A Complete Guide on Bird Supplies

When you decide to add a new family member, whether it is a cat, a dog or a bird, you have to be fully informed about the necessities of this pet so that you can offer it the best life. If your little friend is happy that means it is healthy, therefore you can enjoy having a healthy pet and do not have to worry about it. Birds are not complicated pets as long as you treat them well and the bird food you choose is important for them to be as healthy as possible. There are a lot of bird supplies that represent a good option for you and your pet.

Understanding Bird Nutrition and What Bird Food to Choose

Having a bird makes you realize what a smart creature it is and how it can form very strong bonds with its owner, therefore it deserves a high quality bird food to make them happy and healthy. And if you want your bird to be this way you need to know that nutrition is the most important factor for it. Obviously the seeds are the traditional choice of many bird owners and especially if they are made by experienced companies such as Avigrain that do not contain mould, dust or any other type of unfavourable elements.

Even though every bird owner goes for the traditional option of bird food with seeds, lately there was another option that offers significant benefits for a bird’s health, namely the bird pellets that can provide a complete and balanced diet. Bird pellets have ingredients that ensure your bird gets all of the essential nutrients from every bite. The thing about bird seeds is that they choose to consume only the seeds they like, especially the high-fat options and this way the bird is not consuming all the nutrients they need. But with the bird pellets you make sure that your feathered companion gets all the nutrients it needs while also guaranteeing optimal nutrition and supporting healthy digestion.

Types of Bird Supplies

There are different types of bird supplies that you can get for your bird, whether they are from a pet shop or you choose to give them some treats from time to time. Cornell Lab also mentions ‘The seed that attracts the widest variety of birds, and so the mainstay for most backyard bird feeders, is sunflower. Other varieties of seed can help attract different types of birds to round out your backyard visitors.’

The first option and the most common one is the seeds. These are a traditional and common part of a bird’s diet, but it is not completely okay to rely only on them. If you do, then it might lead to nutritional imbalances for your bird. You can feed your feathered friend a mix of seeds that include a variety of options such as millet, safflower or sunflower.

The second option that gained a lot of popularity lately is the pellets, as mentioned before. This option is formulated to ensure that the bird receives all the necessary nutrients and provides a balanced diet. A lot of veterinarians recommend the pellets as a bird’s food because of their nutritional consistency. They are also available in different sizes and also adapted to different species.

Next you can feed your bird fresh fruits and vegetables. When you include fresh fruits and vegetables in your feathered friend’s diet you automatically add a variety of essential nutrients and vitamins. You can try and feed your bird apples, leafy greens or carrots but try to avoid toxic options such as onions or avocados.

The last recommendation is freeze-dried and live foods, these can represent a protein treat for your little friend. Adding insects to your bird’s diet can grow the protein intake, this being an advantage to its health. This might be the perfect treat, especially if you have a bird with insectivorous tendencies. Anyway, the key to preventing a nutritional imbalance is moderation.

Bird Feeding Tips and Advice

If you are completely new in this bird owner thing, then here are some tips and advice on how you should start. The first advice is, before you jump on buying expensive food and not knowing anything about your bird, you can start by feeding it sunflower seeds until you get all the information you need. This way everything will be balanced until you find the right food for your bird. Most birds love this food and it is a safe option.

Then you have to look at your bird’s beak. It will hint what it usually eats. For example, a stout beak represents a seed eater, while a sharp beak suggests insect eaters or a hooked beak indicates a carnivore in some cases. Therefore, either you buy a bird or you want to feed the ones from your garden, the first thing you need to do is to observe their beaks.

Another tip is to give your bird a small amount of food but refill it as often as it needs. This way you can give it fresh food. A bird will avoid eating wet pellets for example. But in the winter and spring you need to be very careful with the food because in these seasons they need extra nutrients from bird supplies, especially for the birds in your garden.

Conclusion

Having a bird will make you search a lot of information whether it is about their nutrition, their needs or their traits. But at the end of the day, if you follow some simple steps you can ensure your feathered companion a healthy and long life while also gaining a good friend. The birds are well known for the strong bonds they form with their owners, therefore they deserve the best treatment they can get, such as any other pet after all. Even if you choose seeds or pellets as a main bird food for your companion, make sure you mix the bird supplies to ensure a balanced and healthy diet.