food from the diet. The number of hours seed first and allow it to soften in the by their appearance. If some birds of sunlight will also influence the crop before it is regurgitated for the receive pelleted food in place of a bird's behavior. The availability of young. Some parrot-like birds deposit seed mixture, the size of the pellets insects to seed eating birds will bring the regurgitated food so that the will playa part in its recognition as a a special enrichment to the diet. Molt young can take it in the beak. Hum food item. Take domestic fowl for ing birds lose relatively more body mingbirds force a mixture of insects example. These will initially refuse heat and thus require more energy. In and honey directly into the gullet of pellets which are larger or smaller addition, they will require large their young. Pigeons and doves pro than their usual rations, even if made amounts of proteins to replace duce crop "milk" which the young of exactly the same ingredients. Ifthe feathers. take directly from the gullets of their usual size is mixed with other sizes, B. Birds in breeding condition will parents. the chicken will peck up the usual require more fats in the diet as reserve D. At fledging time, young birds ones first. In this case, the memory of energy supplies. During the brood are not usually fully grown. Their the "normal" pellet size plays an ing, when they leave the nest infre further optimum development important role. quently, these fats will ensure that the depends on a good, balanced food When changing over to rearing bird's body temperature remains con supply and this will have a permanent food or food concentrates, we must stant. In order to manufacture the influence on the bird's feeding behav do this with care. It is foolish to eggs, female birds require extra ior later in life. expect a parent bird to suddenly nutrients. An egg consists of 11 % Birds can be encouraged to eat change to rearing food just a few days shell, 31 % fat and 38% albumin (pro when they see other birds eat. The before its brood hatches. teinous egg white), plus small but hunger signals in the mouth, throat, The shape and size of the drinking important amounts of vitamins and stomach, and crop show great mutual vessel will influence the finding and minerals. At first, these substances are differences. Both the sense percep drinking of water. The ambient envir drawn from the current food and the tion and the satiation phenomenon onmental temperature will influence body reserves but in times of short are dependent on what takes place in the amount ofwater a bird drinks. ages they are drawn from the body the awareness or subconsciousness The character or species of bird is tissues themselves. levels. often related to its readiness to It is most important that birds Factors Which Influence change its diet. With parrots, one fre receive a satisfactory quota of vita Food Choices quently has great difficulty in getting mins and minerals; a deficiency of Ground birds such as poultry, quail them to change their seed mixture. If one or more of these will lead to so and ostriches, possess relatively large this becomes necessary, it must be called deficiency diseases of one sort amounts of flesh compared to flying done with much patience, care and or another.,This can lead to sterility in birds. The increased amount of mus understanding. adult birds, inadequate fertilization, cle also requires a somewhat stronger A bird should like the food which is dead nestlings and loss of resistance skeleton to support it. A well devel offered to it. As we cannot give it the to infectious diseases. The calcium oped pair of legs and feet is required type of food it would get in the wild, required for egg shell manufacture to support this mass. Flying birds are we have to use a satisfactory substi can seriously weaken the bones ofthe relatively'much lighter than ground tute. Meat eating birds are first given mother bird if she receives an inade birds. Ground birds have a greater pure meat which is gradually mixed quate supply in the diet both before requirement for proteins, while flying with the necessary vitamins, minerals and during the breeding season. The birds require more energy producing and other essentials. egg shell consists of approximately foods. Certain seeds are preferred to 85 % calcium carbonate. The quality Habit plays an important role in others. This may be due to the hard of the egg shell is mainly determined food selection and if one completely ness (or softness) of the seed husk, or genetically, but is also influenced by changes a bird's diet, this should be its taste. The amount of sugar in the the number of eggs produced and the done very gradually. If, for example, a seed can influence its acceptability. availability ofvitamin D3. parrot will only eat sunflower seeds, The shape of the beak and the pat C. Newly hatched young may be it will be necessary to change its diet tern of the digestive system will also, precocial (leaving the nest almost before it suffers from a deficiency dis of course, playa role in the choice of immediately) or altricial (staying in ease. It is not stubbornness on the food. the nest for some time while being part ofthe parrot that it only eats sun cared for by the parents). Precocial flower seeds; it is more the fault of its Feeding Captive Parrots birds are usually well covered with owner who may have been too lazy to and Parakeets down feathers at birth, but hatchling start the bird offwith a greater variety As we have already discussed, we altricial birds are usually naked and of food. The change to a better seed do not know enough about the natu take several days to develop down mixture will take time and must be ral (wild) diet of many parrot species. 50 April / May 1991 It is impossible, or at least very diffi always available so another possibility in canned or frozen (thawed) form. cult, to allow captive birds to forage is germinated seed. Boiled egg (yolk and white), a little for their own food, especially with Most parrots are partial to green not-too-fat cheese, cottage cheese and the demands of the breeding season, food and fruit but especially the neo yogurt, cooked chicken meat, red molt, etc. tropical species such as Amazons meat and fish. Some parrots will Research has shown that many which will gnaw greedily on fresh gnaw greedily on a fresh chicken parrot-like species feed, in the wild, branches of willow, fruit trees, etc. bone. mainly on seeds and fruits. Some Many species will devour the buds, B. For Medium-sized Parrots species, for example lories and lori fresh twigs and flowers of trees and Oil-rich seeds such as medium sized keets or the Kea of New Zealand, are plants. Many aviculturists give their sunflower, safflower and a little special exceptions. The Kea, for birds the seeds of leguminous plants hemp, especially during the winter example, uses his pick axe-like beak (peas, beans, etc.) either fresh, or and in the breeding season, or when to dig up roots, bulbs and burrowing cooked, frozen (thawed) or canned. birds are kept in unheated accommo insects. Many large cockatoos and Indeed, wild Amazons, for example, dations. Leguminous plants, fresh and members of the genus Platycercus will rob legume plantations much to germinated. Corn, softened and (Rosellas, etc.) eat many insects, water the disgust ofthe farmers. crushed, oats, wheat, various millets snails and worms in their native All psittacines require extra protein (especially millet spray which is loved Australia and, in captivity, will containing foods during the breeding by all psittacines), canary grass seed, usually greedily accept small pieces season. Excellent sources include greens, fruits, fresh twigs, egg food, ofred meat. meat (lean red meat, cooked poultry, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. Psittacines have a characteristic pieces of fish without bone), cooked C. For Small Parrots and Para method of feeding. Seeds are de egg (yolk and white, chopped in tiny keets - Various small seeds (millet husked and the husk discarded and pieces), small pieces of not-too-fatty varieties, approx. 70%), crushed oats fruits are peeled or skinned. Thus, cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt. and canary grass seed to 25% and the digestive system is not troubled Raw or pasteurized milk is not recom about 5% mixture of niger, hemp, with large amounts of indigestible mended, although many birds will poppy and linseed. Boiled egg, other fiber. As parrots dehusk their seeds, it take it eagerly. For example, stale animal protein sources, fruit and is best not to use automatic feeding bread soaked in boiled and cooked greens. hoppers as the fresh seed will become milk some cannot stomach too well All three groups can be given daily covered with husks and the birds may and others may be sensitive to the "snacks" such as diverse cereals have difficulty in finding their food. milk's sugar content. (corn, wheat, bran, rice, shredded Another well-known feeding habit of Unfortunately, birds newly out of wheat), puffed cereals (wheat, rice, many parrots is the holding of larger quarantine have frequently been kept millet), pieces of granola bar and food items in one of the feet and on a monotonous diet. It is the task of uncooked dry pasta. The latter can be manipulating it as though feeding the new owner to introduce these given as a mixture in various shapes "from the hand:' birds to a more varied diet, in fact, the and colors; being curious, the birds As has been mentioned several more varied the better. Newly are bound to try it and will soon eat it times, the majority of parrots are imported birds are often deficient in greedily. natural seed eaters. Captive psitta vitamin A. This vitamin is fundamen The above is intended to enhance cines often have to make do with the tal to the correct function of body variety in the daily menu - one several kinds of commercially avail cell metabolism, the maintenance of which is much safer than a monoto able, dried, packaged seeds. This is, skin and mucous membranes, and the nous one. The latter will be stressful naturally, far from optimal feeding; in enhancement of sight. It also has an and boring to the birds, will result in the wild, the birds have the oppor influence on the respiratory system, screaming and feather plucking and tunity to seek out all kinds of fruits, and plays a part in the pigmentation they will seldom or never breed satis leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, grasses, of the retina, thus allowing the eye to factorily. A balanced diet in captivity roots, bulbs, bark, insects, etc. Thus, function well in poor light. Vitamin A means that the variety and quantity of captive birds cannot live from seeds is not only called the anti-infection or constituents are such that they main alone. They require a lot more. growth vitamin, it is also called the tain the parrot in the best physical Smaller parakeets feed mainly on anti-sterility or fertility vitamin. and mental health.• grass seeds (oats, millets, wheat, can ary seed, etc.); larger species also take Possibilities ofan bigger, oily seeds (sunflower seeds, Adequate Feeding Regime safflower seeds, etc.). These oily A. For Large Parrots - Oil-rich seeds are very "fattening" and defi seeds and nuts, but in moderation as cient in various vitamins, especially they are fattening. Whole grains such vitamin A. Unfortunately, birds can as corn, oats and wheat, in half-ripe, also soon become addicted to these ripe and germinated form. Also vari seeds and all too frequently a bird ous grains such as millet. Leguminous may make one of them its staple diet, plants (fresh and germinated), such as refusing all other food. lentils and peas (though not all To make further variety in feeding, parrots will accept peas). Fresh bark Oops - time to make right the square eggs we we can give our birds unripe seed, from healthy willow or fruit trees, laid with a few photo captions on page 32, Feb/Mar '91 issue. Top left, partridge is spelled preferably still in the ear (ears of also the twigs, buds and leaves. Fresh Chukar; bottom left, Pitta is a Banded Pitta; wheat, millet sprays, etc.) as they greenfood and fruit are extremely and the correct common name of the pigeon is would find it in the wild. This is not nutritious, but these can also be given Victoria Crowned Pigeon.•
afa WATCHBIRD 51