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Seeds as enrichment

Seeds as enrichment

2020-05-29

To anyone that has read my articles on diet, I have no love for the bird food manufacturers selling processed food to our birds.

As a background, I feed my birds a diet that is at least half seed, with added chop (dried fruits and vegetables), nuts, legumes, sprouted seeds, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

I’ve long argued that seed is enriching for birds to eat. They enjoy the challenge of opening and manipulating them. But there’s no research to prove that I’m right about my beliefs.

However, I did find one small reference to this on the website of Lafeber, one of the largest bird food manufacturers. In an article written by one of their vets, she says:

Seed-based diets promote normal behaviors such as beak and tongue manipulation of the various foods, sensation of textures for brain stimulation and foraging behaviors.

Nutritional Strategies for the Companion Parrot—LafeberVet—Susan Orosz, DVM—Dec 10, 2008—

Now, this isn’t an endorsement of heavy-seed diets, but a recognition that seed should have a place. The all pellet diet pushed by many manufacturers deprives birds of an enriching, natural behavior that they enjoy in the wild.

Their anatomy is uniquely designed to eat seeds and they manipulate them like they are juggling their food.

Food for thought.

Related Posts:

  • Variety and enrichment in a dry diet
    Variety and enrichment in a dry diet
  • Seeds and "bad fat"
    Seeds and "bad fat"
  • The uncomfortable debate: seeds or pellets?
    The uncomfortable debate: seeds or pellets?

diet, food for thought

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About me


Me with Guiness the owl
 

I’ve been a bird owner since 1981, ranging from bird breeder to bird rescue.

Many bird owners turn to the internet to learn how to care for their birds and they find information not backed by research or bird experts. Even vets will make claims and provide no evidence to back them up.

I’m here to dispel the myths and inject some science into our discussions about birds.

 

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