| Bird Feed, Nestling and Conditioning Foods
A Review of Workshop by Jean Tarr
All living things from ants to elephants require six fundamental dietary elements to sustain life:
Protein, Carbohydrate, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals, Water.
PROTEINS come in two sources, animal and plant proteins. They are different in that animal proteins are generally complete in that they contain all of the essential amino acids that form a protein whereas plant proteins are incomplete and lacking in some amino acids. Most seeds are low in Methionine and Lysine. To make a complete protein out of a plant protein, another plant protein must be fed that contains the missing elements and can complete the chain of amino acids.
***Proteins are the building blocks of the body, required for growth of muscle, organs, feathers, beak, nails and cell repair.
ANIMAL PROTEIN: Meat, fish, eggs, milk, insects, dog kibble, pheasant starter.
PLANT PROTEIN: Cereal grains, seeds, rice, legumes, soybeans, soaked & sprouted seeds, green food. some products come supplemented with methionine and lysine, i.e. bird mixes such as CeDe and Orlux and Sukses.
CARBOHYDRATES are contained in all seeds and cereal grains. They are necessary for energy i.e to fly and keep warm.
FATS & OILS are available from many seeds, i.e. hemp niger and canola.. Many breeders use cod liver oil ad wheat germ oil during breeding season. Too much fats is as bad as not enough, as the bird will become fat, will not breed. This arises from too many fatty seeds and too little e Too much fats is as bad as not enough, as the bird will become fat, will not breed. This arises from too many fatty seeds and too little exercise.
VITAMINS: FAT SOLUBLE i.e. Vitamin A, D3, E, and K.
Vitamin A is essential for fertility and growth and must be available for protein digestion. Essential for lining the mucous membranes. Sources: dark greens, i.e. kale, chick weed, dandelion, parsley. Best supplemented with cod liver oil.
Vitamin D3 is necessary for the assimilation of calcium in the body. It is usually available with Vitamin A, and from sunshine.
Vitamin E is required for normal growth of the embryo and hatchlings, for the development of the nerve cells of the brain and muscle, also enhances fertility. Available in dark leafy greens, wheat germ flakes and wheat germ oil.
Vitamin K is the blood clotting vitamin, available in greens and some grain
VITAMINS: WATER SOLUBLE i.e. Vitamins B & C
Vitamin B is the most important having 14 components. Vital for normal growth of the embryo to avoid dead in shell. Available in most seeds, Brewers Yeast, and eggs.
Vitamin C is required for a healthy immune system. Birds actually manufacture their own Vit C during digestion!!
Minerals: Most important is Calcium, required to form the shell on eggs, prevent egg binding, to build strong healthy bones. Calcium and Phosphorus must be maintained in a 3:1 balance. Phosphorus is easily obtained from green foods and seeds, but in captivity birds must be supplemented with Calcium. Cuttlebone, oyster shell, and crushed eggshells are good sources.
Magnesium, iron, zinc copper, iodine and manganese and other trace minerals are required in small quantities. A well planned balanced diet will supply these elements. If not, supplements are available.
Water must be clean and fresh. It is required to transport food through the digestive system and regulates the body temperature as birds have no sweat glands. Some birds will not survive 24 hours without water.
SPECIAL NEEDS FOR BREEDING SEASON
An adult bird requires all the essential proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals available in high percentages. For the hen, in particular which must produce good eggs and healthy embryos, such a diet is essential.
A chick requires large amounts of proteins, vitamins, and minerals as these are essential for adequate growth. The chick is less active than the adult (as it sits in the nest, does not fly or walk, and does not need to forage for food) therefore it requires less energy and relatively smaller amounts of carbohydrates. The greatest requirement for protein is when the chick is developing pin feathers along with the rapid body growth. A shortage of protein at this time will likely kill the chick.
Signs of low protein in chicks: slow body growth, small and thin for their age, delayed feather growth, feathers grow on wings and tail only and bald everywhere else, weak and sleepy. If the parent bird is plucking and eating numerous feathers off their young, this is also a sign of protein deficiency. A feather is 90% protein.
NESTLING AND CONDITIONING FOODS
Are your birds getting enough protein during the critical periods of breeding and moulting?
Common Food Values in percentage:
| Food |
Protein |
Fat |
Carbohydrates |
| Millet |
13 % |
3 % |
62 % |
| Canary |
14 % |
4 % |
37 % |
| Canola |
20 % |
45 % |
18 % |
| Sunflower |
15 % |
28 % |
17 % |
| Niger |
19 % |
43 % |
12 % |
| Oats |
12 % |
4 % |
58 % |
| Sesame |
1 % |
47 % |
18 % |
| Hemp |
22 % |
30 % |
16 % |
| Flax |
24 % |
37 % |
22 % |
| Pellets: |
. |
. |
. |
| Roudybush |
12 % |
. |
. |
| PrettyBird |
14 % |
5 % |
. |
| Hagen |
16 % |
10 % |
. |
| Protein Additives |
. |
. |
. |
| Egg |
12 % |
11 % |
1 % |
Pheasant Starter
(must contain no antibiotic) |
28 % |
3 % |
. |
| CeDe Mis |
16 % |
4 % |
53 % |
| CeDe Insects |
39 % |
3 % |
10 % |
| Flax Seed Meal |
20 % |
50 % |
25 % |
| Wheat Germ |
34 % |
12 % |
45 % |
| Soy Powder |
80 % |
0 % |
0 % |
| Dry Dog Food |
30 % |
20 % |
. |
| Peanut Butter |
25 % |
50 % |
. |
| Bee Pollen |
25 % |
. |
. |
How Much Protein Do Birds Need?
Canaries:
Breeding & Moulting: 18% protein and 6% fat
Maintenance: 14 % protein and 5 % fat
Finch:
Breeding & Moulting: greater than 20 % protein
Maintenance: 18 % protein
Waxbill Finch:
Breeding & Moulting: greater than 25 % protein
Maintenance: 22% protein
Budgies and Hookbills:
Breeding & Moulting: 20% protein
Maintenance: 14%
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