Page 1205 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
72

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Feeding Passerine and

Psittacine Birds

George V. Kollias
Heidi Wearne Kollias

“Of all forms of life, birds are the most beautiful, most musical, most
admired, most watched and most defended. Without them much of
our world would seem ominously lifeless and silent.”
Roger Tory Peterson

toe paralysis,” which is not observed in cockatiel chicks.
INTRODUCTION Cockatiels lack pigmentation (achromatosis) in their primary
feathers as a result of riboflavin deficiency (Grau and
One avian medicine reference states that 75% of the medical Roudybush, 1985). Although differences of this type exist ex-
problems seen in companion and aviary birds have at least a perimentally, many prepared foods overcome these differences
partial nutritional basis (MacWhirter, 1994). Dietary-induced by supplying levels of nutrients well in excess of the minimum
deficiencies and excesses may lead to immune dysfunction, requirement for chickens.
increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and metabolic and Second, and more important, many people perceive that all-
biochemical derangements that manifest clinically as nutrition- seed diets (particularly diets composed of only one seed type,
al secondary hyperparathyroidism, thyroid hyperplasia (dyspla- e.g., millet or sunflower) and diets composed of or are heavily
sia), hemochromatosis and a variety of other problems. supplemented with, fruits, vegetables and other human foods
Dietary-induced diseases frequently occur in companion and are complete foods for birds. In reality, most commercially
aviary psittacine and passerine birds for several reasons. First, available seeds are deficient in certain limiting nutrients (e.g.,
until recently, specific nutritional requirements for these birds specific amino acids, vitamins and trace and macrominerals
were unknown.Thus, investigators and veterinary practitioners such as calcium and sodium). Also, seeds are not the primary or
tended to extrapolate the well-known nutrient needs of poultry natural diet of most species of companion birds. For example,
to other avian species. Although these nutrient needs generally one study revealed that when given the opportunity, the endan-
apply, specific nutritional differences of domestic chickens and gered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) consumed seven
other avian species have been reported. For example, riboflavin species of fruits, seeds and leaves (new foliage), the fruiting
deficiency in broiler chicks manifests itself clinically as “curled- structures of 44 species of trees (in addition to bark) and seven