PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A HEALTHY DIET

AVIAN NUTRITION has seen incredible advances in the past decade. The research done by veterinarians and nutritionists has resulted in the formulation of nearly perfect diets for pet birds. With the availability of published information and knowledgeable advice from pet store professionals and breeders, bird owners have become increasingly knowledgeable about their pet's nutritional needs.

More to Life than Seed

While some people still think pet birds can subsist on diets consisting only of seed, most are aware that birds require a varied diet if they're to thrive. Still others believe their birds should not be permitted to consume any seed at all.

It is generally accepted that a diet consisting exclusively of seed is deficient in many essential nutrients, but it is also true seeds offer many beneficial elements. Although manufactured pelleted and extruded diets typically provide superior nutritional density, birds accustomed to a seed-based diet may be reluctant to accept a new feeding regimen. Birds raised on seed may also fail to recognize manufactured pellets or crumbles as food.

Pellets Versus Seed

Resistance from breeders and pet bird owners to a "pellet only" diet is also a factor, as bird owners seem to derive satisfaction from providing their birds with a variety of foods. Conflicting advice from veterinarians, breeders and other avian experts has resulted in quite a bit of confusion, leaving the retailer caught squarely in the middle of the pellet versus seed debate.

Economics and customer demand dictate that both products must be offered to our clientele, regardless of our individual viewpoint. Seed companies have addressed this dilemma by including one or more pelleted or extruded foods in their seed blends, and this is probably the most efficient way of delivering vitamins to the birds. Because many birds are attracted to color, the addition of colored pellets may be beneficial. Simply coating seed with vitamins is a questionable benefit because birds typically do not eat the hulls. Non-shelled seed, such as oat groats, may be with vitamins. Because the vitamin mix actually penetrates the groats, it can be delivered to the birds consuming them. Naturally, you will want to promote the best possible avian diets to ensure healthy birds, which, in turn, results in satisfied customers.

Start Off With Variety

Good bird nutrition starts off with the birds that Pretty Birds has for sale. The advantage of selling domestically bred, hand-reared birds goes beyond offering tame, tractable pets. Because of advances in avian nutrition and the availability of balanced, premixed handfeeding formulas, our birds already have a head start on life.

Whether you wean the babies on a "pellets only" or varied diet is up to you, and although we can and do offer handfeeding advise upon the sale of each bird, the ultimate decision is up to the customer. By offering our weaning birds a broad-based diet including seed, fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, pellets and extruded foods, corn, cooked beans and pasta, and small amounts of cooked meat and eggs, we will increase the likelihood that they will accept a wide variety of food throughout their lives.

An avian supplement may be sprinkled on soft foods or added to the drinking water. When the diet is composed of a large percentage of pellets, the addition of a vitamin supplement may not be necessary or even advisable. Consult packaging or the manufacturer's inserts for specific instructions.

What Seeds Provide

The main components of seeds include: carbohydrates, which are essential for energy and maintenance of blood sugar levels; fat, which provides energy and helps to store food in the body; and protein, which is required for growth. Many vitamins and trace minerals are present in seed, but not in quantities sufficient for total nutrition. Therefore, additional foods and vitamin supplements are necessary. "Fat" seeds include: sunflower, rape, flax, niger, hemp, poppy and peanuts. Hemp, caraway, peanuts, flax and safflower seeds are sources of protein. Corn, millet, buckwheat, milo, rice, wheat, oats and canary seed are high in carbohydrates.

In addition to their basic seed mixes, most seed companies offer premium quality blends that are fortified with vitamins and minerals. The vitamins may be infused into the seed itself (food coloring used in seed blends usually signifies that the mix is vitamin fortified) or may be contained in pellets or crumbles included in the blend. Some mixtures also include dried fruit and vegetables and a variety of nuts.

Working for Their Keep

Although many types of commercially available seeds are not found in the native habitats of the birds for which they are intended, many pet bird species seek seed in the wild. "Boredom" is a human concept and may not be a factor in deciding whether to include seed in a pet's diet, but birds are accustomed to "working" for their food. The act of cracking and hulling seed may satisfy this instinct while giving the caged pet some beak work.

Getting the Fussy Bird to Eat

Try the copybird approach. In multi-bird households, one bird will inevitably dare to sample new foods. Finicky birds should be placed where they can observe the more adventurous one eating the desired seed or treat.

Use treats as a means to encourage better eating habits. Various treats can be used as a "bridge" between manufactured foods and seeds.

Pretty Birds encourage the purchase of separate dishes for different foods. There will be less waste, and customers will have a better idea of what their birds are actually consuming if foods are separated by size and type.

Handfeeding special seed and treats may encourage consumption. Some birds have no interest in unfamiliar treats when they're presented in dishes, yet will accept them from their owner's hands.

Consider presentation. Budgies, in particular, will often refuse to eat from hooded or covered dishes. When a customer is having a problem with a finicky budgie, we suggest simply changing to an open feeder.

Nature and Handling Charges

Some seed companies grow and harvest their own seed; others purchase it from overseas or domestic markets. Because seed is cultivated and harvested annually, climate and other growing conditions can affect the quality, cost and abundance. Drought is one factor contributing to price increases. The handling and storage of seed from the point of harvest through packaging determines its quality upon arrival at our store. Many customers express concern about the freshness of the seed they purchase, but seed, kept under the proper conditions will be viable for many years. What the customer really want is assurance that the seed is free of mold and insects. The new packaging methods employed by many seed companies address these concerns. Vacuum packaging and nitrogen flushing help to preserve seed in airtight suspension while thwarting invasion by insects. Poly-bag packaging is increasingly popular and gives the customer a view of the seed inside while keeping the bugs out.

Manufacturer Literature

Informative, point-of-purchase literature available from the various seed companies helps us to advise our customers about the various seed blends and treats available and help to educate them about the proper feeding of their birds. Some list toll-free numbers so consumers and store personnel can telephone for answers to questions about specific products. Aside from providing information, these leaflets and booklets give customers a sense of obtaining something "extra" when they visit our store.

Proper Storage

One of the main complaints about seeds from consumers is that bugs often come with the product. While this may sound like an extreme complaint, it is one that can be easily solved.

Most seed contains eggs or larvae from insects when it is harvested. Cleaning and processing techniques rid it of some pest potential, but not all. Some eggs, for example, stay dormant until hatching in our customer's home. Proper

Storage can alleviate the incidence of insect infestation.

At Pretty Birds, seed is stored in a cool, dry area and rotated regularly. Customers are encouraged to purchase seed quantities they can use within a month. Depending on the climate, customers may wish to refrigerate their birds' seed. The seed should be placed in glass or plastic containers for refrigeration. Care should be taken to avoid moisture condensation on refrigerated seed, as mold or mildew can result. If seed is not refrigerated it should be stored in glass or plastic containers in a cool, dry area of the home. The canister type packaging now featured by many seed companies takes much of the guesswork out of seed storage. Paper bag storage will prevent the seed from "breathing" and may hold in moisture.

Bulk Food Dispensers

At Pretty Birds, we do not offer bulk seed dispensers sales. After viewing the antics of mass merchants offering these products, we decided to sell only poly-bagged food. We have seen people use their hands as scoops, mix different varieties of seed together, dogs urinating on bins and new food poured in with old rancid food and mixed together with dirty bins holding the food. Also, many bugs were flying around the area landing on the seed. Roaches at night going thru the seed. Very unsanitary!!

NO MORE EXCUSES

The challenge of getting birds to eat the small seeds in blends calls for caginess on the part of the owner. Here are a few tips:

Provide smaller quantities in each dish. We advise customers to provide only half the ration the bird is accustomed to eating before the dish is refilled. When it realizes that no more food is going to be forthcoming immediately, it may forage for the smaller seed remaining in the dish. Additional dishes may be added to the cage if the customer is worried that the bird won't consume a sufficient quantity. (We never advise a customer to try to "starve" a bird into submission.)

Try using shallower dishes. While small seed may get lost at the bottom of a deep feeder, it will be more visible to the bird in a shallow cup. We advise the owner to just cover the bottom of a large, shallow dish with a layer of seed so that it is all readily available to the bird.

Feed small seed separately. Small seed can become lost if mixed, but in a separate dish they stand out for those birds that love an occasional munch on the smaller seed.

Seed Types - For Your Information:

Reprinted and modified by Pretty Birds from Trade Magazine 1995

Use Browser BACK Button

Pretty Birds: Copyright © 1997: Last Modified 07/13/00: Copyright Law and International Treaties protect these Web Site Pages. Warning: Reproduction or Distribution of these images, program, text or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.