Feeding Birds

Question 1

diet varies

Answer 1

• seeds, fruits, nectar, carnivores

Question 2

Why does a bird have rocks in the gizzard?

Answer 2

• to grind up food

Question 3

how is the gizzard tissue protected from damage from rocks ?

Answer 3

gizzard is lined with tough muscle layer and protective mucosal membrane

Question 4

feeding rocks?

Answer 4

• grit, oyster shells/limestones

Question 5

feeding methods

Answer 5

• human foods
• commercial pellets, crumbles, etc
• seeds

Question 6

human foods methods

Answer 6

• “eat what we eat”
• Yay: offer variety, no specialized feed to buy

Question 7

fruits and veggie soup popular among which bird types?

Answer 7

psittancines

Question 8

“Eat what we eat” MENU

Answer 8

• bread/rice, pasta
• fruit/veggies (psittacines)
• protein: eggs, meat, beans
• diary: VERY LITTLE LACTASE

Question 9

pellet method YAYs

Answer 9

• mixes e.thing tat
• eliminate picking fav foods
• decreases spoilage

Question 10

pellets method NAYs

Answer 10

• lackin variety
• hard to switch a bird to these
• cooking kills vitamins

Question 11

Seed diet

Answer 11

• SUNFLOWER SEEDS ONLY
  YAYs: cheap, easy to store, available

Question 12

Sunflower seeds

Answer 12

• high fat, nutrient deficiencies, birds may eat only these “addiction”

Question 13

Tips for seed’eating

Answer 13

• use seed mix
• still add some veggies
• eat other things in nature

Question 14

danger signs

Answer 14

• weight loss
• fluffing feathers, droopiness
• drastic change in droppings

Question 15

is it safe to feed uncooked rice to birds

Answer 15

generally safe, but in moderation

Question 16

hand-feeding babies: common / less common to feed what?

Answer 16

• common: cockatiels, parrots
• Odd: finches, canaries, budgies

Question 17

hand feeding babies FOOD musts:

Answer 17

• precise temperature
• moist feed
• yogurt texture
• cow’s milk = 13% solids

Question 18

hand feeding babies methods

Answer 18

• tube feeding (garage)
• spoon feeding

Question 19

Tube feeding aka: ___, YAYs, NAYs

Answer 19

• “gavage”
• YAYs, fast, better measure of consumption
• NAYs: more costly

Question 20

Spoon feeding YAYs

Answer 20

• cheaper
• nicer

Question 21

hand feeding babies METHODS musts:

Answer 21

• don’t feed if there’s food on crop
• birds should double weight in first 5 days
• weaning

Question 22

weaning

Answer 22

• 4-8 weeks of age
• start with soft bread or pellets
• add water
• will lose weight at this time

Question 23

hand feeding babies potential PROBLEMS

Answer 23

• aspiration fo food
• beak deforming
• pendulous crop
  -crop burns
• crop punctures
• infections
  “sour crop”
• diarrhear
• constipation
• splayed legs

Question 24

wing clipping

Answer 24

trimming primary feathers on 1/2 wings to prevent from flying freely -> ensure: safety in home environment

Question 25

wing clipping NAYS

Answer 25

• injury risk
• lack of exercise