Vitamin A: vital element for your bird

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin (meaning that it dissolves in fats). It contributes to the general development and good health of the bird. As with all vitamins, the necessary doses are small but a deficiency can lead to serious health problems. The greater the deficiency in vitamin A, and over a long period, the more severe the problems will become.

 

Vitamin A can be found in certain foods as a precursor, which is converted into active vitamin A in the body of the bird. The best-known precursor is beta-Carotene (which may be familiar since it is sold in tanning products).

 

Vitamin A is necessary and essential for skin development (i.e., the parrot’s skin and feathers) and the epithelium (tissue in the nostrils and the respiratory system). These tissues are the first barrier to infection. The health of these tissues is therefore essential to block entry of a "bug" (virus or bacteria).

 

Some of the bird’s hormonal secretions also depend on vitamin A. Stress control and reproductive capacity are related to the presence of sufficient quantities of this vitamin.

 

Vitamin A is also important for bone growth, vessel formation, and day and night vision.

 

Where can this vitamin (or at least its precursor) be found?

 

Vitamin A is present in apricots, carrots, spinach, dandelion, red chili pepper, cod liver oil, milk-ripe corn, etc.

 

These products contain much more vitamin A than your bird requires on a daily basis.

 

Egg yolk, milk, cheese, and butter also contain considerable quantities of vitamin A but a parrot must not eat them.

 

Sunflower seeds are naturally poor in vitamin A. However, they are often the backbone of a parrot’s diet, and even the sole food given to birds in captivity.

 

To avoid deficiencies, your bird should have a balanced diet every day of the year. Its diet should include a mix of seeds, fruit and seasonal vegetables (30 to 40% in fruits and vegetables for African grey parrots or Amazon parrots for example). Obviously, withhold the same amount of seeds to be sure that your bird will eat the fruits and vegetables offered (fruits and vegetables are not a "plus" but are an essential part of the meal).

 

Parrots are selective about their food and will often eat the sunflower seeds first. In this case, wait until it has eaten the fruits and vegetables before offering the seeds. As with water, food should be replenished once per day.

 

Conversely, an overabundance of vitamin A is as dangerous as a deficiency!!

 

What are the risks for your bird?

 

Your bird risks an increased vulnerability to disease.

 

The first sign is often a sinus infection in an African grey parrot ("runny" and "swollen" nose), the feathers under the beak fall out, its voice changes, etc. The worst sign is a pulmonary system infection due to immunity disorders.

 

As shown in the photos below, vitamin A deficiency causes a discoloration of the plumage, feathers no longer clinging to one another, and even significant feather loss.

 

Veterinarians also believe that feather-plucking can be due to a vitamin A deficiency.