A. Staple food: Animals should be fed palatable, uncontaminated, and nutritionally adequate food daily or according to their particular requirements, unless the experimental protocol requires otherwise. Because diets are highly specialized, they must be tailored to the species in question.
The form and presentation of the food is important to many species. Some species may become "addicted" to certain foods, e.g., sunflower seeds, and will refuse anything else, even to the point of severe malnutrition. Hence, it is important to establish a healthy, varied diet early in the life of hand-raised birds.
B. Grit: Many birds may require grit in their gizzards to process their food or as a source of minerals. Commercial sterilized bird grit is available from feed stores or pet stores in bulk. Crushed oyster shell or sterilized crushed hen's egg shells may be mixed in the grit as a source of calcium and other minerals. Grit may help to prevent "egg-binding" during the breeding season. Some investigators may prefer incorporating calcium and minerals directly in the staple diet. Egg shell is sterilized in an oven at 175 EC for 40 minutes before being crushed and provided to the birds.
C. Vitamins: These should be included depending on the quality of the birds' rations; avoid vitamin toxicities. Some supplements are meant to be placed in bathing water and ingested during preening.
D. Water: Fresh water should be given daily for species
that require water. For species normally taking water baths, water
should be provided in open containers to allow bathing. Some birds
may be misted for feather maintenance. Water for drinking may also
be provided in commercial bird-drinking tubes. Drinking tubes for
small mammals (nipple waterers) may be used if birds will adapt to
use them - some birds will refuse to drink from these. Automatic
tube watering systems reduce leakage onto cage liner material,
thus reducing the growth of fungus, and the main water source can
be cleaned without opening the cage. Water containers should be
washed and disinfected regularly. Containers should be of
non-porous materials, e.g., glass, glazed porcelain, plastic, or
stainless steel. Perches should not be placed directly over water
receptacles.