Time to wake up all the Experts

[Tman007]

I am off today so I have been thinking about my parrots nutrition. Here is my question We as mammals if we take vitamins and over do it, most of the extra will go out in our urine. Can parrots get rid of the extra vitamins in their system or do they retain all of what the take in. And that is why adding extra vitamins is not good for our flock? I was wondering as I am making up some sweet potato and veggies for my flock. Because my thinking is, just say we feed a natural diet but they get to much of say vitamin A would that effect them in any way. They would have to release some of the vitamin A. Or would they? that's my question for the day. Thanks to all who chime in

[Wolf]

Most vitamins that are in excess will pass through and not cause too much of a problem, if they are water soluble, but there are some things to consider one being that if you give too much of a water soluble vitamin every day then it may not be much help that the excess will pass because you keep giving too much.
Fat soluble vitamins do not pass through the system as readily as the water soluble vitamins and as a result can build up to toxic levels in the birds system, or in ours.

[Tman007]

Thanks Wolf that's what I was looking for.

[Wolf]

Not a problem, glad to help whenever I can.

[Cage Cleaner]

K

[Wolf]

I disagree with you cage cleaner in that anything can be overdosed. Normally this will nor happen with a water soluble vitamin, but you don't have to have an actual overdose all you need to do is maintain an abnormally high level of them. This is just my opinion.

[Pajarita]

You can also get too much of some of the B vitamins - and let's not forget the minerals always included in the usual bird vitamins you find out there and even pellets because too much calcium and too much iron can be fatal (birds on a good diet do not require any iron supplement but all pellets and vitamins have it - same as B12 which birds don't need it because they produce it themselves). Also, although it was believed that high dosages of betacarotene were safe, we are now finding out that they are not (not that feeding them sweet potato every day will cause them any harm).

[Tman007]

I just want to add, that I don't give my flock added vitamins. I was just thinking what would cause a parrot to get to much vitamins. I give my flock fresh veggies every day and fruit. And I change up every day so it's not just the same thing ever day. They get their sweet potato. about three times a week, mixed in with other veggies.
Thanks for the information everyone.

[Cage Cleaner]

Lol

[Cage Cleaner]

Lol