Do and should Psittacidae be offered and eat plantains? I read that they should always be cooked owing to the high level of indigestible starch they contain. I am very interested in procuring some knowlwgeble evidence one way or the other. I work in a zoo in Chiapas and our veternarian nutritionist insists on feeding all our parrots and macaws plantain every day, much of which is removed and incinerated the next. The birds don't seem to relish this ingredient in their diet, but I need facts or expert advice from other zoos which have tried feeding plantain to their Psittacidae. Thank you.
Plaintains for Psittacidae
- Thread starter swanee
- Start date
plantains for Psittacidae
Do and should Psittacidae be offered and eat plantains? I read that they should always be cooked owing to the high level of indigestible starch they contain. I am very interested in procuring some knowlwgeble evidence one way or the other. I work in a zoo in Chiapas and our veternarian nutritionist insists on feeding all our parrots and macaws plantain every day, much of which is removed and incinerated the next. The birds don't seem to relish this ingredient in their diet, but I need facts or expert advice from other zoos which have tried feeding plantain to their Psittacidae. Thank you.
Do and should Psittacidae be offered and eat plantains? I read that they should always be cooked owing to the high level of indigestible starch they contain. I am very interested in procuring some knowlwgeble evidence one way or the other. I work in a zoo in Chiapas and our veternarian nutritionist insists on feeding all our parrots and macaws plantain every day, much of which is removed and incinerated the next. The birds don't seem to relish this ingredient in their diet, but I need facts or expert advice from other zoos which have tried feeding plantain to their Psittacidae. Thank you.
Hey ,
what is the reason your veternarian nutritionist insists on feeding them especially as they re not eaten well.
In the collections I know they aren't fed at all. One of the reasons they are avoided is exactly the high level of starch.
maybe if you can ask him or her the reason and then we can discuss it in detail as I m not familiar with any facilities feeding them towards they parrots.
what is the reason your veternarian nutritionist insists on feeding them especially as they re not eaten well.
In the collections I know they aren't fed at all. One of the reasons they are avoided is exactly the high level of starch.
maybe if you can ask him or her the reason and then we can discuss it in detail as I m not familiar with any facilities feeding them towards they parrots.
Seems like your zoo nutritionist needs a crash course in bird feeding patterns. I agree that you should simply ask him/her why and present him with the facts why it ain't a great idea to feed plantain to Psittacidae.
plantains ?? Yes ..
Hello swanee , I dont know what kind of psittacines you feed plantains in your collection...but, I think this type of diet have to be target to "SOME" of the species of birds...and I presume the plantains have to be PART of the diet (20-40 per cent) and not the ONLY source of food ? ? Let me know ...
Hello swanee , I dont know what kind of psittacines you feed plantains in your collection...but, I think this type of diet have to be target to "SOME" of the species of birds...and I presume the plantains have to be PART of the diet (20-40 per cent) and not the ONLY source of food ? ? Let me know ...
JerseyLotte
Well-Known Member
Excuse my cynicism Swanee
Could this be a case of; Plantains are plentiful and relatively cheap compared to the wide variety of foods your Psittacines really ought to be fed, so your "nutritionist" is trying to push a particular food for reasons other than the best?
Good on you for following this up!
Could this be a case of; Plantains are plentiful and relatively cheap compared to the wide variety of foods your Psittacines really ought to be fed, so your "nutritionist" is trying to push a particular food for reasons other than the best?
Good on you for following this up!