How to Choose the Right Diet for your Pet Bird

May 24, 2020, 7:32 PM

Whether you a new bird owner or someone familiar with having birds as pets, it is essential to familiarize yourself with your bird’s dietary needs. More often than not, you can see bird owners raising the question of what they can feed their bird. If you want your feathered companion to lead a long life, then merely feeding them seeds and pellets are not enough. All birds need to be provided with a varied and nutritious diet so that they develop beautiful, glossy feathers, and a positive attitude. In this article, we’ve shared some useful tips to feed your pet bird in the right way.

Follow a Balanced Diet

Hard-bills like canaries and budgies are seed eaters while soft-bills such as blackbirds and robins require a non-seed diet with a balanced spread of fruits, flowers, and leaves. If the bird is put on a poor diet, it will result in nutritional deficiency and shall also make it prone to bacterial and fungal infections. A proper diet will also help to strengthen the bird’s immune system and its ability to combat illness.

The best way to guarantee that your pet bird is on a balanced diet is to make sure that it’s “base” diet itself is as nutritionally balanced as possible. Harrison’s high potency coarse is an ideal choice as a base diet for smaller birds, while for larger birds, high potency fine is our recommended choice.

Bird Seeds or Bird Pellets

Both bird seeds and bird pellets are nutritious foods in their own right, and one does not hold any particular advantage over the other. The best option, irrespective of your choice, is to get the required food from a brand that offers an extensive range of choices on both fronts. Harrison’s bird food is a name you can trust in this regard as all their products are certified organic, non-GMO verified and requires only minimal supplementation.

Fruits and Vegetables

Ripe fruits and veggies are a great source of nutrition for all birds. Your bird won’t be able to consume the food as how you would, so be sure to offer it in a variety of ways: chopped, mashed, whole, grated, and so on. Additionally, keep trying to provide your birds with new fruits and veggies, even if they reject it at first because it will take them some time to get used to anything new. If you are seeking some options in terms of the fruits and vegetables you can provide them, here is a list to help you in this regard:

Supplement Diet

If your bird is hesitant to try anything apart from seeds, then it is essential to include dietary supplementation. As mentioned, by choosing Harrison’s, you can avoid the need for secondary supplementation as all their feeds are nutritionally balanced and can cater to the dietary needs of your feathery friends throughout its lifetime.

Cook for Your Bird

We all love to eat home-cooked meals, and birds are no different in this regard. However, do not expect your pet bird to consume all that you eat. Consult a veterinary nutritionist if you cannot come up with any recipes of your own.