Pairs of parrots that are actively breeding have different nutritional requirements than pet or aviary birds. Calcium is drawn from the bones of the hen during egg production and this must be replenished to avoid weak, fragile bones and blood calcium deficiency. While there are chicks in the nest, the parent birds require significantly more food with a higher overall protein content to support proper growth in the nestlings. Therefore, it is critically important that breeding parrots receive a high-quality diet to meet their specific needs during the breeding season.
Instructions
1. Observe each pair of parrots for signs that they are entering breeding condition, such as "working the nest box." If your parrots are a species that spend little time working the box, you can rely on other cues to determine when to begin supplementation, such as when the birds begin mating.
2. Increase calcium in your parrots' they begin showing signs that breeding is imminent. There are several ways to go about this; if the hen readily consumes cuttlebone, you can simply be sure to replace it as soon as it is consumed. Some hens will require one or more cuttlebones each day as they near egg-laying. You can also put ground cuttlebone powder onto soft foods, or use a liquid calcium supplement. If using a liquid calcium supplement, check with your avian veterinarian for dosage instructions.
3. Switch from maintenance pellets to breeding pellets when the first egg begins to pip. Breeding pellets have increased protein and larger amounts of certain vitamins, which will support the rapid growth of the parrot chicks. It is not necessary to feed breeding pellets outside of the time period when the parent birds are feeding young.
4. Once the first chick has hatched, greatly increase the volume of food being offered to the pair of parrots. The chicks eat far more proportionally than their parents; depending on the species, you may need to offer three to five times as much food as usual.
5. Return the pair to their usual diet when the chicks are pulled for handfeeding, but continue calcium supplementation for a few weeks. This will ensure the hen's bones have been fully replenished before the clutch is laid.
Tags: breeding pellets, calcium supplement, diet when, , liquid calcium supplement