Diet Supplementation for Caged Birds

Birds, like people, 'are what they eat'. Therefore, to be healthy, they must consume all of the necessary nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water) in the proper proportions. Unfortunately, the exact nutritional requirements for all of the various caged birds have not been determined.

Commercial bird diets advertised as "complete" or "balanced" are, therefore, not truly scientifically formulated. These diets are the result of breeding successes or have been derived from poultry diets.

Caged birds should be given vitamin supplements because of the uncertainties in their nutritional requirements. Powdered vitamins can be sprinkled over fruits, vegetables and other table food items to which the powder will adhere. Do not sprinkle powdered vitamins over seeds. Powders do not adhere to dry seeds and end up on the bottom of the food cup. Furthermore, birds do not eat the seed hull, to which the powder may adhere.

A water-soluble vitamin should be added to the drinking water and replenished with each water change. Do not distribute liquid vitamins over seeds because they can cause the seeds to become rancid. If liquid vitamins are used, the water container should be scrubbed out thoroughly and changed 1-2 times daily because vitamin preparations tend to promote bacterial growth. Vitamin supplements intended for birds must contain Vitamin D3 because this is the only form of Vitamin D that can be used by birds.

As with the vitamin preparations, the mineral supplements represent an 'insurance policy' in case your bird's diet is lacking in 1 or more of these trace nutrients. Mineral supplements are especially important for egg-laying birds to replenish the minerals used in forming egg shells.

Additional sources of minerals may be offered to caged birds when needed. Cuttle bone and oyster shell may be offered to smaller caged birds. Oyster shell and mineral blocks may be provided for larger caged birds.

(Continued on next page)