FINCHforum

Hi All.

I have noticed, that in some lists of Bird food diets, they list 'dry dog food' as a source of protein. Is this something that is used, as a supplement, an addictive, a treat, or is it used at all ?

Wheat germ, is another item that is listed as very high in protein. Again, is this offered to birdlings? And, how would you offer it?

Just curious about certain things, and was wondering if anyone else has come across these items (?).

Thanks

that was a very old time way to feed birds...there are other, better products out there now specifically made to meet the birds' nutritional requirements... like pellets, avian vitamins, minerals, eggfood mixes and supplements.

As cindy said, this was used in the past when the variety of food for birds was not great. My parents had a mynah bird in the 70s or 80s, and they were told to feed him dry dog food that was ground in a blender to a powder, then moistened. He also ate a fair amount of fruit. Today, there are so many specialty diets available, but some people still do use dry dog food as a source of protein.

like with anything there are high quality dog food and cheaper poor quality dog food. There are so many different ingredients and levels of proteins, vitamins minerals and some of the ingredients are not always so good.... preservatives. I would stick to Avian products.

May I ask why you are considering using dog food?

Now I do use wheat germ from time to time in my soft food mixes... http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cer ... sta/5743/2

Cindy & Sally

Thanks for the response.
No, I am not about to start feeding dog food to my birds . I was just curious as to why it did pop up here and there, as an option, and wondered where this was coming from.

Just for fun though, here's information on the dog food my poor deprived pups get (along with additions of cooked vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, cheese and other goodies).

http://www.acana.com/products/regionals/wild-prairie/

Dry cat food contains more protein. My birds occasionally pinch one.

mohum

Yes, good quality cat foods should be higher in protein, because cats are considered carnivores, and need meat proteins to survive and remain healthy. That's why a lot of cat food brands containing yellow corn, and a bunch of other carbohydrates, are really very unhealthy for our kitties.

As mentioned there are great options available these days. Also to remember most brands of dog food are bulked with Avocado as a protein base. for most birds.
Gosh the things the old timers used to feed to their birds. I've read some that gave them cement too or allowed them free flight while breeding so they could forage out the aviary!

With pelleted pet food, you also have to check the phosphorus levels. Some are higher than others depending on what the brand / purpose is.
Rehabing a crow at the moment and besides fresh veg, fruit and meat it is given a mixture of bird, dog and cat (Hills KD) pellets. The latter a) cause I have it on hand and B) recommended as it is low in phosphorus.

Eggs are pretty complete, to much protein in the diet can lead to kidney issues.... most pellets contain proteins as well. Dried eggfood of course being egg contains protein. Also consider that some feed their birds insects, protein!

Plant based proteins are in there veggies... why mess around with dog or cat foods when eggs are pretty complete.

monotwine wrote: Also to remember most brands of dog food are bulked with Avocado as a protein base. for most birds.

I don't think this is true of 'most' brands. If something is used as an ingredient it has to be listed, I have yet to see a common dog food with avocado on the ingredient list.

Cheap dog food commonly has corn as a first ingredient. Expensive pellets do as well. It would be interesting to see a nutritional comparison, not because I would think of using them (I don't feed dog food to my birds, and after a trail of pellets, no longer feed it either) but because feeding threads often involve plenty of opinion but fewer facts.

monotwine Lucille cindy

First let me clarify.

I DO NOT FEED MY BIRDS DOG FOOD!

It was just a question, because I had come up upon some write ups, where it had been suggested as an option.

By the way, just for the sake of....
Here's the Dog food that my doggies enjoy:




http://acana.com/our-foods/regionals/wild-prairie/

Lucille wrote:

monotwine wrote: Also to remember most brands of dog food are bulked with Avocado as a protein base. for most birds.

I don't think this is true of 'most' brands. If something is used as an ingredient it has to be listed, I have yet to see a common dog food with avocado on the ingredient list.

Cheap dog food commonly has corn as a first ingredient. Expensive pellets do as well. It would be interesting to see a nutritional comparison, not because I would think of using them (I don't feed dog food to my birds, and after a trail of pellets, no longer feed it either) but because feeding threads often involve plenty of opinion but fewer facts.

Spoke with my avian vet the other dayand mentioned pellets to her.... since pellets common up frequently in forums and FBk groups. Her recommendation is finches 50% pellet/50% seed. Finches are primarily seed eaters and do require seed as a staple in the diet. It is not recommended to use an all pelleted diet for finches unless instructed by your vet for health issues the bird may have.

Hookbills the same but the ratio to pellets to seed is anywhere from (pellet/seed) 50/50 to 80/20. Again they are now finding hookbills also need seed in their diets, this is contrary to what they were saying years ago...pellets only. The seed pellet mix is good for foraging and it prevents the birds from getting bored of an all pelleted diet.

If not using pellets a vitamin/mineral/amino acid supplement should be given.

There are some avocado based, higher end organic dog foods available as Monique mentioned. If you are gut loading mealies on dog food any avocado based dog foods should be avoided, your bird will be eating what the mealies eat. I use ground Roudybush and ground dried egg food and veggies for my mealworms.

Corn does have nutritional value http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cer ... sta/5687/2

lovezebs wrote: monotwine Lucille cindy

First let me clarify.

I DO NOT FEED MY BIRDS DOG FOOD!

It was just a question, because I had come up upon some write ups, where it had been suggested as an option.

By the way, just for the sake of....
Here's the Dog food that my doggies enjoy:




http://acana.com/our-foods/regionals/wild-prairie/

Never thought you did... when scanning the internet for info you will come across the old methods!!

lovezebs

When I used to raise wild bluejays and robins, soft water moistened dog food was the most used option.

Quite frankly they thrived on it and I raised many of them on this diet before I introduced live insects.

The bluejay fledgling brought to me this past spring. I used blended mashed purina with just spring water in a big ole dropper to get him up to the point where he was strong enough to bring his little weak body up to speed to get him to the ASPCA for drop off weeks after I was given him by a neighborhood child. The ASPCA was very complimentary on his fine feathers and condition on arrival. They expected a sickly bird. I handed them a very healthy bluejay almost ready for weaning an release. Just dog food and pear baby food (with an occasional blue berry from the garden).

Its not the best option, not the worse for insect eating varieties of wild birds. It can very much be used in a pinch when insects are not available to a hatching and fledgling and you have nothing else. It never failed me back in the day.....and didnt fail me last spring.

To be honest lil Blue Beaner (his name) caused me to be reinterested in birds which then sparked the purchase of my societies.....which lead me here.

Im not trying to step on toes, but I have to be honest. I dont think anyone would appreciate if I was a liar in such a great forum.

cindy

Our avian specialist in my state told me they use "kibble" (dog food) as a primary staple for wild insectivores in their triage unit.