The #1 reason bird owners go to the veterinary are for problems arising from malnutrition, and it is no surprise when so many bird owners still rely on unbalanced seed-only diets which result in seed addiction, obesity, infections, and more.
This is why experts recommend replacing a seed-only diet with a more balanced mix of pelleted food, fruits, and vegetables. We’ve already covered how to transition away from seed-only diets before, but today, we’ll tell you which foods are best paired with Scenic Bird Food for a full and speedy recovery!
How to Spot Malnutrition
The first step to make a full recovery from an unbalanced diet is detecting malnutrition in birds. These are the most common signs of malnutrition in companion birds, which will inform how to feed them best.
- Overgrown Beak and Nails
- Birds in the wild and with balanced diets don’t need their beaks and nails constantly trimmed. While wear and tear plays its role, the issue mostly arises from improper liver metabolism often caused by all-seed diets.
- If you find yourself trimming your bird’s beak and nails too often, this is a good sign of an imbalanced diet.
- Dry Skin
- The flaking and peeling of the skin of their feet is a telltale sign in most malnourished birds, and in some cases, it can be present throughout their bodies. This happens because malnourished birds lose function in cells dedicated for cleaning and lubricating, causing plenty of issues for companion birds.
- Unhealthy Feathers
- Another red flag you should never ignore is the health of their plumage. Full feathers with bright colors will tell you if your bird is happy, but frequent bleeding on wing tips and pinfeathers, broken, bent and discolored feathers are all signs of protein, vitamin K, carotene, and vitamin A deficiencies.
- The Common Cold?
- Malnourished companion birds also can lose their natural lubrication in their face as well, leading to what may look like a cold. This can lead to a plugged or runny nose, runny eyes, sneezing, a loss of voice, and even a loss of appetite due to a sore throat and mouth.
Steps for Recovery
- Phase Out the Seed-Only Diet
- The first step is the transition from a seed-based diet to a pellet food diet. The former is too high in fats and sugars, but too low in many of the nutrients birds need to thrive. Pelleted foods for companion birds were formulated to tackle these imbalances, and when paired with fruits and vegetables, offer everything a bird needs to be happy and healthy. Learn more about how to make the switch with picky eaters here.
- Best Fruits and Vegetables:
- Fruits are an excellent source of vitamins and sugars, but citrus fruits that are high on vitamin C are best for sick or stressed-out birds.
- Overall, the best and most nutritious fruits and vegetables are also some of the least fed, including broccoli, beets, alfalfa, spinach, yams, carrots, and squash.
- Addressing Malnutrition
- The optimal way to provide a consistent and balanced diet to your bird is to pair Scenic Bird Food with a healthy mix of their favorite fruits and vegetables, but you can choose specific foods to address their biggest issues.
- Abandoning seed-only diets is a crucial step to address most liver and obesity issues and should help with overgrown beaks and nails.
- For discolored plumage, feed them more foods with high carotene content for better pigmentation. We recommend yams, carrots, pumpkin, and squash.
- If your bird suffers from bruising and bleeding feathers, we suggest you feed them broccoli, alfalfa, and spinach to tackle their vitamin K deficiency.
- The optimal way to provide a consistent and balanced diet to your bird is to pair Scenic Bird Food with a healthy mix of their favorite fruits and vegetables, but you can choose specific foods to address their biggest issues.
Best Habits
Lastly, here are a few best practices to keep your bird happy and healthy:
- Especially when phasing out seeds, limit sunflower seeds and seed mixes only as an occasional treat to reward training.
- Companion birds often become “hooked” on both the seeds, and dehulling the seeds by itself. When you transition to a healthier diet, you can pacify their chewing urges by providing wooden, cardboard, and leather toys.
- Make sure to store pellets in a cool, dry place, and keep wet and dry foods in separate bowls to avoid contamination and the spread of bacteria.
Now you know how to spot the most common signs of malnutrition in companion birds, and how to lead your birds to happier and healthier living. Choose Scenic Bird Food and offer a mix of nutritious fruits and vegetables to guarantee a balanced diet and thriving birds.
Feed Smart,
|
 |