Birds, like most animals, should never be switched radically from one food to another. Many will starve themselves before they will try something new. If you do decide to switch the diet you should do it gradually, mixing some of the old food with the new food. There are certain nutrients that are essential to a bird s diet. Carbohydrates help maintain the glucose level and thus give them the energy to maintain those metabolic reactions.
Proteins are essential for repairing body tissue, reproduction, and give resistance to infection.
A deficiency of proteins can result in poor feather quality. Fats give them energy, but much like humans, too many fats can cause them to become overweight. Birds require thirteen essential vitamins and you will notice that many diets are fortified with vitamins. Water is very important. They can survive longer without food than they can water.