WattaBird! Health and Nutrition for African LoveBirds 

Caring for our dear African LoveBirds should be taken with utmost importance.

We should continuously learn and update ourselves with knowledge on LoveBirds Health and Nutritional needs. It will be a shame if we only feed our LoveBirds to keep them alive.

Our goal should be to help our LoveBirds grow healthy and flourish.

Therefore, we have to give our LoveBirds a well-balanced diet.

---

“If You have any questions, suggestions, or topics to discuss, please leave a comment below.”

---

A well-balanced diet should include:

1. Mixed Seeds and Grains

Mixed Seeds and Grains are the most common feeds available in my nearest Pet shop. 

I prefer mixed seeds and grains from well-known brands since the mixture goes through special formulation to meet a well-balanced diet specific to African LoveBirds nutritional requirements. 

Mixed Seeds and Grains contain different combinations of white millet, yellow millet, black millet, red sorghum, canary seeds, oats, oat groat, clipped oats, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, flax-seeds, quinoa, whole wheat, and other seeds. 

There are also different mixtures or formulations for different stages of our LoveBirds to support their nutritional needs.

---

2. Supplements: Vitamins

I prefer powdered vitamins from a well-known brand that is specifically formulated for African LoveBirds. Based on my research, powdered supplements are often regarded as more stable.

I also place cuttlefish bone in each of the cages, to provide for my African LoveBird’s calcium needs.

---

This section is an excerpt from an article posted in Great Companions. This specific part provides an excellent explanation of the crucial vitamins for our LoveBirds.

Crucial Vitamins for Your Birds

Vitamins that your bird needs include vitamin A, E, D3, and B-complex. Vitamin A is considered an important skin vitamin that helps with the health of the eyes, feathers, reproductive system, and immune system. Vitamin A can be provided as beta carotene, which converts to vitamin A as needed. The rest is excreted. Vitamin A deficiency is the most common deficiency seen in pet birds. Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include white spots that catch infection, swollen eyes, dullness of feather color, wheezing, and weight loss.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and its prime function is to scavenge free radicals. Vitamin E regulates and protects vitamin A; it also prevents the B vitamins and vitamin C from oxidation. Although vitamin C usually breaks down before being consumed, it is important for strong cell walls and blood vessels.

Vitamin D3 is essential for healthy bones, feathers, and egg laying. This vitamin helps birds absorb calcium and use it in their bodies. Birds create vitamin D with the help of the sun or full-spectrum lighting. However, keep in mind that windows filter out the sun's UV rays, so birds will not receive sufficient vitamin D3 through a window.

Another group of vitamins that is important for birds are the B-complex vitamins, which include vitamins B6, B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, and biotin. Although each acid has its own important function, B-complex vitamins as a whole help break down food and nutrients for your bird's body to use. B-complex vitamins should be given to your bird on a daily basis because they are continually excreted from the body.

As for minerals, calcium is the most important for birds. Calcium is needed for strong bone formation, blood clotting, feather growth, and healthy eggs. Birds can receive calcium through supplements, cuttlebone, and mineral blocks.

Lastly, birds will benefit from balanced fatty acids, Omega-3 and Omega-6. Omega fatty acids assist the immune system and the body's ability to respond to disease. In the right proportions, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can help keep your bird healthy. 

Great Companions

---

3. Pellets

I have seen Pellets that are also available from the nearby Pet Shop or online shopping portals. These pellets are also formulated specifically for LoveBirds. There are different formulations for different stages of our LoveBirds.

I have not tried the pellets as this is not my personal preference.

---

4. Tips from Badilla Aviary

I have learned these tips from the Badilla Aviary public website. 

Part of their daily routine is to serve a mixture of chopped green pechay, carrots, and hard-boiled eggs, early in the morning. At the same time, water with diluted bird vitamins is served.

Then after an hour, the mixed seeds are served. The ration will cover for the entire day.

At mid-day, the water with diluted vitamins is removed and replaced with fresh water. The water ratio will be good until the following morning.

Dried cuttlefish bone is available all the time.

“For pairs that have produced some baby chicks, we immediately provide them with hand-feeding powder/mixture for birds which the parents can start giving to their babies. The reason we are doing this is because after two (2) weeks from hatching, we harvest the baby chicks and eventually provide them food three (3) times a day by hand-feeding. Hand-feeding powder/mixture, pechay, carrots, hard-boiled eggs, and lukewarm water are the ingredients of our hand-feeding formula.”

Badilla Aviary

---

The main objective of wattabird.com is to promote African Loverbirds Breeding as a hobby, share breeding experiences, tips, techniques, best practices, and most importantly, to promote camaraderie among LoveBird Breeders. 

WattaBird.com

---

---

Reference: VCA, Parenting First Cry, MSPCA, Badilla Aviary

---