{"id":5471,"date":"2019-07-29T04:00:57","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T11:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbirdfoodever.com\/?p=5471"},"modified":"2019-07-29T04:00:57","modified_gmt":"2019-07-29T11:00:57","slug":"avian-malnutrition-feather-condition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/margolincom.com\/bbfe\/avian-malnutrition-feather-condition\/","title":{"rendered":"Avian Malnutrition and Feather Condition"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article appears in its entirety in the August 2019, issue #259 of Parrots magazine.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

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Feather damage caused by malnutrition. Click on image for larger image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Did you know that your bird’s feather condition, ragged edges and improper coloring can be a sign of avian malnutrition, undernutrition or imbalanced nutrition? <\/span><\/p>\n

And what about beaks? Do you know anyone who regularly has their bird\u2019s beak trimmed?\u00a0 <\/span>Did you know that an over grown or misshapen beak is another sign of avian malnutrition? <\/span><\/p>\n

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T<\/span>rimming a parrot\u2019s beak has become such a common occurrence that many do not realize that an over grown or mis-shaped beak is something to be concerned about. I’ll do a separate blog post on this topic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Feather Condition Tells the Story<\/h3>\n

In 2002, Greg Harrison, DVM, presented a protocol for identifying avian <\/span>nutritional deficiencies. The two key areas to look at include, first reviewing the diet and the foods a parrot actually eats. Secondly, to look at the condition of a parrot’s the beak, skin, nails and especially the feather condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Black tipped feathers caused by malnutrition. Click on image for larger image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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When looking at your parrot focus on the condition of their feathers and beak, it\u2019s easy to overlook the things you are used to seeing. The photos here will help you become aware of the feather condition abnormalities that can occur because of improper nutrition. You can click on the photos for a larger image.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sample Balanced meal for a Blue & Gold Macaw.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Examining a Parrot\u2019s Diet<\/span><\/h3>\n

Because I teach people how to use food to keep their birds healthy and happy I can instantly tell, by what is fed, if a parrot\u2019s food plan lacks essential nutrients. Using my approach to feeding foods that provide balanced avian nutrition ensures your parrots and finches are receiving all the nutrients they need. The \u2018old approach\u2019 of feeding a wide variety of different foods is actually missing hundreds of essential nutrients that a parrot must eat everyday. I’ll write an upcoming post explaining exactly the foods that are in these two foods bowls above.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Feather Condition and Clinical Manifestations of Dietary Imbalances<\/span><\/h3>\n

The areas where signs of malnutrition are often first seen are in the beak, skin, nails and feather condition. Hyperkeratosis (the thickening or abnormal growth) of the epithelial tissues is commonly seen in vitamin A or biotin deficiencies and is manifested by: <\/span><\/p>\n