Protein

[spiritbird]

When you take your bird for a wellness check does your vet check the protein level with other labs? Do you include protein foods in your birds diet?

Proteins are the building blocks of every cell in the birds body. Proteins also regulate hormones. The only way to acquire protein is through the diet fed to them. The normal value is between 2.5 and 5.5 grams/deciliter (gm/dl). A low total protein count indicates chronic disease, especially liver and kidney disorders, cancer, parasitism, long-term stress, and starvation or malnutrition.

Some of the protein foods to include in your bird's diet are:

tofu, yogurt (low fat), cottage cheese, well cooked eggs, well cooked chicken or salmon, various grains and legumes, nuts and extruded pellets.

I just started putting some small tofu squares in the chop I feed my birds and they chow down as if it were gold.

My main source for this information is a cookbook put out by Phoenix Landing foundation called Nourish to Flourish. I have had this book for several years and I would call it a necessity for every parrot owner that cares about the foods fed to our pet birds. Nourish to Flourish, A Healthy Cookbook for Parrots: Phoenix Landing Foundation: 9780984264322: Amazon.com: Books ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks])

I will continue to write up other articles on avian nutrition as it is a subject near and dear to my heart.

[spiritbird]

The amount of protein in your birds diet depends on several things, age, species and activity level. Breeding birds (egg laying hens, parents feeding their young) and growing birds need more protein than the average caged pet bird.

[PlaxMacaws]

The amount of protein in your birds diet depends on several things, age, species and activity level. Breeding birds (egg laying hens, parents feeding their young) and growing birds need more protein than the average caged pet bird.This is interesting, Dianne. As you've mentioned, the level of protein furnished to a bird should be determined by the things you've listed. For example, macaws shouldn't be given much, if any, animal protein. They are predominantly vegetarians in the wild and they are susceptible to protein intoxication. That's especially true for Hyacinths. It's truly a shame because most macaws love to eat meat and cheese products.

[Lady]

So how do you decide how much you should give and how often?

[spiritbird]

That is a good question. No where in my reading was that information given. At the seminar I attended it was stated to check with your vet about how much should be given to your bird. There is no one answer. So much depends on the bird species and activity levels.

[Mare]

Sassy loves egg, she eats a half of a one egg omelet, per day. That's a good question, Alice..how much is too much? Sassy also loves chicken..she gets that only every other week. Her energy level is high, I will definitely ask my vet about this.

[King Parrot]

Every bird keeper make a bean mix for birds for extra protein, but I observe that the parrot receive enough protein from the seed mix biscuits. Maked bean also waste quickly in warm weather and must be removed right after eating. Mostly parrots do not require a high percentage of protein. Too much protein can have adverse irreversible effects such as gout and then renal failure. Moderation is the key with beans.