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Feeding Parrots the Right

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Feeding Parrots the Right 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.
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