1. Avian Nutrition

2. NUTRITION
When it comes to avian diet, there is a huge controversy.  Avian vets, breeders, pet shop professionals, bird guardians, researchers, rescuers, etc all have their own opinion as to what constitutes the perfect diet and each of them makes claims to it.
But the sad truth is that none of them is correct because nobody knows what most birds’ nutritional needs are. 

3. Nutrition HEALTHY BIRDS EAT HEALTHY DIETS
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PACKAGED ‘COMPLETE DIET’
SPECIES EVOLVE TO THRIVE ON FOOD AVAILABLE IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT
BIRDS DO NOT CHOOSE TO EAT WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM

4. Flock/Bird Nutrition Considerations
Management
Environment
Ingredients
-Composition
-Variability
Assessment
Bird
Bird Characteristics
Nutrition
Nutrients
-Availability
Food
Clients
Requirements
Feed Manufacturing
-Quality
Diet Formulation

5. Nutrients
Protein (Amino Acids)
Fats
Minerals
Vitamins
Water*

6. Water
Fresh, plain water with no additives should be provided at all times
If bottled water is used, spring or drinking water, not distilled water, which lacks necessary salts and minerals (iodane), should be chosen

7. NUTRITION
In the wild, most parrots eat very low‑fat, low‑protein diets, and are extremely well adapted to such diets.

8. Minerals Macro or Major (concentration -%) Trace minerals
Calcium - bone; egg shell
Phosphorus
Sodium, potassium, chloride
Magnesium, sulfur
Trace minerals
Copper, iron, manganese, selenium, iodine

9. Vitamins Vitamin D (Vitamin D3 activity) Some synthesis of: Vitamin C
Choline
Niacin

10. Nutrient Adequacy
Requirement
Deficiency
Excess
Toxicity

11. Good Foods
Vegetables 10-20%. Especially vegetables high in Vitamin A, such as broccoli, red chard, red kale, carrots, sweet potatoes, and garnet yams. Hot chiles, which are high in Vitamin C, are also very good.
Seeds are most notably low in vitamin A and protein, and high in fat

12. More Good Foods Fresh fruits in moderation
High quality natural pellets
Brown rice
Clean water — change it at least twice a day; if it’s too dirty for you to drink, change it.
Treats (one or two almonds in the shell per day; unsalted, unbuttered, hot air-popped popcorn once in a while; small pieces of whole-grain bread)

14. Commercial Foods
There are three concepts to understand regarding the ideal diet in pet birds
There is no “generic” parrot and each species has its own, different requirements
The requirements are not well known for any species of parrot
The pelleted diets available today are based on dietary requirements of chickens and cockatiels

15. Diet Labeling Product name and purpose Feeding directions
Ingredients (in order of magnitude of use)
Guaranteed Analyses
Protein and Fat (min)
Fiber and Moisture (max)

17. ZuPreem

18. Foods to Avoid
Parrots are junk food junkies. The worse it is for them, the better they seem to like it. We recommend that you do NOT feed your bird the following:

19. Avoid Animal fats, animal protein, and fried foods (French fries)
Commercial seed mixes (fattening); a few sunflower and safflower seeds occasionally are okay.
Salty foods
Onions and garlic
Nuts (other than almonds) for parrots other than macaws (who need nuts in their diet)
CACA — caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, avocado

20. Nutritional Disorders
Iron storage disease
Vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency/toxicity
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland.
Gout (metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid

21. Iron Storage Disease Hemosiderosis (excess iron in tissues)
Hemochromatosis ( excess iron causing toxicity)
Primary - genetic predisposition
Secondary -
high dietary level (water?)
chronic stress
fasting/refeeding

22. Vitamin A Deficiency Unsupplemented seed diets Symptoms
swollen foot pads (bumblefoot)
feather picking and dry skin
susceptibility to respiratory infections
submandibular swelling

23. Vitamin D Deficiency Deficiency symptoms
Insufficent diet or sunlight (UVB) exposure
Metabolic disruption
Deficiency symptoms
bone; egg shell deformations
bones; beak rubbery

24. Vitamin D Toxicity Toxicity symptoms Diet excess
Supplements in addition to diet supplement
Species differences (macaws sensitive)
Toxicity symptoms
soft tissue calcification-kidneys

25. Other species Research first. What do they eat in the wild??

26. Force feeding