Ask Lafeber

Nutrition

I have a7 or 8 year old lovebird that I got just after he was weaned. I have had cockatiels previously. 1 made it to age 32. The yield always liked to try human food like eggs pasta ( plain) broccoli apples. This little guy likes nutriberries cockatiel seed mix and chia seeds. He also gets avicake as well but doesn’t like as much as nutriberry. I have tried to get him to try many things and he runs away every time. The only things human that he likes are snap peas and a few licks of oikos lime yogurt. He’s very active and only goes to his cage to eat and drink and I know it’s a no no but I’m a back sleeper always and he sleeps on my chest under a baggy t-shirt. I never lock him up. I am more concerned with the nutrition part. Thanks so much

Hi,

The Nutri-Berries and Avi-Cakes are nutritionally balanced as a complete diet, so it’s not the worst thing if he refuses to eat fresh foods. You should stop feeding the cockatiel mix. This is just giving him empty calories, which will cause him to over eat and get too fat. I know it is confusing because our foraging diets contain seeds. However, in a loose mix, the seeds are generally not fresh enough to retain any nutrients and if vitamins are added, they are lost when he removes the hull. We use fresh, human grade seeds with the hulls removed, along with other fresh human grade ingredients. Every ingredient is coated with a nutritionally balanced binder, which gives him complete nutrition in every bite. We do encourage owners to offer fresh foods, but the bird is still getting the nutrition he needs as long as the Nutri-Berries and Avi-Cakes are 80% of his diet without adding loose seeds. I know after this many years you are wondering why he seems healthy, but they do live a long time and it can take many years for the effects of an unhealthy food cause illness. Much like with humans.

I am much more concerned with allowing him to sleep with you. I know it has worked so far, but I do have to warn you & remind other owners that allowing a parrot to sleep in your bed is dangerous for him, and can also lead to hormonal issues. Sadly many owners have at some point rolled over on their bird and smothered it.

I’m glad you love your little bird – lovebirds are great companions!

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda