Nutrition

The health of a newly-hatched chick can be influenced by the diet of the mother if she is deficient in key ingredients.

Feeding a diet which is inappropriate for the lifestyle of the bird or grossly deficient in essential micro-ingredients (minerals and vitamins) can cause structural changes leading to lameness, deformities, paralysis and death.

Access to toxic substances or plants/seeds can lead to inability to move, paralysis, convulsions or death.

Some conditions like stress or an infective agent may predispose a bird to a nutritional problem, leaving it unable to absorb the correct level of nutrients from the food even when they are present at the correct levels.

A well-balanced diet is vital and it must be suitable for the age of the bird: 0-6 weeks – starter feed 6-18 weeks – grower feed (keep on starter if unavailable) 18 weeks + – layer or meat feed (depends on breed)

It’s important not to add large quantities of grain or household scraps to a bird’s diet or you dilute the intake of the correct proportion of nutrients essential for health.

A commercially-made feed, formulated by experts to provide the correct nutrients, and provided 24-7, is the easiest way to ensure birds get what they need.

Breeding birds should have access to a complete laying diet, with the addition of extra vitamin and minerals. These can be supplied through a water-soluble supplement (available from vets and pet stores) to prevent a shortage in the developing embryo.