Feeding Caged Birds

Whenever possible, fruit juice (apple juice is a good starter) should be substituted for the drinking water. As an alternative, Tang (or its equivalent) can be added to the drinking water. This may not be a practical suggestion for birds that habitually bathe in their drinking water. These additives or fruit juices provide more nutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.) than water alone and they help to mask the taste of other items, (vitamins, antibiotics if necessary, etc) that may be added to the drinking water. Fruit juices that produce stains (for example, grape juice) should not be used. Water to which perishable items have been added or fruit juices must be changed every 12-24 hours and perhaps even more often on especially warm days, to prevent spoilage. Actually, even plain water should be changed with the same frequency for the same reasons.

Smaller caged birds should be fed as follows:
Every day, offer greens (spinach, broccoli, carrot tops, celery leaves, parsley, etc) grated carrot, grated cheese, hard-boiled or scrambled egg, canned tuna fish (packed in water) dry cereals, stale or toasted whole wheat bread (crumbled or in cubes), and small bits of other vegetables and fruits. Some birds may accept soft food items, such as peanut butter, cooked cereals, applesauce, and other strained fruits and vegetables.

These suggestions are made to accommodate bird owners who are bewildered by the apparent complexities of offering a "balanced" diet and who have very little time each day to prepare and offer the "right" foods. Bird owners who do not cook or eat at home will find these suggestions helpful because they can prepare all of these items with only initial preparation and offer them daily with little effort.

It is wise to offer pound cake to caged birds of all sizes and get them accustomed to eating it. Once your bird begins to accept pound cake, certain liquid medications can be soaked into the cake if necessary. This makes administration of medication much easier in some cases.

Vitamin A must be readily available in the diet and consumed in adequate quantities by caged birds to maintain healthy eyes, skin, feathers, and linings of their gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive tracts. Foods rich in Vitamin A include cod liver oil, cooked liver, egg yolk, apricots, corn, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach and parsley. Seeds are notoriously deficient in Vitamin A.

Caged birds rarely receive enough sunlight and, therefore, rarely benefit from its ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet (UV) light is necessary to facilitate certain chemical reactions within the skin that in turn, enable optimal absorption of calcium (necessary for healthy muscles and bones) by the intestinal tract. There is no UV light benefit when sunlight is received through window glass. Consequently, you should take your bird outside on warm, sunny days as often as possible. Your bird's wings should be clipped or the bird should be securely confined within a suitable cage. Make certain that neighborhood cats and wild birds are prevented access to your bird. It is also important for you to provide areas of sunlight and shade for your bird so that it can move into the shade if it becomes too warm.

Many bird owners use artificial UV light sources to replace the regular incandescent and fluorescent lightbulbs in the rooms in which their birds are housed. The most popular and recommended light source of this type is the Vita-Lite (Duro-Lite Lamps, Duro-Test Corp., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071).

The subject of bacterial contamination of food and water for caged birds is rather controversial. Many apparently healthy caged birds harbor potentially harmful bacteria within their intestinal tracts. These organisms can create illness during periods of stress (short or long-standing) for your bird.

Many veterinarians agree that Gram-negative bacteria (coliform type) can contaminate seeds, seed mixes, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and even tap water. Consequently, it may be advisable to bake or microwave seeds and seed mixes (spread seeds to a depth of 1 inch in a Pyrex dish and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, stirring once, or microwaave on high setting for 5 minutes). This seems to eliminate these potentially harmful bacteria without compromising the nutritional value of the seed.

The skins of all fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before being offered to your bird. One study clearly demonstrated that colony counts of potentially harmful bacteria in tap water samples could be greatly reduced by allowing the tap to run for at least 3 minutes before the water cup was filled. Offering bottled water is probably an acceptable alternative, though bottled water dispensers occasionally harbor disease-carrying bacteria. the spigot should be opened for a few seconds and water allowed to run before filling the water container.

The recommendations mentioned above should help you to offer the correct foods, but there is no guarantee that your pet bird will accept and consume any or all of them.

© Theresa Jordan/Jordan Enterprises, 1997
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Certificate No: 1170
First Registered: 3/1/1997