What to feed your bird

We were ignorant when we brought our first bird home. I asked the salesperson what I should feed her (a maroon bellied conure), He told us a mix of bird seed (half parrot mix/half cockatiel mix.) Our vet didn't mention any specific diet when we took her in for her first check up. He examined her droppings and said that it appeared that she was eating a varied diet. Since I brought her in to see him in her cage, her food dish was in full view and he didn't suggest that I change what I was feeding her.

Her yearly check ups had been fine up until last January. I had taken her in for her check up; the vet was upset that she had picked up weight. He drew blood to check for cholesterol problems. We have had our bird six and a half years and the approach to exotic birds has changed a great deal. When we bought our bird, we were told to clip her wings, now the vets are adamant that you don't. The vet blamed her extra weight on lack of flight, but on investigation I determined that eating a strictly seed diet is unhealthy.

You can purchase pellets that are nutrionally balanced for your type of bird. Your bird can eat these pellets alone and do quite well. There is a wonderful product by LaFeber, called Nutri-berries. Nutri-berries are pricey; on sale they cost about $6.99 for a 10 0z. package. My bird's new vet recommended that she eat only the berries as they contain all the nutrients she needs. A conure can be given five berries a day; a budgie can be given one.

Seed mixes tend to be fattening. Sunflower seeds and peanuts are high in fat. Since my bird lived six years on seed, I didn't remove it from her diet completely. She gets a mix of seed, pellets and nutri-berries. She appears to have lost some of her body fat. I'll know for sure when she is weighed at her next check up. Just remember to introduce a new food to your bird, gradually. Most birds are garbage cans and will eat just about anything, but you can have a finicky pet. Plus, it isn't good for their digestive systems to abruptly change their diets.

If you have any questions, ask your vet. Keep in mind, that the thought on avian care has changed a great deal and the advice you receive now may change in the near future.

Jane