05/07/2022
CALCIUM- MORE THAN JUST A NUTRIENT
We so often don't have an understanding of the key role nutrition plays in our own health, so our Birds are even more at risk of poor nutrition. Caregivers know that vitamins & minerals are important, but rarely understand what exact role key nutrients play in the Bird's body or what signs to spot when a nutrient is lacking. In this new article series, 'more than just a nutrient', we will look at some key nutrients for Birds, what role they can play in the Bird's body & some safe sources of the nutrient. There are so many wonderful caregivers hungry for knowledge & not enough sources of information, this series hopes to be educational in a fun way. Today we look at calcium.
Calcium is a fairly well known nutrient, but the role it plays in a Bird's body can be surprising. We know that Birds need calcium to support strong bones. The formation of calcium salts is essential for the strength & health of a Bird's entire skeleton. What people often don't know is that calcium also plays a role in many biochemical reactions in a Bird's body. This is possible due to the concentrations of calcium present in a Bird's extracellular fluid. Deficiencies in calcium are common in Birds, especially in species such as African grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) who have a much higher calcium need.
REASONS FOR CALCIUM DEFICIENCY- There are many reasons that a Bird may become deficient in calcium & a multitude of factors could have been at play. For full rehabilitation, we need to work with an avian vet to ascertain the exact cause(s) of the deficiency to help ensure it doesn't happen again. Below are just some reasons a Bird could become calcium deficient.
POOR DIETARY SOURCES- The most common cause for calcium deficiency in Birds is low or poor calcium sources in the diet. Birds need a diet rich in whole food, plant based sources of calcium. Supplements are often developed by companies that have NO avian dietary or medical knowledge AT ALL. This means that many supplements can at best be ineffective & at worst toxic. Dairy products are not recognized or truly absorbed by the Bird's body because they have not evolved to drink & gain nutrients from milk. Birds lack the digestive enzyme lactase which means that lactose can't be digested, this can lead to digestive problems, sickness & may also disrupt the avian microbiome (although more research is needed). Even dairy products free of lactose are poor sources of calcium for Birds. Feeding Parrots animal bones is a common practice that does not offer a good source of calcium, cooked bones can splinter & injury to the mouth, crop & digestive tract could occur. Cuttlebone & oyster shell are very low quality, poor sources of calcium that, again, are not sources that Parrots, Parakeets & Finches have evolved to absorb. Good sources of calcium can be found later in the article.
HIGH CALCIUM DEMAND- Birds that lay eggs need a LOT of calcium for the development of the shell. This creates a high calcium demand on the hen's body & can lead to a sudden drop in calcium levels. Birds in this position should see an avian vet to rule out egg binding & good sources of plant based calcium should be readily available in her diet.
DEFICIENCY OF SUPPORTING NUTRIENT- In the body, there are nutrients that rely on other nutrients to be absorbed, stored or used by the body. These are known as 'supporting nutrients'. Vitamin D3 is a supporting nutrient of calcium, without correct exposure to vitamin D3, deficiency of calcium will usually occur no matter how high calcium levels in the diet are. Most domestic Birds don't recieve adequate vitamin D3 levels, leading to a reduction in calcium metabolism ability.
HEALTH CONDITIONS- Some health conditions involving nutrient absorbtion through the digestive tract & certain hormone issues can impact how well a Bird's body can absorb calcium. If a Bird has regular calcium issues that are not helped by the usual changes in diet & environment, further causes may be explored.
CALCIUM DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS- Depending on the severity of the calcium deficiency, symptoms can vary from mild to life endangering. Some of these symptoms may also be caused by other deficiencies or health conditions. If you see any of the following signs in your Bird(s), please don't self diagnose without consulting an avian vet. POTENTIAL SYMPTOMS- Egg binding, neurological issues, seizures, soft/ brittle/ deformed bones, muscle weakness, brittle/ easily broken feathers, sudden death.
CALCIUM SOURCES- High quality pellets & supplements developed by an avian vet or with an avian vet's input are sources of calcium, however fresh, whole food sources are also needed. The Parrots, Parakeets & Finches in our care need nutritious, fresh, plant sources of calcium as part of a balanced diet to truly thrive. Here are some delicious sources of calcium that can be served in many ways to keep variety & excitement!- Peas, Chickpeas, orange (limited servings), chia seeds, broccoli, sweet potato, dandelion greens, curly kale, sesame seeds, fig, carrot, quinoa, almond.
CONCLUSION- Calcium is a vital nutrient that serves many vital functions in a Bird's body, with a little creativity we can offer a rich & varied diet that offers this wonderful nutrient to the angels we adore. The more we learn about the nutrients our angels need to thrive, the better we can be at offering a diet that allows them to thrive & live a long, happy life, what could be better than that?
