Your bird's life span and general health is greatly influenced by what you feed him. There are many companies that have spent years and years coming up with just the right mixture of seeds, vitamin enriched them, formulated pellets and done everything possible to come up with a total nutrition formula.

In our opinion, even if the pellets provide 100% total nutrition, feeding your bird nothing but pellets is like us eating nothing but oatmeal. It may keep us alive, but it sure would get boring after the third or fourth day.

We will not dispute whether or not anybody's seed is better or worse than anyone else's. We suggest you choose a seed or pellet base and then add the "adventure" to your bird's diet.

Our Research and Development Department consists of 61 birds, (55 breeders and 6 pets) whom we prepare food for everyday. We try to make their diet as wholesome and fun as we can. Everyday, in addition to their seed (we have chosen a seed diet) they are given something extra to enjoy.

The last recommended percentage rate I heard was 50% of the diet should come from table food.

We may feed cereal: Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, Cheerios, etc., fruit: apples, oranges, etc. and vegetables: mixed, raw broccoli, leftovers from dinner, soaked corn, etc., cooked rice mixed with the vegetable is always a great supplement.

If you have only one or two birds, this supplemental feeding is easy.....just share whatever you cook for dinner, vegetables, rice, beans, sweet potatoes, etc.

A bird who spends a lot or all of it's time in it's cage must look forward to eating as it does to playing with it's toys. A stimulated, well fed bird is a healthy bird, and a bird who will make a great companion.

There are many, many articles that are written on what human foods are safe for birds.

Most human foods are safe, except for chocolate, cherries and avocado.
 

Copyright 1991, R. G. Ryan, animalstop.com  a division of: Retco Marketing, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Reprinting without permission is prohibited.

This page was last updated:  Thursday, July 05, 2007

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