Dietary Supplements

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Bird - Nutrition

Dietary Supplements

Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements are nutrients (minerals and vitamins) that have been extracted or synthesized by man. Those nutrients are then added to a nutrient-poor diet to maintain a proper level of nutrition. Of course the ideal diet requires no supplements, but an ideal diet, for a human or a pet, is rarely achieved.

Fortunately for pet owners, laboratories and pet-food companies have spent tremendous effort and resources designing "complete" foods that meet pets' requirements. Commercial bird foods are formulated with a proper balance of nutrients without the risk of overdose or error.

Should You Administer Dietary Supplements Yourself?

A properly balanced bird-food diet should not require supplements, but if you are considering providing additional nutrients, you may want to look at the advantages and disadvantages of personally administering dietary supplements:

Advantages:

You personally supervise and administer the nutrients to your bird. You are not dependent on what the food label says.
You can be certain your bird's requirements are being met.

Disadvantages:

You must ensure that you are giving the correct dosage of supplements, which means taking pains to eliminate the risk of overdose.
You must administer the supplements yourself -- sometimes getting a pet to take a supplement is not easy.
You can't miss giving the day's requirement -- missing a day of supplements may not immediately harm your bird, but repeated or prolonged lack of vital nutrients will lead to poor health, illness or even death.

How to Administer Supplements

If you do decide to take on the responsibility, here are some tips to remember:

Use a supplement specifically designed for birds or for your bird's particular species.
Find a product that your pet finds tasty. You may lose time and money switching from one to another, but finally getting your pet to willingly accept the supplement will make up for it.
Add liquid drops to fresh water; unless they make the water taste really bad, your bird will be able to "take his vitamins" as he drinks the water.
Administer solid supplements either by crushing them and sprinkling them over seeds and pellets or by mashing them into your bird's fresh fruit.

Commercial Supplements

Many commercial supplements are available for birds -- possibly more than for any other animal. This is due, to a large extent, to the low level of nutrients available in seed diets, as well as different birds' nutritional requirements during different stages of their lives. If you decide to supplement, remember to use a supplement specially formulated for birds, for your bird's species and for his particular needs.

Some Examples of Supplements to Choose From:

Vitamin and mineral supplements: round out your bird's diet.
Enzymes: aid digestion and help replace natural enzymes baked out of commercially prepared foods (such as pellets).
Special supplements: provide for one particular aspect of a bird's life, such as:

Calcium and phosphorus: for female birds during mating or breeding
Protein: for molting periods

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

Essential Nutrient	Symptoms of Severe Deficiency/b>
Vitamin A	Vision disorders
Vitamin B complex	Muscle and motor problems
Vitamin c	Rickets
Calcium/phosphorus	Mother unable to provide solid eggs; rickets
Iron	Weak muscles
Manganese	Stunted growth
Zinc	Stunted growth; reproductive disorders

**Note: It is imperative that you consult a vet before introducing any supplements to your bird. Supplements should only be used in conjunction with a proper diet, never as a replacement.