Ask Lafeber

Breath and seeds

Is it normal for a green cheek conure to breath heavy when hot and is there seeds in the normal pet shop mixes they cant eat

Hi Elmarie,

If a bird is panting – breathing heavily – he may be too hot, or overexerted or have a respiratory he does this after exercise, he may be out of shape and may need a better diet. If his diet is not nutritionally balanced, he is likely to overeat and get overweight. Panting when it is hot is a sign of being much too hot and the bird needs to be kept in a cooler environment. Generally a pet bird needs to be kept indoors and will be comfortable at the same temperature a people. As far as diet, most loose seed mixes are not fresh enough to retain their nutritional value. Here is a feeding guide to help you:

Bird Food Guide

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda