FAQ: Food for birds

Calcium needs rise before egg laying or during the moult, so the bird chews the cuttlebone more. If this lasts a long time or the bird eats large amounts of sand and other minerals, ask a vet about its diet.

A complete food can be the basis for a long time, but variety through fresh vegetables, greens and sprouted seeds makes the diet more complete. A bird used to varied food also adapts more easily if the food has to be changed.

A vet should advise on a recovering bird's diet: sometimes easily digested, soft food or special formulas are recommended. The main thing is that the bird eats, so offer its favourite food and keep it somewhere quiet and warm.

Whole, undigested seeds in droppings may indicate a digestive problem or illness. It is not a food quality issue, so in this case contact an avian vet.

Store food in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark place, away from the oven and sunlight. It is better to pour an opened bag into a jar or sealed box so moisture and pests cannot get in.

An opened seed mix or pellets is best used within a few weeks to a couple of months, even if the best-before date on the pack is later. Food left longer loses vitamins, and fatty seeds can turn rancid.

Yes, larger amounts of food can be kept in the freezer in sealed bags, which keeps them fresh longer and kills moth eggs. Before use, let a portion warm to room temperature in a closed container so no condensation forms.

Grain moth eggs are sometimes present in seeds before the pack is opened and hatch in warmth. Throw away infested food, wash the container, and keep new food sealed or briefly freeze it.

Signs of moths are webbing or clumped seeds, small larvae, hollow grains and small brownish moths flying around the food. If you see these, check the other grains and cereals in your kitchen too.

The moths themselves are usually not dangerous to a bird, but food they have damaged is less nutritious, and mould can develop in damp spots. It is better to replace such food.

Spoiled food smells rancid, mouldy or sour, is damp or clumped, or has green, white or black patches. Do not give such food to a bird, even if the best-before date has not passed.

Humidity and temperature fluctuate in bathrooms and on balconies, so food can get damp, mouldy or rancid. The best place is a dry cupboard in a living room or a storeroom without temperature swings.

Keep millet sprays in their original or a sealed pack in a dry place and protect them from moths. An opened pack is best used within a few months, and sprays showing mould or webbing should be thrown away.

Keep prepared chop or cooked grains in a closed container in the fridge for no more than a couple of days, and freeze portions for longer. Let cold food from the fridge warm to room temperature before serving.

If a mix is dusty or full of small fragments, sieving makes it cleaner and the dust less irritating to the airways. A good, clean food usually does not need it.

A large bag is easiest to split into several sealed containers or bags, keeping the portion for daily use in a smaller one. Part can be frozen so the food stays fresh until the last portion.

Unopened pellets usually keep until the date on the pack, and once opened they are best used within a few weeks to a couple of months. Store them sealed, because fats and vitamins slowly break down in air.

Better not: older food at the bottom gets stale or damp over time, and moth eggs can infest the new batch. Use up the old food first, then wash and dry the container before refilling.

It is practical to buy as much as the bird will eat in a month or two: the food stays fresh, and a larger pack can still be cheaper per kilogram. For several birds or an aviary, larger quantities make sense.

Usually, but not always: promotions or different shop prices can make a smaller pack cheaper. That is why comparing the price per kilogram, not the pack price, is worthwhile.