FEEDING A LOVEBIRD

General information

There is a lot of information available about diets for pet birds and as time goes on, our
knowledge continues to improve. This is due to heightened awareness of the importance of
nutrition plus increased research involving pet and wild birds.
As with all other animals, birds need a proper balance of
carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.

Should I be concerned about what my lovebird eats?

Nutrition is the most commonly neglected element of owning

a pet bird. Too often owners assume they are feeding a
proper diet to their lovebird when in fact they are not. It is a
common source of many health problems. It is important to
continually strive to improve your bird’s diet. This will
involve reading, carefully interpreting and integrating the
information along with a certain degree of “common sense”.
Above all, discuss nutrition with your vet!

It is not good enough to feed a lovebird just to keep it alive;

but instead your goal should be to help it thrive and flourish.
Your bird’s entire health will depend on how well it is fed.

Lovebirds eat a wide range of seeds, fruits and berries. A well balanced diet must be maintained
at all times.

What should I feed my lovebird?

Seeds

Seeds are available everywhere, store well and are very convenient to feed. Although lovebirds
do eat seeds, they would naturally consume a far greater variety of seed types in the wild as
different plants come into season. An all-seed diet tends to be high in fat and provides an
imbalanced source of nutrients that will lead to ill health and potentially shorten the life
expectancy of your lovebird. Commercial
seed mixes may contain a 4-10 different
kinds of seeds and nuts. The problem that
exists when offering a large container of seed
to a lovebird, is that the bird proceeds to
selectively eat 1 or 2 of its “favourite” types
of seed only. Millet and sunflower seeds are
often chosen preferentially. These seeds are
high in fat and particularly deficient in
calcium and vitamin A. This, of course, is
what leads to further malnutrition. If a
smaller amount of a good quality seed mix is
offered then it is likely the bird will eat a
greater variety of seed. Offer less and they
will eat better.
How much do I offer?

As a guideline, most lovebirds can be maintained on ½ -1 level “measure” dessertspoons of seeds

per bird, per day in a shallow dish depending on the size of the bird. If there is more than one
lovebird in the cage, separate dishes should be used for each bird to ensure those birds at the
bottom of the “pecking order” have a chance to eat. This may not be appropriate in a flock
situation. Any seeds left over in the dish at the end of the day could suggest that too many seeds
were offered originally. Seeds should only be a small part of a balanced diet.

Fruits and vegetables

As a general rule regarding food offered to a

bird, any wholesome, nutritious food that you
and your family eat, your bird can eat.
Avocado is reported to be potentially toxic.

Fruits and vegetables must be washed

thoroughly to remove chemicals and be cut
into manageable pieces depending on the size
of the bird. It is not necessary to take the
skin off. They should be offered in a
separate dish.

Here is a tip to help get your bird to eat fruits

and vegetables. Treat your bird like a small child; offer a large variety of food items daily and
never stop trying.

Formulated or pelleted diets

Pellets, crumble and hand-feeding mashes have been developed to meet all your bird’s nutritional
needs. Different formulations are available for different life stages and for the management of
certain diseases. Hand raised babies are the easiest to start on a pelleted diet. If you decide to go
for a complete diet rather than making one up yourself with a variety of food inputs, then many
consider that pellets are the ideal diet, therefore you are encouraged to train “seed eating” birds to
a pelleted diet.

Water

Fresh clean water must be available at all times. Dishes must be cleaned thoroughly every day,
especially the tube or gravity water containers.

Will my bird have any different needs throughout its life?

Birds that are extremely young, stressed, injured, laying eggs or raising young may have certain
special requirements. Consult your vet in these situations.

Do I need to use a vitamin-mineral mixture?

If your bird is on a well balanced diet, does it need extra vitamins, minerals or amino-acids?
There is much written about supplementation. One opinion suggests that a bird eating 75-80% of
its diet in the form of pelleted or formulated food may not need supplements. Specific vitamins
or minerals may be more important at various times during a bird’s life (e.g. egg laying - requires
calcium supplementation). Your veterinary surgeon can help you assess your bird’s diet and it’s
particular needs.
Does my bird need gravel or grit?

In the wild, a bird would naturally consume

small indigestible stones, gravel or grit
whenever it wishes to. This is to aid in the
mechanical digestion of seeds and nuts.
Controversy exists over its need in captivity
especially with formulated diets. Offering a
small amount in a separate dish will allow
the bird to decide if it needs or wants it.
Never place gravel on the bottom of the
cage as the bird is then forced to eat it out of
its “toilet”, the dirtiest part of the cage.
Gravel with charcoal in it is reported to absorb certain vitamins from the digestive tract making
them unavailable to the bird. White oyster shell may be part of some gravel mixes. Some sick
birds will eat inappropriate amounts of grit. If irregular or excessive consumption is witnessed,
consult your vet.

This client information sheet is based on material written by

John R. Chitty, BVetMed, CertZooMed, MRCVS & David L. Williams, MA, VetMB, PhD, CertVOphthal, MRCVS.
Used with permission under license. ©Lifelearn Ltd, PO Box 16, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7TH.