Avian Nutrition

While traditionally most birds have been fed all-seed diets, more recent research shows that seed diets do not provide the vitamins and minerals a bird needs for good health.  For this reason the doctors at the Clermont Animal Hospital recommend that birds are fed primarily a pelleted diet.  Most of the larger birds should be on a diet of 75% pellets.  The other 25% of their diet should be a combination of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain cereals/foods, seeds, and small amounts of protein (meat, nuts, etc.).  Small birds such as cockatiels and budgies (parakeets) should be on a diet of 50% pellets, 25% seeds and 25% of the other food types mentioned above.

            If your bird is currently on an all-seed diet, talk to our doctors about strategies for converting to a pelleted diet.  During the conversion process, it is very important to supplement the seed diet with an avian multi-vitamin.  Products such as Avi-cakes® or Nurti-berries® (Lafeber) can help boost the nutrient value of a seed diet.