If you have read any of my articles, you will find one thing that I constantly say – Most problems that develop with birds can be directly traced to a poor diet. It’s no different than with humans. Too much of one food type and not enough of another will always result in health problems.
You know this! You were taught this in school! They drilled that silly pyramid food chain nonsense into your head right from kindergarten! But it never occurs to you to apply this logic to your pet birds!
Birds have the same nutritional requirements as humans. And if you feed your bird that way, you will never have problems.
THE EVILS OF AN ALL-SEED DIET
One of my recent bird rescues involved a pair of Blue Front Amazons. The owner had been put into hospital, and from there she would be going into a nursing home. The family was at a loss of what to do with the birds. They knew this was a proven pair of breeders that regularly produced babies, so they thought they would give it a try. They kept the birds for several months and did what any uneducated bird owners would do…give it an all-seed bird diet. It was quick and easy, and didn’t cost them much money!
As time went by, the bird’s attitude changed. They became less active, and never did lay any eggs. It became a burden on them to keep unproductive birds, so they turned them over to us.
My wife is the medical expert of our aviary, and immediately noticed the signs of a sick bird. Black tips on the feathers, no energy, some respiratory problems, and a low body weight.
One of the most common diet related diseases in birds (especially Amazons) is hypovitaminosis A, or Vitamin A deficiency. This is mainly caused by a poor diet, especially if the only food the bird gets is seed. Bird seed only has a trace of Vitamin A in it, making it a terrible diet.
Birds that develop ‘hypovitaminosis A’ develop a variety of health problems, especially a much lower immune system, and poor reproduction. As the disease develops, the bird will show countless sighs of illness.
I knew right away what the problem with our rescued Amazons was…..now all we had to do was move fast to cure it.
Dianna is is a Blue Front Amazon with low body weight caused by a Vitamin A deficiency.
Analissa is a Double Yellow Head Amazon she came to me with a severe Vitamin A deficiency and had E-coli infection. Most of her feathers were black tipped and the feathers on top of her head were suppose to be yellow
You can see from the photo the black coloring on the front of her head.
This photo was taken of her about 6 months after medical treatment and a change in her diet.
A BIT MORE BACKGROUND
Body chemistry is a very complicate thing….it is a very delicate balance of minerals and vitamins, and they all work together. Calcium and Vitamin D are both needed for proper digestion. It is much the same with Vitamin A…a protein-deficient diet will effect the bird by inhibiting its ability to absorb Vitamin A. Again, a balanced diet is important.
If caught early, this disease is easy to cure. In its later stages, long term medical care may be needed. So it’s important to be able to identify the symptoms in their early stages. One of the easiest signs to see is poor feather color. In Amazons, this will show up as a darkening of the tips of the feathers. Hypovitaminosis A will have a lot of effects on the respiratory system, so look for sneezing, wheezing, or nasal discharge that will become crusted and plug the nostrils. The bird will begin to lose energy and may become a bit lethargic. He will slow his eating and begin to lose weight. In the later stages you will notice a foul smelling breath, and patches of white in the mouth.
TREATMENT
If you begin to see these signs, take your bird to a vet. He will do a simple CBC Blood test that will quickly identify the deficiency, and will give you some additional advice on how to proceed. NEVER treat your bird with human vitamins or medications without first consulting your vet.
You must change the bird’s diet and begin to include foods rich in beta carotene. Some of the best sources for this are any carrots (especially carrot juice), canned pumpkin, sweet potatoes, kale and spinach. Dandelion greens are another excellent source. Keep these foods in their cage along with their other diet, and encourage them to eat it.
There is a product on the market called Sirulina. This is readily available on line, and in some of the better pet stores and health food stores. Spirulina is an edible blue-green microalgae sold as a dry powder. It is rich in Vitamin B12, and has 20 times more Vitamin A then carrots. Feed this to your bird for 3 weeks, and you will begin to notice a dramatic effect.
The long term treatment is to ensure your bird has proper nutrition. If you can’t adjust its diet, begin to feed it a good vitamin mix. Pay attention to the label and make sure it has a good amount of Vitamin A. I am particularly fond of Nekton-S, but any good mix will do. Lafeber has a good multi-vitamin mix that is not that expensive and will do the job.
Don’t forget that sunlight is also an important part of the bird’s treatment. Try to give the bird a few hours a day in front of the window. A much better method would be to purchase a bird lamp with a full spectrum light, and allow the bird to get 12 hours of this light per day.
Do you have any super-secret bird recipes that you’d like to share? Or have any questions on your bird diet? Please post your questions, feedbacks and comments below. Thank you! 
[tags]parrot diet, bird diet, vitamin A deficiency in birds, vitamin A deficiency, quaker parrot diet, african grey parrot diet, amazon parrot diet, eclectus parrot diet, senegal parrot diet, grey parrot diet, macaw diets, parrots diet, quaker parrot diet, what do parrots eat, parrot nutrition, parrot food, what kind of food do parrots eat, how to take care of parrots, parrot care[/tags]
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Hi,
I just bought a senegal parrot five days ago, its a very friendly one and already gives kisses and allows me to scratch its head, hisright eye seems to have a problems, its all dark and seems to have a gloomy effect, im already feeding it many different types of fruits and vegtables and also a good seed mix, how can i cure the bird. Thank you very much.
I have bought a indian ring neck parrot about 45 days back. i give him now sunflower seeds and all types of fruits and vegetables. but i want to train it to speak. How can i do that. thank you very much.
I have a Indian Red Parakeet of more than 10 years. Since last 1 year it has developed white plaques under his tongue, and in the mouth and his saliva is slimy. It is indicating now that it is having Vitamin A deficiency. For the last few days, there has been extra muscle development in the corner of its beak. I am trying to feed him with Vitamin A rich fruit & vegetable but he is refusing to take. I hlorohexidine Mouth Wash wash his mouth everyday with cWe don’t have proper Vet in our location. Please suggest some home remedy so that this secondary disease can be cured & please suggest whether I can feed him Vitamin A capsule (Human). I am very much worried. Please help me as soon as possible.
Thanking you.
Regards,
Priya
India
I have a Indian Red Parakeet of more than 10 years. Since last 1 year it has developed white plaques under his tongue, and in the mouth and his saliva is slimy. It is indicating now that it is having Vitamin A deficiency. For the last few days, there has been extra muscle development in the corner of its beak. I am trying to feed him with Vitamin A rich fruit & vegetable but he is refusing to take. I wash his mouth with chlorohexidine Mouth Wash wash everyday. We don’t have proper Vet in our location. Please suggest some home remedy so that this secondary disease can be cured & please suggest whether I can feed him Vitamin A capsule (Human). I am very much worried. Please help me as soon as possible.
Thanking you.
Regards,
Priya
India
I have a Golden Conure named Buddy. Buddy’s feathers recently started looking a bit ratty. What can be the cause?
My bird recipe is basically corn and peas. These are prepared in the microwave for 15 to 25 seconds. Just scoop two table spoons of frozen veggies -equal amounts of corn and peas. Rinse with hot or cold water in a small dish and use a small saucer as a lid. Drain down to less than half a teaspoon of water. I will zap for 10 seconds then shake it then zap it again. If you don’t drain it won’t get hot or if you heat a lot of water you might scald yourself.
Now you have two teaspoons of steaming hot corn and peas. Let them simmer in their own heat for at least two minutes. You can test the temperature by touching the part of the small bowl in contact with the zapped veggies. This can tell you if the veggies are cooking and when they are cool. Garlic fresh and raw is my birds favorite. This recipe started with a jar of minced bottled garlic and honey roasted sunflower seeds a teaspoon each mixed in at the end. Then a whole clove went in with the corn and peas. It changed again to sliced fresh garlic and “Honey Roasted Shelled Sunflower Seeds”. I feed my bird human food because animal food has a lower legal standard. Always go for unsalted. Sugar or natural sweetened is O.K. Honey can carry disease but I would never ever ever use artificial sweeteners.
Don’t burn your bird’s tongue – touch the food before you serve it. The garlic will have your roommates out in the kitchen looking for dinner it is a pretty tasty combo. I put it on top of his seeds.
Also mashed potatoes, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, apple slices, raw potato thinly sliced, a raw chop of corn cob or steamed and cooled.
He also likes a tablespoon of Apple or Cranberry Juice in a plastic measuring spoon that I bent into a hook shape with a lighter.
I put a whole apple on top of his cage (doors always open) -The skin keeps the apple fresh longer so if you work a shift your bird has access to fresh apple rather than withered brown slices.
Tons of things have been tried but he likes this stuff. In the kitchen he gives a short loud peep if I pass or handles things he likes- Honey and buttered toast, coffee with cream and sugar, milk, onions and green onions. If I make his veggies and forget them in the microwave he shouts and squawks until I get it. His fuse is about two minutes.
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I am thinking seriously about purchasing a senegal. I know a lot about parrots, as I own an double yellow headed amazon, and a blue and gold macaw. If there is anything about a senegal I need to know, please let me know. Just anything would be helpful. Thank you for your help
can i just sprinkle the spirulina over food? or do i mix in water?
I am sick to death of the local pet food supply for caged and aviary birds; they all contain high levels of sunflower seeds and peanuts, then when it comes to the pelleted varities they too have high protien values of at least 14% protien content.
So when a bird comes in to me with dietry problems which may not always show itself in a bird that has shared the same diet for years; to me it says that some birds due to heridetry tolerances will suffer ill health sooner than the one that is more robust due to it’s parentage and diet during the early stages of life and here I have to say that no amount of talk will persuade me that being hand feed by is better or as good as the parent’s feeding their young!
So why do pet supplies add sunflower seeds and peanuts to the seed diet? It’s certainly not what any bird would eat very much off if any in the wild, I mean how many sunflowers do you see growing in the jungles of the Congo / Senagal?
Does a Cockatiel in Auz go on a wild rampage looking for gardens with sunflower seed, it does not.
I asked my local suppliers to omit sunflower, biscuit and peanuts from the mix and allow us the choice to feed or not to feed these items, I was told that it could not be omitted as the people supplying the mix would not listen as the majority of pet owners did not object?
So I guess the only way to turn this around is to take them to Court for making your bird ill maybe then they might listen.
Let me also say it matters not how much fresh food you feed your bird every day, because, if you are still giving them the seed mixes that are bought ready prepared then you will still be feeding them a high protien diet as I see it and have found.
The only way forward is to mix your own seed to resemble that which your bird would be eating in the wild and this would require some research if you care about your bird.
Personally I mix my own by shopping around every week and some of my dried fruits – pulses – seed come from the Asian and African food supermarkets, I then compliment these with fresh greens, carrots, cherries when avialable and any other fruit (BUT NEVER AVACARDO). Mineral blocks and the ole cuttle bone are a handy supplement. I don’t like to add vitamins unless this is from a natural source because unless your a vet and you regularly blood test the little person you will never know if your over doing it which can be dangerous.
I have also found that most birds get fed up with the same diet daily and require a break from it now and then with perhaps something totally different for a while just like us humans does the trick.
I have a four-month old yellow-naped Amazon, named Myca. while she is still being hand-fed Kaytee exact when she wants it (ha!!) she has also been fed a large parrot mix. On top of that, I offer other foods every single day, just a different one. Mixed vegetables at room temperature; Edemame (a soybean) crowder peas, Mac & cheese, whole grain brads etc. I need to get spirulina, it’s awesome just sprinkled over any basic feed.
I have had small hookbills in the past, this is the largest one I have every had – and a permenanent, life companion for me. My son will inherit her as I’m 48 and she will outlive me. With a great, varied diet she will live a long and healthy life.
I am looking for a ‘cooked’ food to add as a basic diet rather than the seed mix. Does anyone have such a reciepe? I know I had one in the past but can’t find it.
Thanks! – Jane
I have the same problem with my Timneh grey parrot as Priya had with her red parakeet. White patch on and under tongue with the extra flesh at the each side of beak. Have been to several vets who have run blood tests and xrays which show a high level of bile acid in liver. Trying to juice and get as much Vit A in him as possible but he does not seem to be improving at all. He will not eat much and have not been able even after a year to get him onto pellets so am now sprouting seed.
Type your comment here
step diet…
Your topic Soy: The Complete Protein! – from ecomii blogs was interesting when I found it on Wednesday searching for step diet…
a good bird seed is of course Sunflower seeds, birds like them coz they are tasty”-;
we use mixed nuts as bird seeds when we are feeding our pet birds,`~
we always use sunflowers as our bird seed`,-
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Best you should edit the page name Parrot Diet – What Every Bird Owner MUST Know! | TheTameParrot.com – Let's Try To Solve Your Parrot Problems to more catching for your webpage you write. I loved the the writing still.
bird seeds should be choosen so that they are 100% organic and does not contain genetically modified stuffs “”
Hi,
I have adopted an indian ringneck,according to the ring she is 7 years old. According to the store he says that the previous owner took her male partner and put it in a cage with another female, which led her to start plucking her feathers (im not sure if he is telling the truth), anyways she has an empty chest, feet, parts of her wings and no tail. I am pampering this poor terrified lady and trying to give her all the care and attention that i could plus lots of vegetables and some fruits plus almost daily sprikles with water and daily outing from the cage. She seemed to improve for the first two weeks, but 1. She has from day one seems to be breathing heavily or atleast this is what it seems, her chest moves in and out a lot. 2. She was bleeding a lot the other day from her tail feathers after she pulled a feather. She is very playful, eats well, but has a more solid poop, she is also very scared (but she is getting better) we do not have a vet in our country that can help, please help.
Can u please advise me on how much food in grams per day must i feed my Afr Greys.
Thanks
Anton
Wow, some of you guys really need to do some research BEFORE acquiring a parrot….
NO!!!!!!! SUNFLOWER SEEDS ARE NOT A HEALTHY DIET FOR ANY PARROT!!!!They may like them but hey, I like McDonalds, doesn’t mean it’s good for my health if I eat them everyday, I’d end up obese and probably die of heart failure. If you feed your bird on a high amount of seed then your bird WILL die prematurely, often of multiple vitamin deficiencies and/or of liver disease! The only parrots that do well on an all seed diet are cockateils and budgies. Vitamin A deficiencies are most common with Amazons but all parrots can be affected, Calcium deficiency is another big one to look out for, most common with macaws but again, any type can be affected.
90% of cases I see in vet practice regarding parrots are diet related.
You should never wash your birds mouth out with any type of chemical (chlorohexidine) without it being recommended by a trained professional. You will more than likely kill your parrot as most chemicals are toxic to birds and you could cause your bird to swallow extremely harmful substances. As it says in the article, you should NEVER give a bird human medication unless recommended by an avian vet. Often parrots refuse new foods so if you persevere and carry on offering the vitamin A rich foods, often they will except them eventually…..Although not if you’ve already killed it by then with the chlorohexidine…
As for ratty feathers, your bird could be about to moult in which case you should be fine. If the new feathers are ratty, this could be a sign of metabolic disease and vitamin deficiency. A daily spray with plain water is vital as they require a humid environment to maintain the health of their skin and feathers. If I saw a bird with abnormal feathers I would definitely get it checked out by an avian vet just incase there is something more serious going on should the feathers not improve after a moult.
If your parrot is showing signs of heavy breathing and tail bobbing as it takes a breath, urgent medical care should be sought. Parrots are PREY species and as such do not show any sign of illness until they are in a very bad way (i.e. on their way out). This could be due to a multiple of factors such as calcium or vitamin A deficiency (most common), a toxin (overheated non-stick pans, gases, cleaning products, avocado, chocolate etc), or an allergic reaction.
If your bird has a cloudy, dark eye on one side, this is more than likely nothing to do with how much fruit you give it and you should take your senegal to a vet, your bird may have cataracts etc.
As for how much food you should feed an african grey in grams, that depends on the nutrient content of the diet. Many parrots won’t overeat if provided a healthy diet, high in fruit and veg. They will overeat if provided with excessive amounts of seed and junk foods. The only food stuffs that need regulating are human foods/treats and SEED as this is extremely high in fat and should only make up approx 20% of the diet.
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I have a lovely double yellow head. A very sweet and dignified queen. She is about 30 years old. Where would I search to find what they eat in the wild? Also what are safe foods from fruits, to dried beans,to vegetables that I can give her to keep her in optimin health. Avacados are great for me to eat or to use as a cosmetic facial, but I do know that a little bit can kill birds.