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Companion Animal Birds and Nutrition

Companion Animal Birds and Nutrition. Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D. February 19, 2014. Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Companion Animal Birds. Types of birds and their origins Suitability of specific species as companion animals. Australian Species.

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Companion Animal Birds and Nutrition

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  1. Companion Animal Birds and Nutrition Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D. February 19, 2014 Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

  2. Companion Animal Birds • Types of birds and their origins • Suitability of specific species as companion animals

  3. Australian Species • Budgies • Cockatiels • Cockatoos

  4. http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/parakeets/budgies.php Budgerigar, Parakeets Family:PsittacidaeSubfamily:Psittacinae Tribe:Platycercini Genus: MelopsittacusSpecies: M. undulatus Budgies • ~ 7 inches long • Several color varieties • Relatively short lived • Hardy and inquisitive • Good first time bird pet

  5. http://www.birdshelpline.bravehost.com/Cockatielpictures.htmlhttp://www.birdshelpline.bravehost.com/Cockatielpictures.html Order:PsittaciformesFamily:CacatuidaeSubfamily:CalyptorhynchinaeGenus:NymphicusSpecies:N. hollandicus Cockatiels • Larger and longer lived than budgies • 12 inches/18-30 years • Not Noisy • Companionable birds • Can be finger tamed

  6. www.birdsnways.com Order:PsittaciformesFamily:CacatuidaeSubfamilies: Microglossinae Calyptorhynchinae Cacatuinae Cockatoos • Large crested psittacines • Very long lived • 75 years • Can be talkative • Many different varieties • Companionable but demanding • Bond to one person

  7. http://www.flickr.com/photos/acousticdad/369753580/in/set-72157594474733297/http://www.flickr.com/photos/acousticdad/369753580/in/set-72157594474733297/ Sulfur Crested Cockatoo

  8. http://birds.bizhosting.com/ Umbrella Cockatoo

  9. Australian Species • Over 20 species • Islands of South Asia, Pacific, and Australia

  10. New World Psittacines • Macaws • Hyacinth • Military • Blue and Gold • Scarlet • Amazons • Conures

  11. http://www.zonianlady.com/panamaanimals/panamaanimals.html

  12. www.atasim.org/links.html Blue and Gold Military Order:PsittaciformesFamily:PsittacidaeSubfamily:PsittacinaeTribe:AriniGenera: Ara Anodorhynchus Cyanopsitta Primolius Orthopsittaca Diopsittaca Macaws • Long lived • 100 years • South American • Large • Companionable and demanding

  13. http://utopiabirds.winsoft.net.au/websal.htm Order:PsittaciformesFamily:PsittacidaeSubfamily:PsittacinaeTribe:AriniGenus:Amazona Amazons • Many species of Amazons • Medium sized • 10-18 inches • Central and South America • Relatively long lived • 20-30 years

  14. http://www.popularpetparrots.com/conures/images/sa2.jpg Order:PsittaciformesFamily:PsittacidaeSubfamily:PsittacinaeTribe:AriniGenus:Aratinga Conures • Small to medium sized • Central and South America • Largest class of psittacines • Vocal

  15. http://www.pocanticohills.org/4thgrade/06/isafricangreyparrot.htmhttp://www.pocanticohills.org/4thgrade/06/isafricangreyparrot.htm http://www.back2backjobs.com/images/lovebird4.jpg African Psittacines • African Grey parrot • Long lived • Intelligent • Medium-sized • Lovebirds • Small • 5-15 years

  16. http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/NPLPOD/1138693~Five-Canaries-of-Different-Colours-Posters.jpghttp://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/NPLPOD/1138693~Five-Canaries-of-Different-Colours-Posters.jpg Order:PasseriformesFamily:FringillidaeGenus:SerinusSpecies:S. canaria Canaries • Domesticated finches • Atlantic Islands • Origin of name • Primarily kept as songbirds

  17. Canary in the Coal Mine • Risk of toxicity in birds • Very sensitive • High metabolism • Specific enzyme differences • Heavy Metals • Zinc • Lead • Smoke and fumes • Non-stick cookware • Nicotine

  18. Toxicities • Anatomy and metabolism put birds at risk • Zinc • Lead • Nicotine • Inhalants • Avocado

  19. http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/multimedia/birdlungs/avian_anat.html Anatomical Differences • Bones • Lungs • Beaks

  20. http://www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/gesparasiten/grabmilben_en.htmhttp://www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/gesparasiten/grabmilben_en.htm http://www.lbah.com/avian/egg_binding.htm#dx Common Diseases • Mites • Cause scaling of beak and feet • Parrots, budgies, canaries • Egg binding • Low calcium

  21. http://www.beaksnbills.com/i/abba-ing-sm.jpg Nutrition • Unsupplemented seed is inappropriate • An appropriate balance of the following (as required by the particular species): • Fruits • Vegetables • Grains • Nuts • Pellets • Fortified seeds

  22. Bird Nutrition: • Birds have a relatively high metabolic rate • Starvation can occur quickly in small birds • Birds do not naturally select a balanced diet • Commercial balanced diets are available • Diet types come in pellets, crumbles, bars...

  23. Bird Nutrition: • Birds have a unique digestive system • No teeth for chewing • Grit in diet • Crop for moistening • Two compartment stomach: • Proventriculus for acid/enzyme secretion • Ventriculus for crushing (grit facilitates) • Also called “gizzard” • Well developed, paired ceca • Usually observed in ground dwelling foul

  24. http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1187-3.jpg Poultry Tract:

  25. Bird Nutrition: • Free choice feeding with seed bars common • Meal feeding may assist the bird in developing a bond with caretaker • For variety and enrichment: • Baby chick scratch feed • Corn on the cob • Fruits and vegetables…limit table foods to 25%

  26. Bird Nutrition: Seeds • Birds prefer seeds, but there are considerable differences in seed preferences • Seeds are easy to feed • Within seed species, nutrient variability is low • Considerable variability between seed types

  27. Bird Nutrition: Seeds • Seeds tend to be low in calcium, but adequate in phosphorus • Seeds are not good sources of many vitamins, especially A • Seeds do not have a good essential amino acid balance

  28. Selected Seeds: • corn - low protein; crack; for bigger birds? • sorghum - low protein; rejection? • flax - high oil/energy • millet - low protein; major use; small birds • niger/thistle - very small seed; finches • hulled oats/groats - cockatiels, small birds • sunflower - high fat; high hull

  29. “Domestic Birds” • Chickens/Ducks/Geese • Commercial feed readily available • Plus “free range” items • Ostrich/Emu - Commercial feeds • Fresh/processed alfalfa commonly fed

  30. Avian Nutrition • Nutritional deficiencies a leading cause of disease • Metabolic demands • Small animals • Species specific requirements • Diet types and origin of species • Dry versus tropical environment • Seed versus mixed diet

  31. Inappropriate Diets • Even bird species which subsist on primarily seed diets in the wild cannot be fed an unfortified diet • Fortified seed • Pelleted feed • Cuttlefish bone

  32. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Georgia-Aquarium-Cuttlefish-RZ.jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Georgia-Aquarium-Cuttlefish-RZ.jpg

  33. Hand Reared/Captive Bred • Hand reared birds • Better bonding to humans • Health and disease • Captive bred • Import restrictions?

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