Fancy colour mutation and diet?

[JadeW]

Cas and I just came back from out first time at the vet (huzzah clean bill of health!) and I was so glad when it sounded like I was pretty much doing everything right. She did bring up one concern about his diet though... As a fancy colour mutation cockatiel, he should only be on about a 40% pellet diet with the majority of what he eats being veggies. She said that it had to do with potential liver damage/disease/something bad. This has been the first time I've heard anything about this... Has anyone else heard of this or know more about what she was talking about?

[birdvet]

Hey. Both Cockatiels and Budgies are seed eating desert birds so should not be placed on a 100% pellet diet that is not specifically formulated for tiels or budgies (there is a brand in Aussie that is tailored to these critters). These species are susceptible to excess calcium and budgies in particular are susceptible to any dietary calcium over 0.5% - its toxic!!

The vitamin A content of pelleted diets also seems to be too high for these birds and can result in renal disease. Some avian specialists in Aussie theorise that budgies and Tiels, having evolved on a harsh diet, are really good at getting their nutrient requirements from the "sub-standard" diet so when offered a good quality diet they extract too many nutrients resulting in hypervitaminosis and hypermineralosis.

So I would continue to offer pellets (40-50%) with some seed (NOT sunflowers obviously but good quality millet etc.) and lots of fresh veges and a small amount of fruit. Remember, these guys didn't evolve with fruit in their diet so can't really process the sugars that well. Veges and grasses and other greens are more ideal. Try Sprouting some seed in a soil tray and offer that to Cas so he can forage and dig.

As for colour mutations, alas, as gorgeous as the little mutants are, they do have weaker genetics than the wild type colours so possibly more prone to the diet problems.

Hope this helps

[Kim S]

I agree. Mutationbirds are weaker than the normal colours. The more mutations you breed into one bird, the more trouble there is likely going to be.
Ino's (especially the whitefaced albino's) are known to have lesser resistance agains diseases. They also have more problems getting trough a heavy molt.
I know the yellowcheeks are prone to liverdisease.
The very bright yellow mutation can be a genetic colourdeviation, but the yellow colour can also be enhanced when the bird has a liverproblem.

Since your bird is a pet bird and doesnt have to worry about weatherinfluences an such I wouldnt worry about it. I dont feed my bird anything special, and most of them are rare mutations.
Mine really love dandelions and plantain.

[JadeW]

Thanks guys! That was some really wondergful and useful information! Yeah, I'm going to make some changes to Cas's diet to make sure he's eating more seeds and veggies. I even have a strategy to get him to eat them that will hopefully work Less pellets, more seeds, more veggies and I'm sure I'll have this little guy for a good long time~

I'd like to try some of that sprouting seeds idea, but I'm not sure which ones to try and if Cas won't be afraid of it or not want to touch it at all. My poor little mutant is such a picky eater after all

[Kim S]

Just use the seeds from his own seedmix

Put them in a dish with some water overnight. Make sure you rince them before you feed them. They are very likely to have some fungi growing on parts.

[birdvet]

I sprinkle some of the seed mix into soil and let it grow that way so my birds can forage in the "grass"

[Kim S]

That will work too

[JadeW]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll definitely have to try that I also have to admit how happy I am with how well Cas is taking to eating the veggies with his pellets. I'm so proud of my little guy~ I'm nust wondering about proportions. If he should be eating 40% pellets... That leaves 30% veg and 30% seeds to make up the rest of his diet. Approx or so, yes?

Wow, meal planning is so much harder when you want to make sure he gets enough of everything.

[birdvet]

Sounds good

Glad he likes his gourmet meals!!!