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It's just plain common
sense to realize that species native to drastically different
ecological and environmental climates, each with vastly different food sources
available, would have evolved with different nutritional needs.
Over the past few
several years, it has been acknowledged that nutritional needs do vary by
individual parrot species and, as a result, some manufacturers have
developed species specific formulated diets. For example,
low fat content for
Amazons, higher fat content for Macaws, increased vitamin A for Eclectus and low iron
diets for softbills.
There are ongoing
studies to understand the requirements of various species but honestly,
the science has a long way to go. Most of our knowledge
of avian nutritional requirements has been developed from studies conducted
on poultry....yes, chickens.
The basic nutrients
needed are the same for all avian species, however, the source of the
nutrients and levels required vary between species and even within a
species depending on the status of the individual bird (i.e., age,
activity level, breeding status, sex, health, size, environmental
conditions, etc.)
Bird owners are
encouraged to consult with their avian vet as well as to research the crops, fruits, nuts
and other flora indigenous to the geographical area native to their
species of bird. Armed with this knowledge, it is then possible to incorporate
the most appropriate foods and supplements into their birds
overall feeding plan.
Again, we would like to
emphasize, that
no one commercial diet comes close to simulating how our birds eat in
nature and none of the commercial diets provide for 100% of the
nutritional needs of our birds. We must arm ourselves
with as much knowledge as possible about our birds, their native
environment and to do the best we can to meet their needs by providing a
well rounded selection of healthy foods.
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