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Leg Banding Cockatiels, Why it's so Important!
Many thanks to L & M Leg Bands for providing information contained in this article
There are a number of reasons why identification of a bird is important. These include proof of ownership, governmental requirements, identification of lost or stolen birds, and tracking of birds for breeding purposes. The ability to identify a bird also acts as a deterrent to smugglers and the illegal bird trade. Thus it has a positive impact on saving birds in their natural environments.
The most widely accepted means of identification of birds today is the leg band. Microchipping and DNA fingerprinting are alternative methods which are gaining in popularity. Many people prefer these newer methods for a variety of reasons. However at this time, the leg band is required by many governmental organizations.
For this reason, it is important to understand as much about banding as possible. This article will discuss the different types of bands, the reasons for their use, the issue of band removal and the methods of tracing a band. It is intended to present information so that bird owners can make their own informed decisions.
There are a number of reasons why identification of a bird is important. These include proof of ownership, governmental requirements, identification of lost or stolen birds, and tracking of birds for breeding purposes. The ability to identify a bird also acts as a deterrent to smugglers and the illegal bird trade. Thus it has a positive impact on saving birds in their natural environments.
The most widely accepted means of identification of birds today is the leg band. Microchipping and DNA fingerprinting are alternative methods which are gaining in popularity. Many people prefer these newer methods for a variety of reasons. However at this time, the leg band is required by many governmental organizations.
For this reason, it is important to understand as much about banding as possible. This article will discuss the different types of bands, the reasons for their use, the issue of band removal and the methods of tracing a band. It is intended to present information so that bird owners can make their own informed decisions.
CLOSED AND OPEN LEG BANDS
Closed
bands are found on birds which have been banded as babies. This usually
means that they are captive bred. In the US we associate this with
domestically bred birds, but captive bred birds from other countries
also have closed bands.
Closed bands are circular and seamless. They are made of stainless steel, aluminum or plastic and come in a variety of colors and sizes . The band is placed on a baby bird, about 2-3 weeks of age, by sliding the band over the foot to the leg portion. As the bird grows, the feet become too large for the band to fall off. Removal can only be accomplished by cutting the band off. This permanency makes closed bands a more reliable method of identifying a bird than open bands which can be opened and substituted.
Open bands are normally found on wild caught birds which have been imported into the US. An open band is a piece of metal which has been bent into the form of a circle. The ends of the band do not meet and are separated by a space to enable them to be placed on a mature bird's leg. After placement, the ends are then pinched together until they meet. Open bands are used on older birds whose feet are too large for banding with a closed band.
Closed bands are circular and seamless. They are made of stainless steel, aluminum or plastic and come in a variety of colors and sizes . The band is placed on a baby bird, about 2-3 weeks of age, by sliding the band over the foot to the leg portion. As the bird grows, the feet become too large for the band to fall off. Removal can only be accomplished by cutting the band off. This permanency makes closed bands a more reliable method of identifying a bird than open bands which can be opened and substituted.
Open bands are normally found on wild caught birds which have been imported into the US. An open band is a piece of metal which has been bent into the form of a circle. The ends of the band do not meet and are separated by a space to enable them to be placed on a mature bird's leg. After placement, the ends are then pinched together until they meet. Open bands are used on older birds whose feet are too large for banding with a closed band.
Calcium!
Needs and Dangers
Needs and Dangers
By T. E. Roudybush, C. R. Grau
For Exotic Bird Report Number 7 (1/1/1987)
Calcium has been recognized as an essential element in the diet for almost 200 years. The first experiment to show this was reported in 1791 by Fordyce (1), who observed in his canaries that the hen “at the time of laying requires a quantity of calcareous earth, otherwise she is frequently killed by the eggs not passing forward properly.” We now recognize this as “egg binding”.
The main function of calcium in the animal is as a structural component of bone. Other functions include its need in blood coagulation, muscle contraction, myocardial function, and normal neuromuscular irritation. It is an important component of the intercellular cement which holds cells together. In birds, of course, calcium has the additional function of being the main mineral component of egg shells, which are almost entirely calcium carbonate, 40% of which is calcium. The calcium requirement for egg laying in a laying breed chicken is at least 100 times the requirement of the same hen when it is not laying. Because this remarkable change from a low to a high requirement may take place in less than a month, we are left with the difficult task of evaluating and expressing the calcium requirement of birds.
In a recent
report, Blomquist (2) recommended levels of 1% calcium in the diets of
mature nonbreeding pet and cage birds and 2.5% calcium for growing or
reproductively active birds. Although no data were cited in support of
these figures, it is likely that they are based on recommendations for
egg-laying and rapidly growing chickens (3). There is now a body of
evidence which indicates that these levels of calcium are well in
excess of the requirement and that 2.5% calcium causes deleterious
effects in growing birds.
Norris et al (4) found that adult White Leghorn male chickens were able to maintain bone calcium stores
at 0.0025% calcium in the diet, but needed between 0.025% and 0.05% calcium to maintain normal plasma calcium levels and alkaline phosphatase activity. Rowland et al (5) found that non-laying White Leghorn hens were able to maintain bone strength at less than 0.02% calcium in. the diet. Both of these levels are well below the 1% recommendation of Blomquist (1).
For growing birds the
National Research Council (3) recommends 1.2% calcium for turkeys from
0-8 weeks of age. This is the highest level of calcium recommended for
any growing birds.
Several investigators who have fed levels of calcium above the NRC recommendations have observed deleterious effects. Smith and Taylor (6) fed chickens from 1 day to 10 weeks of age and found reduced body weights and feed efficiency at 1.35% calcium as compared with 0.83% calcium. Shane et al (7) fed diets containing 0.6% or 3.0% calcium to chickens between 8 and 12 weeks of age. The higher levels produced visceral urate deposits, mortality, nephrosis (kidney degeneration), and smaller parathyroid glands. Scott et al (8) cite experiments at Cornell University in which chickens 8-18 weeks old fed diets containing more than 2.5% calcium had 10% to 20% mortality with an incidence of nephrosis, visceral gout, and calcium urate deposits in the ureters. Within one to two weeks on the high calcium diets pullets developed hypercalcemia (high blood calcium) and hypophosphatemia (low blood phosphorus). Parathyroid size was reduced and its activity was greatly decreased. Feeding high levels of calcium reduced feed consumption and weight gain, and sexual maturity was delayed. Mortality from nephrosis continued from the growing period into the production period. On the basis of these severe effects, they recommended feeding not more than 1.2% calcium in the diet of growing chickens. After sexual maturity at 18-20 weeks of age laying chickens can tolerate higher levels of calcium (8). Woodard et al (9) found that pheasants, partridges and chickens fed 3% calcium and 0.3% phosphorus grew poorly, were severely paralyzed, and suffered high mortality. These levels are similar to those used successfully in the diets of laying hens.
From the evidence obtained by the several workers cited above, levels of calcium in excess of 1.2% of
the diet were found to cause a variety of problems in growing birds. A recommendation of 2.5% calcium for growing birds is clearly in excess of the calcium requirement and is likely to cause severe damage and even mortality in growing birds.
For birds that are laying, a level of 2.5% calcium in the diet (1) would at first glance seem reasonable, because the NRC (3) recommends between 2.25% and 3.25% calcium in the diet for various breeds of poultry. However, altricial birds such as parrots, finches, and canaries feed their chicks the same diet which they themselves eat. In a flight with birds in various stages of reproduction it is not practical to feed a diet with a high calcium content to one set of birds and low calcium to another. Some aviculturists attempt to allow birds to balance their own calcium intakes by feeding calcium supplements such as pieces of oyster shell, limestone or cuttlebone along with a low calcium diet. There have been no controlled experiments of this method of calcium feeding so it is not possible to know whether parent birds may be overfeeding or underfeeding calcium to their chicks. Cage birds which incubate and raise their chicks do not usually lay as many eggs in a given time as do poultry kept to lay eggs to be incubated artificially. Thus the calcium requirement for egg laying may be expected to be lower in altricial birds than in poultry.
Recent studies in our laboratory indicate that sustained egg production in cockatiels can be achieved by feeding diets containing less than 0.5% calcium. A maximum level for reproduction has not been determined, but it is known that 1.0% calcium is satisfactory for both breeding and growing birds.
For Exotic Bird Report Number 7 (1/1/1987)
Calcium has been recognized as an essential element in the diet for almost 200 years. The first experiment to show this was reported in 1791 by Fordyce (1), who observed in his canaries that the hen “at the time of laying requires a quantity of calcareous earth, otherwise she is frequently killed by the eggs not passing forward properly.” We now recognize this as “egg binding”.
The main function of calcium in the animal is as a structural component of bone. Other functions include its need in blood coagulation, muscle contraction, myocardial function, and normal neuromuscular irritation. It is an important component of the intercellular cement which holds cells together. In birds, of course, calcium has the additional function of being the main mineral component of egg shells, which are almost entirely calcium carbonate, 40% of which is calcium. The calcium requirement for egg laying in a laying breed chicken is at least 100 times the requirement of the same hen when it is not laying. Because this remarkable change from a low to a high requirement may take place in less than a month, we are left with the difficult task of evaluating and expressing the calcium requirement of birds.
Norris et al (4) found that adult White Leghorn male chickens were able to maintain bone calcium stores
at 0.0025% calcium in the diet, but needed between 0.025% and 0.05% calcium to maintain normal plasma calcium levels and alkaline phosphatase activity. Rowland et al (5) found that non-laying White Leghorn hens were able to maintain bone strength at less than 0.02% calcium in. the diet. Both of these levels are well below the 1% recommendation of Blomquist (1).
Several investigators who have fed levels of calcium above the NRC recommendations have observed deleterious effects. Smith and Taylor (6) fed chickens from 1 day to 10 weeks of age and found reduced body weights and feed efficiency at 1.35% calcium as compared with 0.83% calcium. Shane et al (7) fed diets containing 0.6% or 3.0% calcium to chickens between 8 and 12 weeks of age. The higher levels produced visceral urate deposits, mortality, nephrosis (kidney degeneration), and smaller parathyroid glands. Scott et al (8) cite experiments at Cornell University in which chickens 8-18 weeks old fed diets containing more than 2.5% calcium had 10% to 20% mortality with an incidence of nephrosis, visceral gout, and calcium urate deposits in the ureters. Within one to two weeks on the high calcium diets pullets developed hypercalcemia (high blood calcium) and hypophosphatemia (low blood phosphorus). Parathyroid size was reduced and its activity was greatly decreased. Feeding high levels of calcium reduced feed consumption and weight gain, and sexual maturity was delayed. Mortality from nephrosis continued from the growing period into the production period. On the basis of these severe effects, they recommended feeding not more than 1.2% calcium in the diet of growing chickens. After sexual maturity at 18-20 weeks of age laying chickens can tolerate higher levels of calcium (8). Woodard et al (9) found that pheasants, partridges and chickens fed 3% calcium and 0.3% phosphorus grew poorly, were severely paralyzed, and suffered high mortality. These levels are similar to those used successfully in the diets of laying hens.
From the evidence obtained by the several workers cited above, levels of calcium in excess of 1.2% of
the diet were found to cause a variety of problems in growing birds. A recommendation of 2.5% calcium for growing birds is clearly in excess of the calcium requirement and is likely to cause severe damage and even mortality in growing birds.
For birds that are laying, a level of 2.5% calcium in the diet (1) would at first glance seem reasonable, because the NRC (3) recommends between 2.25% and 3.25% calcium in the diet for various breeds of poultry. However, altricial birds such as parrots, finches, and canaries feed their chicks the same diet which they themselves eat. In a flight with birds in various stages of reproduction it is not practical to feed a diet with a high calcium content to one set of birds and low calcium to another. Some aviculturists attempt to allow birds to balance their own calcium intakes by feeding calcium supplements such as pieces of oyster shell, limestone or cuttlebone along with a low calcium diet. There have been no controlled experiments of this method of calcium feeding so it is not possible to know whether parent birds may be overfeeding or underfeeding calcium to their chicks. Cage birds which incubate and raise their chicks do not usually lay as many eggs in a given time as do poultry kept to lay eggs to be incubated artificially. Thus the calcium requirement for egg laying may be expected to be lower in altricial birds than in poultry.
Recent studies in our laboratory indicate that sustained egg production in cockatiels can be achieved by feeding diets containing less than 0.5% calcium. A maximum level for reproduction has not been determined, but it is known that 1.0% calcium is satisfactory for both breeding and growing birds.
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This year, in 2009, after the passing of Al Mason, developer of Bird Tracker, we purchased Bird Tracker and Vet Basic Software. We will continue Alan's vision of software that is economical with frequent updates.
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Diet is Important
by Cynthia L. Kiesewetter
A
proper diet will help ensure that your cockatiel leads a happy, healthy
life. It has been my experience that cockatiels need a varied diet, not
only for their physical health, but also for their mental well-being!
Personally, we feed 50% of our diet as a mixture of pelleted foods.
Twenty-percent of their diet is green, leafy vegetables; another 20% is
good, healthy “people” food (some examples are listed below); and the
remaining 10% is seed. No one really knows what the optimal dietary
needs are for psittacine birds, but avian nutritionalists certainly
have brought us out of the dark ages regarding some of their needs.
I’ve listed below the various components of foods, as well as what
functions they benefit, and in what foods they can be found.
CARBOHYDRATES:
Carbohydrates are an essential yet misunderstood part of the diet. There are two categories of carbohydrates: starches and sugars.
Complex carbohydrates, or starches, provide a steady source of energy for your birds. Complex carbohydrates can be found in whole grains — bread, cereals, pasta and rice. Make sure you check the ingredients on cereal; sodium (salt) and sugar should not be high up on the list. Definitely do not feed frosted cereals!
Simple carbohydrates, or sugars, provide empty calories and no nutrition.
PROTEINS:
Proteins are complex chemicals that have two important functions: they serve as the building materials of body tissue, and act as enzymes that regulate the chemical reactions that keep your birds’ bodies growing and functioning.
Proteins are made up of substances called amino acids. Although more than 20 different amino acids have been identified, it is not known which of these amino acids are essential in the avian species (essential amino acids cannot be manufactured by the body and must be included in the diet). In humans, it has been determined that there are eight essential amino acids. Complete proteins are those that contain adequate supplies of these eight essential amino acids. Incomplete proteins are those that lack or have too little of one or more essential amino acids.
If your
birds eat an incomplete protein at the same time as a complete one,
their bodies can combine amino acids to create additional complete
proteins. Macaroni and cheese are examples of an incomplete and a
complete protein. Certain combinations of two or more incomplete
proteins can also form complete ones, but this is only true when one
food source supplies the amino acids that the other food source lacks.
Peanut butter on whole wheat bread is an example of two incomplete
proteins which work together to form complete proteins.
Sources of amino acids are: yogurt, cheese, meat, poultry, fish, dried beans, eggs, and nuts, as well as some bread, cereals, rice and pasta.
FATS:
Fat plays an important role in body tissue, providing energy and aiding in the absorbtion of calcium and the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Fats are found in animal protein foods such as meat and egg yolks. Other important sources of fat are grains, nuts, and seeds.
A fat free diet would not only be unhealty for your birds, but also impossible to achieve. Among the nutrients supplied by fats is linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that your birds’ bodies can’t manufacture on their own.
Food fats are mixtures of three types of fatty acids — polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated. Diets that are excessively high in fats, especially saturated fats, have been associated with obesity and fatty liver disease in birds. The largest amount of saturated fats are found in foods from animal sources (meat and dairy) and certain vegetable oils (such as palm and coconut oil).
Be careful of feeding seed as more than 10% of your birds’ diets. Too much seed can contribute to an early death. See the chart below for the fat content in common bird mix seeds.
Vitamin A, which is necessary for the growth and repair of cell membranes, plays an important role in the well-being of your birds. Vitamin A helps to maintain the soft, moist condition of the cells in the skin and lining of the digestive tract. This vitamin is also related to the health of the eyes and the prevention of night blindness.
The best sources of vitamin A are fish liver oil, beef and chicken liver, orange or yellow vegetables, orange or yellow fruits, and green, leafy vegetables. Other food sources include egg yolks and some cheeses.
Vitamin A is fragile and sensitive to air and heat from cooking. To preserve as much Vitamin A in the foods you serve your birds, serve vegetables raw if possible and store them in covered containers.
Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, the body requires the presence of dietary fats in order to use this vitamin.
Beta-carotene, the pigment that gives vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots their color, is a naturally occuring dietary chemical that the body can convert to useable Vitamin A.
An excess of Vitamin A can be stored in the body tissues and cause harm to your birds, so don’t let foods which contain Vitamin A be fed in more than 20-30% of the diet.
B VITAMINS
The B complex vitamins include B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folacin or Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, and Pantothenic Acid.
The B Vitamins assist the body in responding to stress, so this vitamin is even more important during breeding, molting, and quarantine periods. These vitamins also aid in the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins.
Because the B vitamins are water soluble, excesses are passed out in urine rather than being stored in the body. For this reason, it is important that your birds get a consistent amount of B vitamins in their diet. Dietary sources include whole, unrefined grains (such as cracked and whole wheat, brown rice, rye, and wheat germ), leafy vegetables, and eggs. Since the B vitamins are fragile and sensitive to the heat from cooking and refining, be sure to serve enough of these foods to ensure that your birds are getting enough in their diets.
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C in sufficient amounts is necessary for strong cell walls and blood vessels. It helps a bird’s body utilize iron, folic acid, and Vitamin A. The need for Vitamin C is further increased by stress or disease, so be sure to provide plenty of vitamin C-rich foods when your birds are molting, breeding, or ill.
Citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, and tangerines), melons (cantaloupe, watermelon), and strawberries are excellent sources of Vitamin C. Unfortunately, most cockatiels don’t enjoy fruits, so try potatoes, brocolli, bell peppers, cabbage or kale instead. Because their bodies don’t store Vitamin C, it is important that you give them foods which contain Vitamin C often.
Vitamin C is easily destroyed by heat and contact with the air. You need to minimally cook vegetables which contain Vitamin C, and use very little water because this vitamin dissolves in water.
VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is required to regulate the absorbtion of calcium in your birds’ systems. The best sources of Vitamin D are sunlight and full spectrum lighting. In addition, egg yolks are a very good source of this vitamin.
Since your birds’ bodies will store excess Vitamin D, it is possible to overdose. Care should be taken, especially if you feed a pelleted diet and provide sunlight or full spectrum lighting, that you are not oversupplementing.
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E helps to maintain the integrity of individual cell membranes, is related to normal growth patterns, and also aids your birds’ bodies respond to stress. It is also necessary for the digestion of polyunsaturated fats, and is an antioxidant, which helps prevent cells from damage during fat breakdown.
The best food sources of Vitamin E are wheat germ, wheat germ oil, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, peanut butter, and whole grains.
Vitamin E is very sensitive to heat, oxygen and freezing, and it is best to eat in conjunction with fats.
VITAMIN K
Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting. It is synthesized from food in the intestinal tract. Dietary sources include leafy green vegetables, such as kale, spinach, cabbage, and turnip greens. In addition, Vitamin K can be found in whole wheat, oats, bran, carrots, and cauliflower.
CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS:
Calcium is more easily absorbed in your birds’ bodies in the presence of Vitamin D and moderate amounts of fat. Calcium can combine with certain other substances in foods and take forms that are less easily absorbed. The oxalic acid in spinach and beet greens decreases calcium absorbtion.
The following are good sources of calcium: cottage cheese, unprocessed cheeses, yogurt, and tofu (bean curd). Remember that birds do not have the enzyme necessary to digest the lactose in milk, so this is a less preferred method of supplying calcium. Non-food sources are your birds’ cuttlebone and mineral block.
Calcium and the mineral Phosphorus must be in balance for your birds’ optimum health. Seed is very high in phosphorus vs. calcium, which is another reason to limit the amount of seed in your birds’ diet to 10%. An excess of phosphorus in relation to calcium could result in calcium deficiency.
IRON:
Iron produces hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Anemic birds, those which do not have an adequate supply of iron in their diet, may appear lethargic and fatigued.
Food sources of iron which your birds might enjoy are meat, poultry, fish, soyeans, egg yolks, wheat germ, nuts, kidney beans, and chickpeas. Iron may also have been added to your birds’ favorite cereal or bread.
SODIUM:
Sodium is a mineral which helps to maintain the body’s fluid balance. It naturally occurs in many foods, and because of this, there is no need to supplement your birds’ sodium intake. In fact, too much sodium can cause serious neurological problems, so be sure to examine the foods you feed and avoid a high sodium content.
TRACE MINERALS:
Iodine is necessary for healthy thyroid functioning. Iodine deficiency is highly unlikely if 50% of the diet is a pelletized one.
Chromium deficiency will not be a problem provided you feed whole grain products such as bread, cereal and pasta. Brewers yeast is is a supplementary souce of chromium, as well as other nutrients.
The trace mineral zinc is known to be important to protein synthesis. The best source of zinc is wheat germ, whole grains, eggs, and potatoes.
Magnesium plays an important role in metabolism and and protein synthesis, and can be found in wheat germ, bran, whole grains, nuts, and some leafy green vegetables.
Potassium is necessary for muscle activity, fluid balance, and (again) protein synthesis. An adequate supply of potassium can be obtained if the following foods are fed: potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, squash, bran, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, and legumes.
Selenium plays a key role in disease prevention and stimulation of the immune system. Too much selenium, however, can be toxic. A protein-rich diet will provide your birds with all the selenium they need.
Other trace minerals that your birds need are copper, sulfur, manganese, and chloride. It is unlikely that your birds will ever experience a deficiency of these minerals.
CARBOHYDRATES:
Carbohydrates are an essential yet misunderstood part of the diet. There are two categories of carbohydrates: starches and sugars.
Complex carbohydrates, or starches, provide a steady source of energy for your birds. Complex carbohydrates can be found in whole grains — bread, cereals, pasta and rice. Make sure you check the ingredients on cereal; sodium (salt) and sugar should not be high up on the list. Definitely do not feed frosted cereals!
Simple carbohydrates, or sugars, provide empty calories and no nutrition.
PROTEINS:
Proteins are complex chemicals that have two important functions: they serve as the building materials of body tissue, and act as enzymes that regulate the chemical reactions that keep your birds’ bodies growing and functioning.
Proteins are made up of substances called amino acids. Although more than 20 different amino acids have been identified, it is not known which of these amino acids are essential in the avian species (essential amino acids cannot be manufactured by the body and must be included in the diet). In humans, it has been determined that there are eight essential amino acids. Complete proteins are those that contain adequate supplies of these eight essential amino acids. Incomplete proteins are those that lack or have too little of one or more essential amino acids.
Sources of amino acids are: yogurt, cheese, meat, poultry, fish, dried beans, eggs, and nuts, as well as some bread, cereals, rice and pasta.
FATS:
Fat plays an important role in body tissue, providing energy and aiding in the absorbtion of calcium and the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Fats are found in animal protein foods such as meat and egg yolks. Other important sources of fat are grains, nuts, and seeds.
A fat free diet would not only be unhealty for your birds, but also impossible to achieve. Among the nutrients supplied by fats is linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that your birds’ bodies can’t manufacture on their own.
Food fats are mixtures of three types of fatty acids — polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated. Diets that are excessively high in fats, especially saturated fats, have been associated with obesity and fatty liver disease in birds. The largest amount of saturated fats are found in foods from animal sources (meat and dairy) and certain vegetable oils (such as palm and coconut oil).
Be careful of feeding seed as more than 10% of your birds’ diets. Too much seed can contribute to an early death. See the chart below for the fat content in common bird mix seeds.
VITAMINS
VITAMIN AVitamin A, which is necessary for the growth and repair of cell membranes, plays an important role in the well-being of your birds. Vitamin A helps to maintain the soft, moist condition of the cells in the skin and lining of the digestive tract. This vitamin is also related to the health of the eyes and the prevention of night blindness.
The best sources of vitamin A are fish liver oil, beef and chicken liver, orange or yellow vegetables, orange or yellow fruits, and green, leafy vegetables. Other food sources include egg yolks and some cheeses.
Vitamin A is fragile and sensitive to air and heat from cooking. To preserve as much Vitamin A in the foods you serve your birds, serve vegetables raw if possible and store them in covered containers.
Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, the body requires the presence of dietary fats in order to use this vitamin.
Beta-carotene, the pigment that gives vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots their color, is a naturally occuring dietary chemical that the body can convert to useable Vitamin A.
An excess of Vitamin A can be stored in the body tissues and cause harm to your birds, so don’t let foods which contain Vitamin A be fed in more than 20-30% of the diet.
The B complex vitamins include B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folacin or Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, and Pantothenic Acid.
The B Vitamins assist the body in responding to stress, so this vitamin is even more important during breeding, molting, and quarantine periods. These vitamins also aid in the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins.
Because the B vitamins are water soluble, excesses are passed out in urine rather than being stored in the body. For this reason, it is important that your birds get a consistent amount of B vitamins in their diet. Dietary sources include whole, unrefined grains (such as cracked and whole wheat, brown rice, rye, and wheat germ), leafy vegetables, and eggs. Since the B vitamins are fragile and sensitive to the heat from cooking and refining, be sure to serve enough of these foods to ensure that your birds are getting enough in their diets.
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C in sufficient amounts is necessary for strong cell walls and blood vessels. It helps a bird’s body utilize iron, folic acid, and Vitamin A. The need for Vitamin C is further increased by stress or disease, so be sure to provide plenty of vitamin C-rich foods when your birds are molting, breeding, or ill.
Citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, and tangerines), melons (cantaloupe, watermelon), and strawberries are excellent sources of Vitamin C. Unfortunately, most cockatiels don’t enjoy fruits, so try potatoes, brocolli, bell peppers, cabbage or kale instead. Because their bodies don’t store Vitamin C, it is important that you give them foods which contain Vitamin C often.
Vitamin C is easily destroyed by heat and contact with the air. You need to minimally cook vegetables which contain Vitamin C, and use very little water because this vitamin dissolves in water.
VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is required to regulate the absorbtion of calcium in your birds’ systems. The best sources of Vitamin D are sunlight and full spectrum lighting. In addition, egg yolks are a very good source of this vitamin.
Since your birds’ bodies will store excess Vitamin D, it is possible to overdose. Care should be taken, especially if you feed a pelleted diet and provide sunlight or full spectrum lighting, that you are not oversupplementing.
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E helps to maintain the integrity of individual cell membranes, is related to normal growth patterns, and also aids your birds’ bodies respond to stress. It is also necessary for the digestion of polyunsaturated fats, and is an antioxidant, which helps prevent cells from damage during fat breakdown.
The best food sources of Vitamin E are wheat germ, wheat germ oil, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, peanut butter, and whole grains.
Vitamin E is very sensitive to heat, oxygen and freezing, and it is best to eat in conjunction with fats.
Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting. It is synthesized from food in the intestinal tract. Dietary sources include leafy green vegetables, such as kale, spinach, cabbage, and turnip greens. In addition, Vitamin K can be found in whole wheat, oats, bran, carrots, and cauliflower.
CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS:
Calcium is more easily absorbed in your birds’ bodies in the presence of Vitamin D and moderate amounts of fat. Calcium can combine with certain other substances in foods and take forms that are less easily absorbed. The oxalic acid in spinach and beet greens decreases calcium absorbtion.
The following are good sources of calcium: cottage cheese, unprocessed cheeses, yogurt, and tofu (bean curd). Remember that birds do not have the enzyme necessary to digest the lactose in milk, so this is a less preferred method of supplying calcium. Non-food sources are your birds’ cuttlebone and mineral block.
Calcium and the mineral Phosphorus must be in balance for your birds’ optimum health. Seed is very high in phosphorus vs. calcium, which is another reason to limit the amount of seed in your birds’ diet to 10%. An excess of phosphorus in relation to calcium could result in calcium deficiency.
IRON:
Iron produces hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Anemic birds, those which do not have an adequate supply of iron in their diet, may appear lethargic and fatigued.
Food sources of iron which your birds might enjoy are meat, poultry, fish, soyeans, egg yolks, wheat germ, nuts, kidney beans, and chickpeas. Iron may also have been added to your birds’ favorite cereal or bread.
SODIUM:
Sodium is a mineral which helps to maintain the body’s fluid balance. It naturally occurs in many foods, and because of this, there is no need to supplement your birds’ sodium intake. In fact, too much sodium can cause serious neurological problems, so be sure to examine the foods you feed and avoid a high sodium content.
Iodine is necessary for healthy thyroid functioning. Iodine deficiency is highly unlikely if 50% of the diet is a pelletized one.
Chromium deficiency will not be a problem provided you feed whole grain products such as bread, cereal and pasta. Brewers yeast is is a supplementary souce of chromium, as well as other nutrients.
The trace mineral zinc is known to be important to protein synthesis. The best source of zinc is wheat germ, whole grains, eggs, and potatoes.
Magnesium plays an important role in metabolism and and protein synthesis, and can be found in wheat germ, bran, whole grains, nuts, and some leafy green vegetables.
Potassium is necessary for muscle activity, fluid balance, and (again) protein synthesis. An adequate supply of potassium can be obtained if the following foods are fed: potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, squash, bran, wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, and legumes.
Selenium plays a key role in disease prevention and stimulation of the immune system. Too much selenium, however, can be toxic. A protein-rich diet will provide your birds with all the selenium they need.
Other trace minerals that your birds need are copper, sulfur, manganese, and chloride. It is unlikely that your birds will ever experience a deficiency of these minerals.
Article taken from NCS Website Archives
