Nutritional Advice

Unfortunately, the wrong diet causes lots of problem in pet birds. Many birds are still fed on a seed based diet. It is a well-known fact that this type of food will result in long-term health problems, including vitamin A and calcium deficiency, fatty liver disease and secondary infections.

Even though the owner offers some healthy foods (e.g. formulated pellets and fruits), the bird will usually take mostly the food items it enjoys (e.g. sunflower seeds and peanuts), and will not eat enough of the healthy stuff.

For many birds health problems result from being fed a seed based diet or offering too many human foods (e.g. rice, bread, pasta, biscuits, and sweets).

These human foods are not better than seeds.

The appropriate diet for pet parrots is usually a premium quality formulated diet (e.g.: Harrison’s, Zupreem, Kaytee) supplemented with wide variety of vegetables and fruits, preferably organic.

Unfortunately, very often chicken pellets are sold as pet bird food in Hong Kong in the bird shops, therefore the owners should choose the source and the quality of their bird’s food carefully. What makes a chicken nice and fat before being killed for humans to eat will not be a healthy diet to keep a parrot alive for 50 years!

Do not give food with salt, sugar, alcohol, caffeine chocolate and excess spices.

Regulating food intake has behavioural benefits as well. The favourite food of the bird can be used for training, motivation and as positive reinforcement. By providing a favourite food only when training, birds will often be very attentive and motivated.

During a consultation or ‘health check’ our veterinarians will be able to provide you with further advice on the exact quantities and types of food to feed to your bird to keep it as healthy as possible.