“You
Eat Like a Bird!”
The old saying “you eat
like a bird” usually referred to someone
who ate small portions of healthy food. In
reality, traditional seed diets are not very
healthy for your avian pet. Seed diets are
high fat, nutritionally incomplete, and can
result in vitamin deficiencies that contribute
to serious health issues such as liver disease.
Fairly new to the market, pelleted diets have
become a more accepted choice. Pellets are
a processed food formulated to meet the nutritional
requirements of your bird. There are many brands
of pellets to choose from available in most
local pet supply stores and online. When choosing
a pellet for you bird, be sure to avoid those
with coloring, as these can also be damaging
to your bird. Your bird should have fresh foods
every day for optimal health. As a general
rule, the avian diet should consist of 80%
pellets, 15% vegetables and 5% fruit (however,
not all fruits and vegetables are safe for
your bird). For tips on switching your bird’s
diet and other nutritional information call
the Animal Refuge League at 854-9771 ext 110
or go to:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=15&cat=1835&articleid=2843
http://www.cockatiels.org/articles/nutrition/convert.html
; http://www.petvets.com/petcare/birds.html
;
http://www.mit.edu/~rei/Veggies.html
;
http://www.quakerville.net/qic/good-bad-food.asp
;
Getting your bird to adopt healthier
eating habits can be challenging; kind of like
getting your child to eat broccoli! However,
don’t be discouraged, it can be done,
and it’s worth it in the end.
Find
a feathered friend at the Animal Refuge League.
Birds are shown by appointment Monday - Friday
by scheduling a time with Kim Jackson or
Justine Higgins.
The adoption prices for parakeets are $10 each and $15 for a pair who
must go together. Cockatiels are $40 each and $60 for a pair who must remain
together. Cage and accessories are not included.
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