"You are what you eat" has been a colloquialism used for decades in alluding to human dietary indiscretion. This expression holds true for our avian friends as well and is especially fitting since malnutrition is very common in our pet birds and the underlying cause of up to 75% of the illnesses we see at Pet Care Veterinary Hospital.

Why is this? Probably this is due to the fact that most bird owners are unaware they are feeding a poor diet and also unaware of the clinical signs associated with malnutrition. As well, these nutrient deficiencies may take years until they result in health problems. Traditionally birds have been fed a mixture of seeds and nuts because they are inexpensive, convenient to feed and palatable. Unfortunately they are also very unbalanced when it comes to total nutrition. As a general rule, seeds are high in fat and play a decisive role in the development of avian obesity (yes, birds can be overweight!). As well, most seeds are deficient in a number of essential nutrients; vitamins (particularly Vitamin A and B Vitamins), amino acids (such as lysine, methionine and tryptophan), and minerals (like calcium, manganese, sodium and iodine).

I feed a "fortified" seed diet with added vitamins, isn't this enough? Many bird owners feed a fortified seed diet that contains added vitamins or pellets in the mixture. However, many birds only pick out and eat a few of their favorite seeds within this seed mix. Not only is this wasteful, it only serves to increase the malnutrition problem.

What do birds look like when they are malnourished? In the malnourished bird the skin becomes flaky, dry and may even develop sores and ulcers. Feathers often have insufficient blood supply and as a result birds molt less frequently; consequently their feathers wear out and appear tattered and dull in color. In addition, the normal feather keratin sheath may be retained; resulting in over-preening and with time, feather picking may ensue. The beak may be flaky, rough and overgrown, lacking a normal smooth glossy appearance. The scales on the legs and feet may be dry or rough and the underside of the foot may become excessively smooth with possible progression to calluses and ulcers. With regards to behavior most birds respond to nutrient deprivation with aggressive appetites - chewing up their environment (wood, plants, toys, etc.) - in an effort to seek the protein, vitamins and minerals they are missing in their diet. As well, they may become irritable, inactive and nippy.

So what can the pet bird owner do to prevent this all-too-common malnutrition scenario? For young birds, start off with a healthy diet from the beginning - before a seed addiction starts. For the mature bird established on seeds; use persistence and patience in converting your bird to a healthier diet. Just like we feed our dog and cat friends a pelleted diet - dry kibble, which contains 100% nutrition - we recommend the same for our avian friends. Some examples of good quality, well-balanced avian pelleted diets that provide 100% nutrition include: Harrisons, Lafeber, Roudybush, Mazuri and Purina ZuPreem. The companies behind these brands have taken great lengths to research the nutritional needs of pet birds and develop a well-balanced, palatable pellet. In most cases these pellets can be fed free-choice, meaning they can be left in the food dish and offered at all times. We are currently recommending that 80 - 90% of needed calories be in pelleted diets. Be patient and anticipate a conversion to pellets may take anywhere from 4-6 weeks. Monitoring your birds weight is important during this dietary conversion to ensure that excessive weight loss, in stubborn converters, does not occur. Ask us about tips on converting birds to pellets.

What can I offer my bird as a treat? Many bird owners want to offer their pet birds a food treat as a way of signaling love or as a training tool while working on behavior modification and communication. For these moments a special treat such as a few peanuts, seeds, millet (depending on the size of the bird) or other food reward is just fine. Remember however this is a treat - a special reward fed in limited quantities. Too many treats will discourage eating of the more nutritious pellets.

What about supplements? Our recommendation here is to stick with something natural. Some birds need more Vitamin A for healthy oral and upper respiratory tissues. Try high Vitamin A content vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, yellow squash, escarole, collards and parsley, or fruits such as cantaloupe, apricots and papaya. For more protein, important during growth or healing, consider cooked beans (pinto, kidney, navy, etc.), hard-boiled egg whites, or pieces of cooked chicken. For egg-laying females and birds healing from fractured bones the extra calcium needed can be obtained from ground oyster shell or cuttle bones. Just a reminder; homemade diets with moist ingredients tend to spoil easily and should not be left in the cage for extended periods.

Just a word about water. The tap water of some area cities contains a variety of additives and chemicals and is probably less than ideal for your pet bird. Consider distilled or bottled spring water instead. Birds like to use their water bowls to dunk their food or even to take a bath in. As a result, water bowls need to be changed and cleaned daily and in some cases several times a day. Some bird owners have trained their pets to drink from sipper bottles, thereby limiting soiling of water.

"Food is love" another colloquialism? Perhaps, but only if the diet is healthy. As a bird owner you have a companion that, depending on species, may be your friend for 40 years or more. Regardless of life span, offering a complete balanced diet will go a long way in preventing illness, and at the same time foster the development of rich, colorful feathers, smooth, shiny beaks and overall happier, more behavior-free birds. YEAH!!