by Heike Ewing Ott
It’s common knowledge that dark green vegetables are the most nutritious. Many bird owners and breeders are adding a Spirulina blue green algae supplement to their parrot’s diet to enhance nutrition. The following provides some basic information about Spirulina, written by an experienced bird breeder.
Spirulina, hailed as the “Superfood for Exotic Birds,” is “the most nutritious green vegetable on earth, an excellent source of anti-oxidant vitamins, amino acids, calcium, and B-12.” I add it to my hand-feeding formula because research feeding trials have shown that babies fed with it have better feather condition, faster and larger growth, and better color.
It is a dry, dark green powder that can be purchased at health food stores, bird fairs, and some pet stores. It can also be added to soft foods or sprinkled on fruits and vegetables. It is very expensive, but you use only very small amounts of it. The bottle says it should comprise only 1 – 2 % of the diet.
Actually, I -think- it’s a kind of seaweed!!
BTW, spirulina is often used in conjunction with another plant, wheatgrass, which is supposed to have similar benefits, and it’s my understanding that the benefits are multiplied when the two are used together. I haven’t used wheatgrass myself and don’t know as much about it.