Hi!  I'm Cookie!  We're cooking up some ideas for keeping us feathered friends safe when it comes to foods.  There are lots of foods out there that them humans eat that we shouldn't be allowed to have.  So wer'e going to talk about some of the bad foods, maybe some good foods, and share some stories from friends.  So, pull up a stool or a perch, and let's eat ... er... talk!

Purchasing Bird Foods

We strongly recommend only purchasing bird foods in original manufacturer packaging. Some vendors will buy in bulk and repackage in smaller amounts to save money.  This can lead to contamination and freshness problems if proper sanitation and environmental controls are not maintained. Birds digestive systems are very prone to problems resulting from these practices. Many manufacturers will recommend against purchasing their foods if they have been repackaged, and will not guarantee freshness or safety if repackaged.

Unsafe Foods

The following foods should be considered unsafe for companion birds.

Story Bird: Benji

Clip-Its

Story Bird: Story Bird: Petie

Pellets

Often a controversial issue, we consider pellets as part of a balanced diet for birds.  We must remember that we have isolated our birds out of their natural environment, put them into cages, and limited their exercise, and ability to forage for the proper balance of nutritional components.  Remember, the number one killer of birds is obesity related to diet!  Birds on just seeds can get too fat or have liver problems. Be sure to consult your avian vet for proper nutrition information for your species of bird.  If one is very careful and diligent to feed the correct balance of natural foods, this can be accomplished without the use of pellets, but for most of us pellets offer the ability to give our birds the necessary nutrients they need.  That said, getting birds to eat pellets is another story, some do, some don't.  Try different brands, talk to your vet, watch your bird's weight when trying different pellets.  If your bird will not eat pellets, try "pellet biscuits."  Below is a recipe for one form. You can use different brands of pellets, but they need to be ground into a fine consistency or one that softens when mixed.  The recipe works best with a pellet in a mash form (like Harrison's Mash) or a finely ground pellet like the ZuPreem canary/finch blend or Roudybush crumbles.

PELLET BISCUITS

• 1 cup pellet mash or pulverized pellets. 

• Add 1 small (4oz) jar babyfood (we prefer squash or sweet potatoes).

• Optional: Add one to two teaspoons of Goldenfeast Gardenflora Blend to add some greens to the mix.

• Mix well.
  
  Spread into a microwave-safe glass loaf pan, cut out about an half-inch-wide rectangle in the middle (so it cooks evenly), and microwave on 50-percent power for about 2-1/2 minutes, depending on the microwave.  Cooking times will vary depending on your microwave and how well cooked you want the biscuits.
   

IMPORTANT:  Cool before serving!  Microwaves can leave "hot" spots, so be extra careful and check to see if they are cool.  I suggest eating one to test it! <G>

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