Calcium To Phosphorus Ratio

DizzyBlue

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The Calcium to Phosphorous Ratio
The most critical in companion bird nutrition (and in most other species) is the relation between calcium and phosphorous. To maintain strong bones and proper health, the ratio of calcium to phosphorous should be within a range of 1:1 to 2:1. [Richie, Harrison and Harrison, p.66 if you want to have a nosey]. This means that a parrot needs about 1 - 2 times as much calcium to phosphorous in their diets. So if you feed something high in phosphorous - like seed, for instance, or some of these cooked bean/corn/rice diets for pet birds, then you need to counteract the high phosphorous intake by getting your feathered friend to eat 1 - 2 times as much calcium-rich foods like beet greens, mustard greens and broccoli tops.


Calcium & Phosphorous Plus Vitamin D3
The calcium to phosphorous ratio is critical, but there is another factor that enters into the equation, and that is vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 is the vehicle by which the body can absorb calcium and phosphorous from the diet, so it's crucial that adequate vitamin D3 be available. There is a quote from Richie, Harrison and Harrison that states "Inadequate vitamin D3 levels in the body can cause calcium deficiency symptoms in an otherwise calcium-adequate diet. Sources of vitamin D3 are simple: unfiltered sunlight (i.e. not through glass or plastic, so sunlight through a window does not count), full-spectrum lighting, avian vitamin supplements and pelleted or extruded diets for birds.


Vitamin A
By far the most common vitamin deficiency seen in avian medicine in this country, vitamin A is critical to a healthy immune system, and maintaining cell wall integrity in the mucus membranes, among other things. The mucus membranes cover the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, functioning to protect the organism from outside invaders or pathogens. Classic signs of vitamin A deficiencies (hypovitaminosis A) in parrots include signs of upper respiratory disease, and abscesses in the mouth.


Those apples that are supposed to keep the doctor away are simply pitiful nutritionally apples are essentially sugar water and a little fibre.
There were many things I had always thought to be nutritious, but turned out not to be -- things like oranges, grapes, pears and grapefruit.
Bananas, another favourite on the parrot hit parade, with 3 times as much phosphorous as calcium. This means the human has to feed and the bird has to eat, 5-7 times as much calcium-rich foods to counteract it. Grapes are also a problem, with twice as much phosphorus as calcium. Don’t panic a few of these items every now and then isn’t detrimental just make sure they are a treat not a ritual.
Yellow peaches had a nice wholesome amount of vitamin A (1000 IU [international units] in 3 halves), but white peaches had only a 1/10th as much at 100 IU. Otherwise, the two are identical nutritionally. On a side note the white peach is considered to be a wonderful achievement for fruit growers, but in removing the colour they removed the only nutritional value of the fruit!
Beet greens had an amazing 22,000 IU of vitamin A, as well as double the calcium as phosphorus. The broccoli leaf turned out to be the most nutritious part of that vegetable, having 4 times as much vitamin A than the flowerette and 15 times that of the stem. Corn, on the other hand, had an almost 1:13 calcium to phosphorus ratio! There is a difference between sweet potatoes and yams, with yams the hands-down winner, containing higher vitamin A and twice the calcium. As far as greens go, collards, endive, kale, beet greens and spinach are wonderful in terms of not only vitamin A, but also in their ratios of calcium to phosphorus. Parsley is excellent in both of these categories, plus a hefty 20 grams of protein and more vitamin C then an orange.
Now that makes you think you now know that those citrus growers have sure done a fine PR job!


But by far, the nutritional winner is the dandelion, scourge of the suburban lawn hated by the dedicated gardener….loved by the bird keeper! Dandelion greens contained an incredible 20,000 IU vitamin A, a 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorous and (for humans) a whopping 100 mg. of vitamin C - TWICE what you find in a medium-sized orange.

By DizzyBlue copy write protected 2012-17
 
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