BIRDS & BIRDKEEPING Companion Parrots
COVER STORY
LAST time I quoted a set of questions on feeding that I'd sent to a range of companion parrot caregivers. Here are some answers based on responses from people I know.
Exercise
Wild birds need a high-energy diet because they fly long distances. Our birds don't. An American vet wrote that 80 per cent of his cases were down to poor nutrition. Obese parrots, like obese people, have been eating too many calories. Captive birds might need the same volume of food as free-flying birds but with lower fat content, so unless they take plenty of exercise, they need the fat content of their diet restricted. As with all animals, the more physical activity, the more fuel is needed.
Also, temperature is
