Feeding Your Birds

1. Your bird should be fed a combination of foods. Seed, pellets, and fresh food may all be fed. There are many writings and opinions on what you should feed your bird. It is agreed on by most experts, that they should not be fed only seed. In the wild birds will eat seed along with other plants, fruits, or vegetables.
2. We recommend a combination of seed and pellets daily. This should be a good quality seed mix. It should not have many fatty seeds like sunflower. You can mix a dish that is seed mix and pellets. Give them enough for 1 day. You should change and clean their seed dish once per day.
3. Clean water should also be changed once per day. Watch the placement of your perches so that the bird does not soil it’s drinking water. If the water is dirty you should change it more often.
4. Fresh food may be served once per day. This should be in a separate dish from the seed and pellets. Fresh food may be left in the cage a few hours, but do not leave it to long as the food can spoil.
5. In general birds will like to eat what you eat. They can join at the table if you like which helps with the bonding process. Breakfast is a good time because it is mostly breads and cereals. Do not give them food full of sugar and should never be given chocolate.
6. You may use handfeeding formula, once per day, to supplement the other foods for no more than a couple weeks after your bird arrives. This will also help in the initial bonding process. See the section below on preparing the formula.

 Housing Your Pet

1. The cage should never be too small. This is you pet’s home and they need space to live and also room for toys. For example, for a Quaker a cage18x18x24 with ¾ inch bar spacing is good and the cage can never be too big.
2. Birds like toys. They use them to play, chew, and exercise. Do not use anything that has been chemically treated, most aren’t but be aware.
3. When the bird is young, you should keep a perch as low as it can go. This may be raised when you find it always stays up high. You should also put another perch at a normal height. That height should be even with the food dishes. If the food dishes are above all the perches the birds will sit there instead of the perches. Natural wood perches are preferable to dowels, because it gives the bird a varied grip, which is good for their feet.

 Handfeeding Formula

1. Combine formula (1/2 tablespoon) and hot water in a clean, sanitized container.
2. Mix formula thoroughly. Mixture should be moist enough to just fall off the spoon. Allow it to sit for one minute. It will firm up more while it sits. You may microwave, but be extra sure to stir fully to remove any hot spots that can occur.
3. Cool mixture to 105 degrees F. If you do not have a thermometer touch to your lip or inside of your wrist. If is too hot to touch then it is too hot for the bird. Use the same judgement as you would use for baby’s food. The final mixture should have a consistency of thick creamy pudding. If a smoother consistency is desired add a small amount of water, stir again and reheat if needed.
4. Using a spoon let your bird eat off the spoon.  You will find this enjoyable and your bird will begin the bonding process.  Do not force the bird to eat, it's their choice.  If they show no interest stop the feeding and never force feed.   Remember this is to be done only when you have a just weaned baby, not with older birds.  Most babies will stop on their own so watch for the signs.

Copyright 1999 CNC Aviary