Energy and protein nutrition of companion birds

Abstract

The general nutrient guidelines developed for companion birds are based on extrapolations of requirements determined for commercial poultry and game birds, the food habits of wild birds, and trial and error feeding experience. The maintenance energy requirements are derived from equations based on wild birds, without taking species-specific differences into account. The protein nutrition aspect is focused on the quantity rather than on the quality of the protein, as determined by the availability of protein and amino acids in different feed ingredients. Suggestions are given for determining the energy, protein and amino acid requirements of companion birds according to the Edinburgh model. Specific practical recommendations on bird diets, however, are not yet available.