Why is millet considered as a bad food?

[Mohitgaur088]

I wanna ask why is millet ( i am talking about millet from a farm land and not any spray or anything) a bad food for parrots if given in large quantities (ofcourse i know giving millet only and nothing else is a bad idea). https://www.google.co.in/search?q=m...roid-micromax&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8 It is low in fat and also some other nutritional value! My cockatiel has some foxtail millet in her seed mix which contains even low fat and she gets it only in moderation other than veggies, pellets and so many other things [emoji4] But I do know some breeders here in India who give their budgies and tiels like 60%-70% millet or foxtail millet, I've heard it's more like a junk and given more than 10-20% is bad! Why is it a junk? Why given a lot of it is bad? What nutrient in it is a trouble?

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[LaManuka]

The link you’ve provided to google is talking about millet for human consumption, not for birds. Seeds in general are quite energy dense and are fine for wild birds like cockatiels and budgies who, in their native arid habitats sometimes have to fly for long distances to find food and water. Plus they have evolved to cope with cold overnight temperatures in inland Australia so need the extra fat for warmth. A captive bird doesn’t need the high energy density that seeds provide and can develop fatty liver disease if seeds are their main diets.

You’ll find the best pellet mixes are an extrusion of vegies, grains and fruits with the majority of fats and sugars removed. So keep up with the pellets and vegies and only use millet sprays as a special treat for your lovely bird

 

[Mohitgaur088]

This's a greatly explained answer! Thank you [emoji4]

The link you’ve provided to google is talking about millet for human consumption, not for birds. Seeds in general are quite energy dense and are fine for wild birds like cockatiels and budgies who, in their native arid habitats sometimes have to fly for long distances to find food and water. Plus they have evolved to cope with cold overnight temperatures in inland Australia so need the extra fat for warmth. A captive bird doesn’t need the high energy density that seeds provide and can develop fatty liver disease if seeds are their main diets.

You’ll find the best pellet mixes are an extrusion of vegies, grains and fruits with the majority of fats and sugars removed. So keep up with the pellets and vegies and only use millet sprays as a special treat for your lovely bird [emoji173]️

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[LaManuka]

Why thank you that's very kind of you to say!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Thank you, LaManuka!

 

[MonicaMc]

For small birds like cockatiels, it's recommended to have them on a diet of 50/50 seeds to pellets with fresh foods added in daily.

All seed diet = malnutrition and liver failure
All pellet diet = kidney failure / possibly gout