CALCIUM
Calcium plays a role in blood coagulation, maintains normal heart rhythm, transmits nerve impulses, calcifies egg shells, contracts the uterus during egg laying, and activates several enzyme systems. Seizures, as well as leg paralysis, have been associated with low blood calcium. Sudden collapse or fainting is characteristic of advanced calcium deficiency in Greys. Of all the species, Greys are most likely to suffer seizures from low blood calcium.
Anecdotal stories suggest some feather plucking may be caused by inadequate blood calcium levels.
Excessive levels of blood calcium can cause very serious and life threatening renal problems - mineralization of the kidneys and the renal tubes.
Be very careful with calcium supplements. Indiscriminate and excessive use of these supplements is dangerous and could become life threatening. The only time a calcium supplement should be given to a companion bird is after an abnormally low blood level is diagnosed and an avian vet prescribes supplementation.
The best way to prevent problems is to have a blood calcium level test done at the annual exam and to take your bird to the vet immediately at the first sign of illness. Since birds hide symptoms of illness, by the time there are symptoms (of whatever disease process), they are very sick indeed.
If a Grey is on a pellet-based varied diet - and such a diet may include high calcium foods such as almonds, low fat cheese, yogurt or veggies - he should not be given supplements unless prescribed by an avian vet. It is very important that a blood calcium test be performed at each annual exam, since calcium levels can change over time. Young birds will typically have a lower concentration than older companion birds.
Anecdotal stories suggest some feather plucking may be caused by inadequate blood calcium levels.
Excessive levels of blood calcium can cause very serious and life threatening renal problems - mineralization of the kidneys and the renal tubes.
Be very careful with calcium supplements. Indiscriminate and excessive use of these supplements is dangerous and could become life threatening. The only time a calcium supplement should be given to a companion bird is after an abnormally low blood level is diagnosed and an avian vet prescribes supplementation.
The best way to prevent problems is to have a blood calcium level test done at the annual exam and to take your bird to the vet immediately at the first sign of illness. Since birds hide symptoms of illness, by the time there are symptoms (of whatever disease process), they are very sick indeed.
If a Grey is on a pellet-based varied diet - and such a diet may include high calcium foods such as almonds, low fat cheese, yogurt or veggies - he should not be given supplements unless prescribed by an avian vet. It is very important that a blood calcium test be performed at each annual exam, since calcium levels can change over time. Young birds will typically have a lower concentration than older companion birds.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Vitamins and minerals are an essential part of keeping your bird healthy. Giving your parrot a good healthy varied diet plays a huge role in the well-being of your bird. Plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and some animal proteins are essential in your birds diet, but as some of us have experienced-that is not always possible as there are many birds that are fussy eaters! You may also find that at times of stress such as breeding, moulting, and in sickness you parrot may need that extra boost to keep him topped up.
Grit is very important too as it helps to grind up food in the birds gizzard, Remember birds do not have teeth to breakdown the food they eat and in the wild they would search out tiny pieces of stone to aid digestion.
Cuttlefish is great for keeping birds beaks in trim and for added calcium and Iodine blocks also provide important trace elements that aren't readily available.
Grit is very important too as it helps to grind up food in the birds gizzard, Remember birds do not have teeth to breakdown the food they eat and in the wild they would search out tiny pieces of stone to aid digestion.
Cuttlefish is great for keeping birds beaks in trim and for added calcium and Iodine blocks also provide important trace elements that aren't readily available.
GOOD PROBIOTICS FOR YOUR BIRDS HEALTH
Probiotics
Supplementing your birds' diet with probiotics
becomes more and more attractive for bird owners.
THE BENEFICIAL HEALTH REASONS ARE VARIOUS:
• Increases immune system strength.
• Assures optimum guts microflora
(essential for good digestion).
• Helps parent birds to inoculate there young when
they are still in the nest.
• Restore guts microflora after antibiotic treatment.
• Potentially increases lifespan.
Probiotics are part of Functional Foods (foods that promote health
benefits) they are designer foods with effects that extend beyond
basic nutrition. They can serve to prevent certain illnesses,
strengthen the immune system, or promote good digestion. Such
health effects are achieved by adding certain active substances.
Another term for such a food can be "nutraceutical" (nutrition and
pharmaceutical).
Probiotics are live bacteria, which survive but do not stay in the
host digestive system for very long. When they are present, they
help the development of native beneficial bacteria
There are numerous benefits that can come with the usage of
probiotics for bird keepers and breeders.
But what really ensures a product to be actually effective? When using a good probiotics
you should see differences in the dropping within 24 hours. They
will be firmer and look healthy. This is the first sign that can give
us insight to the product's effectiveness.
Probiotics for exotic birds must be specially designed for them,
they must be avian specific. Since a bird's body temperature is
higher than mammals the probiotic type bacteria found in the gut
flora are different.
There are now some great avian probiotics available on the market which can be simply added to your birds water.
Supplementing your birds' diet with probiotics
becomes more and more attractive for bird owners.
THE BENEFICIAL HEALTH REASONS ARE VARIOUS:
• Increases immune system strength.
• Assures optimum guts microflora
(essential for good digestion).
• Helps parent birds to inoculate there young when
they are still in the nest.
• Restore guts microflora after antibiotic treatment.
• Potentially increases lifespan.
Probiotics are part of Functional Foods (foods that promote health
benefits) they are designer foods with effects that extend beyond
basic nutrition. They can serve to prevent certain illnesses,
strengthen the immune system, or promote good digestion. Such
health effects are achieved by adding certain active substances.
Another term for such a food can be "nutraceutical" (nutrition and
pharmaceutical).
Probiotics are live bacteria, which survive but do not stay in the
host digestive system for very long. When they are present, they
help the development of native beneficial bacteria
There are numerous benefits that can come with the usage of
probiotics for bird keepers and breeders.
But what really ensures a product to be actually effective? When using a good probiotics
you should see differences in the dropping within 24 hours. They
will be firmer and look healthy. This is the first sign that can give
us insight to the product's effectiveness.
Probiotics for exotic birds must be specially designed for them,
they must be avian specific. Since a bird's body temperature is
higher than mammals the probiotic type bacteria found in the gut
flora are different.
There are now some great avian probiotics available on the market which can be simply added to your birds water.
AVIPRO PLUS PROBIOTIC
Avipro Plus is a highly palatable, water soluble probiotic enhanced with vitamins A, C & E, great for sick or stressed birds.
Ingredients
Prebiotic and probiotic combination of bacteria, enzymes, electrolytes and vitamins A, C and E.
How to Use
As a routine nutritional aid, 1 scoop per 200ml drinking water can be used.
For support of stressed birds use 4g (one scoop) per 100ml of drinking water.
Ingredients
Prebiotic and probiotic combination of bacteria, enzymes, electrolytes and vitamins A, C and E.
How to Use
As a routine nutritional aid, 1 scoop per 200ml drinking water can be used.
For support of stressed birds use 4g (one scoop) per 100ml of drinking water.
Nutrobal Powdered Calcium / D3 Supplement
A powdered high calcium supplement with vitamin D3 Designed to help during growth and breeding in all birds. Add to fruit, vegetables or soft food for the best results
ingredients Per gram
Vitamins A 500iu, D3 150iu, E 20iu, K 0.05mg, B1 0.5mg, B2 0.6mg, B6 0.3mg, B12 1.2ug, C 2.5mg. Biotin 0.001mg Folic Acid 0.15mg Nicotinic Acid 2.5mg Pantothenic Acid 0.5mg Choline Chloride 6mg Calcium 208mg Phosphorus 4.5mg CP ratio 46:1 Sodium 2mg Iron 3mg Cobalt 0.05mg Iodine 0.05mg Manganese 1.75mg Zinc 3mg Selenium 0.005mg Copper 0.75mg
How to Use
To correct diets deficient in calcium, a small pinch well scattered on food
ingredients Per gram
Vitamins A 500iu, D3 150iu, E 20iu, K 0.05mg, B1 0.5mg, B2 0.6mg, B6 0.3mg, B12 1.2ug, C 2.5mg. Biotin 0.001mg Folic Acid 0.15mg Nicotinic Acid 2.5mg Pantothenic Acid 0.5mg Choline Chloride 6mg Calcium 208mg Phosphorus 4.5mg CP ratio 46:1 Sodium 2mg Iron 3mg Cobalt 0.05mg Iodine 0.05mg Manganese 1.75mg Zinc 3mg Selenium 0.005mg Copper 0.75mg
How to Use
To correct diets deficient in calcium, a small pinch well scattered on food
VETARK ACE-HIGH
Powdered vitamin and mineral supplement for birds Ace-High has extra vitamins A, C & E. Used regularly, these help to meet the bird`s high requirement for the vitamins vital for their everyday well-being.
Ingredients Per gram
Vitamins A 2530iu, D3 55iu, E 122iu, K 0.055mg, B1 0.52mg, B2 0.66mg, B6 0.33mg, B12 1.32ug, C 250mg. Biotin 0.0055mg Folic Acid 0.165mg Nicotinic Acid 2.75mg Pantothenic Acid 0.55mg Choline Chloride 6.6mg Calcium 9.9mg Phosphorus 4.95mg CP ratio 2:1 Sodium 2.2mg Iron 3.3mg Cobalt 0.005mg Iodine 0.005mg Manganese 1.925mg Zinc 3.3mg Selenium 0.0055mg Copper 0.825mg
How to Use
1 small pinch on food,scattered well
Ingredients Per gram
Vitamins A 2530iu, D3 55iu, E 122iu, K 0.055mg, B1 0.52mg, B2 0.66mg, B6 0.33mg, B12 1.32ug, C 250mg. Biotin 0.0055mg Folic Acid 0.165mg Nicotinic Acid 2.75mg Pantothenic Acid 0.55mg Choline Chloride 6.6mg Calcium 9.9mg Phosphorus 4.95mg CP ratio 2:1 Sodium 2.2mg Iron 3.3mg Cobalt 0.005mg Iodine 0.005mg Manganese 1.925mg Zinc 3.3mg Selenium 0.0055mg Copper 0.825mg
How to Use
1 small pinch on food,scattered well
VETARK AVIMIX
Powdered vitamin and mineral supplement designed to be added to fruit or soft food.
Ideal if your bird eats a lot of fruits, vegetables or soft food. Helps to ensure your bird isn`t missing out on any of its essential dietary requirements.Contains a mix of Nutrobal (contains calcium with vitamin D3) and ACE-High (contains vitamins A, C & E).
Ingredients
Vitamins A 1177iu, D3 118iu, E 54iu, K 0.05mg, B1 0.52mg, B2 0.62mg, B6 0.31mg, B12 1.24ug, C 85mg. Biotin 0.0025mg Folic Acid 0.16mg Nicotinic Acid 2.58mg Pantothenic Acid 0.52mg Choline Chloride 6.2mg Calcium 142mg Phosphorus 4.65mg CP ratio 30:1 Sodium 2.07mg Iron 3.1mg Cobalt 0.05mg Iodine 0.05mg Manganese 1.81mg Zinc 3.1mg Selenium 0.005mg Copper 0.78mg
How to Use
Small pinch well scattered on food
Ideal if your bird eats a lot of fruits, vegetables or soft food. Helps to ensure your bird isn`t missing out on any of its essential dietary requirements.Contains a mix of Nutrobal (contains calcium with vitamin D3) and ACE-High (contains vitamins A, C & E).
Ingredients
Vitamins A 1177iu, D3 118iu, E 54iu, K 0.05mg, B1 0.52mg, B2 0.62mg, B6 0.31mg, B12 1.24ug, C 85mg. Biotin 0.0025mg Folic Acid 0.16mg Nicotinic Acid 2.58mg Pantothenic Acid 0.52mg Choline Chloride 6.2mg Calcium 142mg Phosphorus 4.65mg CP ratio 30:1 Sodium 2.07mg Iron 3.1mg Cobalt 0.05mg Iodine 0.05mg Manganese 1.81mg Zinc 3.1mg Selenium 0.005mg Copper 0.78mg
How to Use
Small pinch well scattered on food