Pet Care Articles from PETCO

Bird - Nutrition

Handfeeding
There is nothing wrong with a bird that has been parent-fed. In fact, those birds are often bigger and healthier than hand-fed birds. Either a parent-fed or a hand-fed bird can make a good pet. If you want your pet bird to be accustomed to being handled ...

Dietary Needs During Molting
Your bird's primary nutritional need during molting is protein. When your bird sheds her old feathers and grows new ones, her need for protein increases. Proteins are the building blocks of body tissue and will be in great demand as your bird grows new ...

Seed Bells and Seed Sticks
Seed bells or seed sticks should be used as treats and should make up only 10 percent of your pet's diet. Many bird owners use these treats as the main dietary source. If you try to base your bird's entire diet on bells or sticks, you will inhibit good ...

Seed Diets and Nutritional Deficiencies
Since ancient times, domesticated birds have been fed seeds as their primary source of nutrition. Today, seeds remain the most popular way to feed birds, but unfortunately, seeds are not the perfect food for birds. Why? Although seeds can be used as a ...

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 ...

Diets for Weaned Birds
In general, birds are omnivores. Their digestive systems can handle vegetables, fruits, grains, insects - just about anything. But the fact that your bird isn't picky doesn't mean it's easy to determine a good diet for her. Remember, proper nutrition is ...

Encouraging a Finicky Bird to Eat
If your bird has not been offered a variety of foods from the very start, or if she has become a malnourished "seed junkie," it is important to work with the avian veterinarian while reforming her "fussy" habits. It will take time and patience, along ...

Special Precautions when Storing Vitamins and Supplements
You need to take precautions when storing vitamins and supplements. These items are often expensive and you will want to maintain their shelf life. As with any medication, they should be kept safely tucked away, out of reach of curious children - and ...

Grit, Supplements and Cuttlebones
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. GritMany wild birds forage for grit (sand or gravel), and it ...

Vitamin Deficiencies
In the wild, birds snack on the right amounts of sprouted greens, berries, insects, nectar and other foods to fulfill their nutritional requirements. Nurturing healthy caged critters is another story. It is necessary to make sure your bird is getting all ...

Seeds and Formulated Pellets
You probably read nutrition labels to weed out foods high in saturated fat, sodium or calories in your own diet, but who's watching your bird's waistline? Many bird foods offer your pet an incomplete diet that can lead to health problems and even shorten ...

New Food Recommendations for Cage Birds
When introducing your pet bird to a new food, avoid sudden changes and gradually convert to the new food.