Nutrition for your Birds. 

Of Course, we all believe that we are giving our bird the best.

 But Are We?

That is a very big question mark. Are our parrots getting the proper nutrition?

 Do we actually Know?

The answer is: YES WE DO!

Why do we know? Why are we so sure?

 Because we feed our birds a controlled Pelletted Diet.

We are stockists of: Harrison's, Zupreem, Kaytee & Pretty Bird Quality pelleted food 

We all know that our parrots will eat anything that we have, and we all know what not to give them. But when it comes to their main diet, perhaps, we are all a little nieve as to the real requirements, perhaps it may be worth another look.

A well nourished bird, is always a happy bird. Good nutrition also reduces the risk of disease. A bird fed on an inadequate diet may survive but won't thrive.

Harrison's bird foods, along with other products such as, Zupreem, kaytee & Pretty Bird supply a very good quality pellet food.

So, how much do you know about pelleted foods, go on tell me, " we tried our parrot on pellets but they didn't like them" So the question is why did you give in, if one of your children wanted to eat nothing else but crisps and chocolate, what would you do? Of course we all know the answer to that one, so why did we not ensure that the parrot stopped eating rubbish?  because it was easier to give the bird what he wanted rather than think " You are going to have a healthy diet, my friend ". as you did with the child.

Fruit and vegetables are healthy foods for us and them, and the following are a list of various foods we have tried successfully with our feathered friends:

Fruit such as: Banana, Apple, Pear, Melon, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Apricot, Peach, Nectarine, Pineapple, Mango, Grapes (although tasty, grapes have very little nutritional value).

Vegetables such as: Potatoes (either boiled or dry roasted, Chips or French Fries (as we call them today) are loved by our birds but are not really healthy, (but we all like a treat now and again!), Swede or Turnip (try mixing it with carrot if you want),  Cauliflower, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Pumpkin (seeds as well), Vegetable Marrow & Courgette, Baked Beans, Butter Beans, Sweet Potato (boiled in water, then baked), Green Beans (boiled or steamed), Bean Sprouts Onions or Garlic (either fresh, dry roasted or boiled but not fried), Whole Wheat, Brown Rice, Pearl Barley, Oats. 

Other foods such as: Natural yoghurt sweetened with fresh fruit is a very good source of beneficial bacteria and promotes optimum conditions within the digestive tract for natural, healthy flora.

Low fat or hard cheese can be a beneficial source of protein and oils if used with caution.

Why not try flavouring food with sparing amounts of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, scrambled egg (with the crushed shells for calcium).

We own 28 Parrots, and ......

We use a complete diet as the main diet of all our birds.

WHY?

We all know that like ourselves, birds don't always choose a healthy diet.

A lot of birds, if given the choice will choose a high fat diet.

( Know all about that, don't we !!!!)

Just as we do when we choose high calorie snacks.

How often do we have to clean up the around the birds cage or eating area.?

That is because your bird will often pick out the seed that he wants even although it is doing him no good at all and leave the nutritious food behind.

Very much like you or I do with a box of chocolates, we pick out all the soft centres and leave the ones that we don't want.

Our Parrots do exactly the same with their food.

Our advisor, who is one of the countries leading avian vets, tells the story of the young child at the wedding reception, every time he goes to the buffet table he comes back with a plate of crisps and a sausage on a stick. All the wrong food for the child

Our parrots are just like that.

Hopefully that is something we think about when we feed our feathered companions.

A seed diet lacks many important vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Seed diets are also deficient in important nutrients.

Of course we also feed seeds to our birds but the main diet is pelleted food.

A  nutritionally deficiency diet can lead to obesity, lower immune response to infections and even premature death.

Too many fatty foods can also lead to breathing problems and blocking of their nasal cavities.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables are important to a birds diet, however they should not take up any more than 15% of the birds daily diet.

Some are very high in sugar and carbohydrates and also lack important nutrients. Because they add bulk and fibre, the bird will feel satisfied and again not eat the nutritious food.

Make sure that when changing a birds diet that it is done gradually,

Birds that we have rehomed have been moved over onto a complete food diet over a period, we have continually checked their weight and droppings. Some take longer that others to make the move.

Rupert our Umbrella Cockatoo will eat pelleted food as a treat out his cage but throws them out and eats seed in his cage. But then he is a Cockatoo, if you own a cockatoo you will know exactly what we mean.

Of course like going on a diet or stopping smoking, it is not easy but the benifits are well worth the effort.

The conversion may take several weeks and believe it or not we tend to give up first.

Usually we say the bird won't eat it. we need to persevere with it because we know that it is for the best.

If you have any queries in feeding your bird pelleted food then please contact us

0870 9 100 028

Foods that must be avoided   

Avocado is highly toxic and fatal to your bird.  Rhubarb, Olives, Aubergine (Egg Plant), Asparagus, Chocolate, are extremely toxic too.  Avoid anything containing Caffeine (being allowed to partake in a regular sip of Tea or Coffee can eventually lead to cardiac problems and in certain cases can also lead to hyper-activity), Butter (because of its pure fat content), anything containing Alcohol (its not clever), Milk or Cream in large quantities.

If in any Doubt !!!! DON'T give it to your bird, there are so many good healthy foods for him/her.

Food Preparation: Use the same precautions you use for your human family members. Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria, and other food-borne pathogens can and do affect parrots. 

Did You Know... Healthy Birds on a healthy diet can heal themselves in most situations.

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Bird Safety

Most of us today cook using Teflon nonstick cookware because it is easier to cook with and easy to clean. In normal circumstances is safe. If however it overheats then it lets off toxic fumes that are fatal to our birds.

This next article is worth reading.

Teflon Toxicity or Polymer Fume Fever

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic polymer used as a non-stick surface in cookware. The brand names Teflon, Silverstone, and T-Fal are the best known, but PTFE-coated products are also manufactured under other trade names.

As Dr. Peter Sakas states: Under normal cooking conditions, PTFE-coated cookware is stable and safe. When PTFE is heated above 530 degrees Farenheit, however, it undergoes breakdown and emits caustic (acid) fumes.

Most foods cook at lower temperatures: water boils at 212 degrees, eggs fry at 350 degrees, and deep frying occurs at 410 degrees.

However, when empty PTFE-coated cookware is left on a burner set on the high setting, it can reach temperatures of 750 degrees or greater. Thus, if a pan is being pre-heated on a burner and forgotten, or if water boils out of a pot, breakdown of the PTFE can occur. In other words, PTFE cookware has to be 'abused' to emit toxic fumes, but this is not as rare as it might seem; many people fall asleep after they put pots or pans on the stove to heat.

Birds kept in areas close to the kitchen will usually die very shortly after breathing the fumes. Even birds kept in another room are at great risk. Severe breathing difficulties, such as gasping for breath, may be seen just prior to death.

Humans, dogs, cats, and other mammals are somewhat less sensitive to the very serious effects of these fumes.

First Aid For Teflon Toxicity

1. Remove the affected bird immediately from the home and supply lots of fresh air. Unfortunately, other than this, no first aid exists.
2. Call your avian veterinarian immediately.

Teflon Tragedy Reminds Us That It Is Best to Not Keep These Pans in Homes with Birds

'On December 23rd 2004 I was using an old pot that had most of the teflon worn off of it to boil water to put a little moisture in the air. I was doing this for the people in the house as well as for my 9 year old Soloman Island Eclectus, Ruby. I do not like it when the air is real dry in the house. It was about 11:00 pm when I fell asleep. At 2:30 in the morning on Christmas eve, Ruby started screaming for me. I ran to the cage and pulled of the cover. She was on the bottom of the cage, shaking like she was freezing. I picked her up and held her to my chest. She uttered a few tiny sounds, then she was gone. I walked into the kitchen, still holding her. To my horror, I saw the empty pot on the red hot coils. 

I feel tremendous guilt over killing my baby. Please, everyone who reads this and is a parent to a parrot, believe with every ounce of your being, the dangers of teflon. The pot I was using was old and worn out, but still had enough teflon left to kill my baby from 30 feet away. I was playing with her the night before, and she cried for me like usual when I put her to bed. She was gone in an instant, don't let it happen to you.' Jim in Tennessee.Learn more about Teflon and the effects on your bird. Take a moment to look at the link below and make your own mind up.

Dupont TM  Teflon R

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Bacterial Alert - "The Kiss of Death"
by Marilu Anderson, Bird Nutrition and Behavior Consultant
Phone: (503) 771-BIRD

Our companion parrots LOVE our mouths - to kiss us, eat from our mouths, feed us, clean our teeth (they're all budding dental hygienists!) We love them in return - and want to kiss them back, share our food, nuzzle, and bond. Unfortunately, the human mouth is a breeding ground for many nasty pathogens harmful to birds, especially bacteria, like E. Coli. I constantly remind people NOT to let their birdies come in contact with their saliva, yet it keeps happening.

I know how hard it is to resist a cute little beaker and exploring tongue on our face and lips, yet the consequences can be deadly. I've known people who routinely fed their unweaned baby parrots from their own mouths, or who prechewed nuts for their birds, or regularly let their buddy clean every single tooth in the evening as they sit and watch TV together. It seems innocuous enough - most of us don't worry about catching anything from our birds and, in fact, there are very few diseases that WE can get from THEM.

But the danger we don't think of is from US infecting THEM!! We humans have very different digestive systems and immune systems from our parrots, so many of the common bacteria in our mouths and bodies that don't make us sick can be devastating to our birds. In fact, there's not many places on earth nastier than the human mouth!! (Just ask a doctor about the seriousness of a human bite!) Last year, some friends of mine lost one of their beloved Quakers, and spent many months nursing the other one back to health, due to an E. Coli infection from human saliva.

Just recently, another friend discovered that her African Grey has a bacterial infection from - you guessed it! - SALIVA!! Fortunately, it's mild, but he has to undergo a 10 day course of antibiotics nonetheless. So, please, please, PLEASE - resist the temptation to "swap spit" with your birdie - we can share our love in much safer ways that don't put our loved ones at risk of illness, or even death!!

For lots more information on parrots visit

www.yourparrotplace.com

 
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Helpful Tips

Parrots need a variety of foods to provide them with a healthy balanced diet.
A good quality seed blend will supply much of your pets needs, but is not enough on its own. Below are some very simple rules for a healthy pet bird.

A simple guide to feeding Parrots:

* Give fresh water daily. Make sure he has food. Don't be fooled by a full bowl, it may just be husks.
* Clean the seed tray daily.
* Always give a cuttlefish bone or similar source of calcium.
* Feed fresh fruit and vegetables - up to 50% of the total diet.
* Feed mixed pulses, once boiled, on a regular basis.
* Avoid feeding dairy products such as cheese.
* Parrots are like children - they love treats, but don't spoil them.
* If in doubt, consult your veterinary surgeon.

Make Sure Your Parrot is Happy and Healthy

It is not enough to simply feed your pet well. They are intelligent and active birds and require a number of other pointers for a healthy life.

* Don't let them get bored, they can rapidly develop bad habits. There are plenty of good toys available to provide them with hours of fun.
* Keep their feet in good condition - either get the vet to clip the claws or get a conditioning perch which has a rough surface to wear down the ends of the claws. We suggest that you get the vet to clip claws, because not only can they bleed, but also if you do it yourself, your pet might sulk for a while.
* Talk to you bird - they love conversation. You might feel self-conscious at first, but both you and your pet will soon be having long conversations.
* Let them out of the cage regularly - they love the chance to stretch their wings and explore. If your bird is destructive, simply return it to its cage - they soon learn to regard this as punishment enough, but remember, a cage is their home and not simply a punishment.
* Wash your bird regularly. Some birds like to wash in a bowl of water; others prefer a shower from a domestic sprayer.
* Don't leave the bird in a draught - this can be lethal.
* Don't let you bird be too cold, but a constant room temperature is more important than a hot one.
* Never have a parrot in a conservatory; it is cold in winter and too hot in summer.
*Most parrots will prefer one member of a household to the others, this is quite normal, so don't be upset if it isn't you.
* If you have any doubts about the health of your bird, contact your vet.
* Joining your local Parrot Club or  The Parrot Society is always a good idea, as you will meet other parrot-lovers and be able to discuss any problems or concerns you may have.