We must remember, when deciding how to feed our birds, that they are not out in the jungle expending energy! A good balanced, low-energy diet filled with nutritious fresh foods, free of animal proteins with a quality pellet (for most but not all parrots), along with the appropriate selection of nuts is the best choice.
Many options that wild birds have in their diets will harm our birds over time. Many dietary choices available to humans will be detrimental to them as well. It is important to remember that they are birds that happen to live in our homes.
It is important for people to also realize that much of the damage done to our companions, due to improper diet, is something that builds up over time. They seem perfectly fine one day and then, sadly, the next day they are not.
Unfortunately many vets do not necessarily know how to truly read the avian blood panels. The key is not to see that the numbers are within range seen on the report. The key is to know the best numbers for the various species and to connect the dots between the various results and what that really means to our companions health.
I have learned first, second and third hand that many vets are also lacking in dietary understanding of our companions. Understanding the avian diet for each species really comes from living with and caring for them and socializing with others who successfully keep them.
The best care possible is a good avian vet that is willing to partner with us and our avian nutritionalists/consultant and look at the SPECIES SPECIFIC needs.
Our goals as keepers of our avian companions should always be to learn and improve. If we decide to take responsibility for an avian companion then we MUST take responsibility for providing the best care possible or else we have no business keeping them.
