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Helpful Hints When Raising A Healthy Bird
If you want your bird to live a long life it is important to feed it in a nutritionally sound way. Birds often die too young because they are malnourished or they pick up a disease because they were not being fed correctly.
Birds should not be fed a variety of foods if they are not part of the parrot family. A lot of people will only use seeds as part of the bird's diet and this is a mistake on their part. There is not enough protein in seeds and almost no vitamins and they also have too much fat. Be sure that seeds do not make up more than 50 percent of your bird's diet.
Try healthy table foods like items that contain whole grains and pretzels, pasta and whole wheat bread. Many birds can be persuaded, given time and encouragement, to eat dairy and poultry products. Try serving your bird low-fat cheese, yogurt and chicken. Avoid any food that is high in fat and stay away from avocados, they are toxic to birds!
Considered as good sources of nutrition for the pet bird are beans and legumes as well as fruits and vegetables. Just as fruits and veggies are good for you! Even though it may take quite awhile to get your fine-feathered friend to except these changes, (up to a year), this is still the best thing for your bird.
When you get ready to make these changes do it slowly. Offer the fresh foods twice a day for about an hour at each feeding. Don't leave the fresh food in the cage longer than that. It becomes unappealing and can develop bacteria.
It is a good idea to feed your bird twice a day. Between feedings, your bird will become hungry and this practice will produce a more active bird. The bird is more likely to try new foods if they have a healthy appetite. Not to mention you will be able to keep a closer watch on how much your bird is eating. (If your bird is laying eggs, caring for young, sick, or nesting, then they should always have food available.) Usually, a bird is not feeling well when food consumption drops.
If your bird is having a hard time getting used to the new diet, try warming the food or cooking the vegetables. It will take a little time to discover what works for your bird. Offer seeds only at meal time and along with other foods until you see that your bird is eating enough to stay healthy. Birds often do better with new diets when they are fed outside the cage.
Water is the final key to your bird's nutritional success. The water must be fresh and all bowls should be thoroughly cleaned each day with hot water and soap. Disinfect these bowls with bleach every week. Be sure all the bleach is totally rinsed away from the bowls. Adding a multivitamin to the bird's water daily is a good idea until you know the bird is getting enough vitamins from the fruit and vegetables. Birds are delightful pets and feeding them properly allows them to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and this practice can extend their life expectancy.
Birds should not be fed a variety of foods if they are not part of the parrot family. A lot of people will only use seeds as part of the bird's diet and this is a mistake on their part. There is not enough protein in seeds and almost no vitamins and they also have too much fat. Be sure that seeds do not make up more than 50 percent of your bird's diet.
Try healthy table foods like items that contain whole grains and pretzels, pasta and whole wheat bread. Many birds can be persuaded, given time and encouragement, to eat dairy and poultry products. Try serving your bird low-fat cheese, yogurt and chicken. Avoid any food that is high in fat and stay away from avocados, they are toxic to birds!
Considered as good sources of nutrition for the pet bird are beans and legumes as well as fruits and vegetables. Just as fruits and veggies are good for you! Even though it may take quite awhile to get your fine-feathered friend to except these changes, (up to a year), this is still the best thing for your bird.
When you get ready to make these changes do it slowly. Offer the fresh foods twice a day for about an hour at each feeding. Don't leave the fresh food in the cage longer than that. It becomes unappealing and can develop bacteria.
It is a good idea to feed your bird twice a day. Between feedings, your bird will become hungry and this practice will produce a more active bird. The bird is more likely to try new foods if they have a healthy appetite. Not to mention you will be able to keep a closer watch on how much your bird is eating. (If your bird is laying eggs, caring for young, sick, or nesting, then they should always have food available.) Usually, a bird is not feeling well when food consumption drops.
If your bird is having a hard time getting used to the new diet, try warming the food or cooking the vegetables. It will take a little time to discover what works for your bird. Offer seeds only at meal time and along with other foods until you see that your bird is eating enough to stay healthy. Birds often do better with new diets when they are fed outside the cage.
Water is the final key to your bird's nutritional success. The water must be fresh and all bowls should be thoroughly cleaned each day with hot water and soap. Disinfect these bowls with bleach every week. Be sure all the bleach is totally rinsed away from the bowls. Adding a multivitamin to the bird's water daily is a good idea until you know the bird is getting enough vitamins from the fruit and vegetables. Birds are delightful pets and feeding them properly allows them to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and this practice can extend their life expectancy.
About the Author:
Amy Whitehouse is a contract writer who enjoys raw chocolate and deeply wonders why people need to suffer.