Best Bird Sites

Kaytee · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 1

If you have a pet bird, you know that birds will eat seeds readily and so there are no difficulties feeding your bird this diet. But as an animal nutritionist, I can tell you that seeds alone lack several key nutrients including Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Calcium, several trace minerals, and some amino acids. These include lysine and methionine in particular, two crucial building blocks of protein. Your pet bird needs to have adequate levels of these vitamins. Several disease syndromes are directly related to these deficiencies and can be characterized simply by the appearance of the bird. An example of a deficiency arising from a seed only diet is seen with a lack of Vitamin A. As the skin and tissues around the bird’s mouth, nares, eyes and gut develop, they look for vitamins to help them grow normally, especially Vitamin A. But a seed diet cannot provide the necessary Vitamin A or Vitamin D either, because it simply is not there to be used. Consequently, abnormal tissues develop and these lead, as usual, to poor health and disease.
Dr. Randal Brue, PHD
KAYTEE Avian & Animal Nutritionist and Health Expert
www.kaytee.com