Gone are the days of pouring out a tray full of seeds and ringing the dinner bell. Today's birds need special diets that may include grit, cuttlebones, and vitamin and mineral supplements.

Grit

Many wild birds forage for grit (sand or gravel), and it may help chickens and other birds who swallow food whole digest their rations. Grit in the gizzard can also help your toothless bird grind off seed hulls and crush food.

Parrots don't need help shelling their seeds and tearing food, but canaries and finches may appreciate a few grains of grit. Add this supplement to your bird's food dish only once a week. Offering grit on an all-you-can-eat basis may cause some pets (especially those with inadequate diets who crave minerals) to overindulge, causing impaction and other illnesses.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

If your bird turns up his nose at fruits and vegetables, vitamin and mineral supplements may help him maintain a well-balanced diet. But pets who eat a nutritious variety of meals that include pellets, seed mixes, cereals, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables don't need supplements nutrient excesses can be as harmful as deficiencies.

Your veterinarian may recommend supplements for high-risk groups, including birds who are laying eggs, sick or stressed, or prone to malnutrition (such as those who eat seed-only diets).

The best supplements come in a powder form to sprinkle on soft, moist foods. Liquid types tend to deteriorate in water and encourage harmful bacterial growth. Their taste may also cause your pet to lay off his liquids.

Cuttlebones

Cuttlebones come from the cuttlefish, a relative of the squid. These tasty treats are an economical source of calcium and other minerals. But for canaries and finches, a cuttlebone may contain too much salt. Before you offer one, soak it for two days, changing the water once after 24 hours, and dry it thoroughly. Then you can attach the cuttlebone close to a perch, with the soft spongy side facing the bird.

Put away the French cookbooks your pet's not that picky but make sure you offer a little variety, such as fresh fruit twice a week and a daily vegetable side dish. You'll find that preparing food for your bird is a lot easier than feeding your other mealtime companions.