Psittacine nutrition.

Nutrition is defined as it relates to deficiencies, toxicities, and physiological states in birds. Levels of some nutrient requirements are given along with signs of deficiency. Signs of toxicity and the levels of nutrients required to produce them are discussed for energy, calcium, and protein. Behavioral aspects of nutrition in weaning, obesity, and dietary changes are characterized. The role of nutrition in diseases such as infection, hemochromatosis, achromatosis, gout, liver disease, and kidney disease are discussed.

Food and water interrelations and the protein requirement for growth of an altricial bird, the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus).

Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) chicks were hand-fed diets diluted to various levels of solids to determine the optimum ratio of solids to water for survival and growth. In later experiments protein levels in the solid portion of the diet were varied to determine the protein requirement for growth. Cockatiels survived and grew well when hand-fed a diet of 7% solids during the first 4 d after hatching, followed by 30% solids until 28 d of age. The solid portion of this diet contained 20% isolated soybean protein, methionine, cornstarch, vitamins and minerals. When chicks were fed 10% solids from hatch, growth rates were one-third to one-half those of chicks fed 20 or 30% solids; by 23 d most chicks fed 10% solids had died, with survivors being permanently stunted. By 3-5 d before death, crop emptying ceased, yet chicks appeared hungry. Chicks fed 20 or 30% solids from hatching grew well after an initial 3-d period of some mortality. The water needed by cockatiel chicks decreased during the first 4 d posthatching; thereafter, diets containing 90% water or more were harmful. Groups of chicks fed diets ranging from 5 to 35% protein of the solids exhibited wide differences in growth, with 20% protein being the lowest level that permitted maximal growth.

Reproductive responses of quail to bunker C oil fractions.

Bunker C fuel oil was extracted with petroleum ether and the concentrated extract was given to breeding Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). A dose of extract equivalent to 300 mg bunker C reduced both egg production and hatchability. Fractionation of the extract by absorption on Florisil and elution with petroleum ether followed by chloroform yielded fractions that were tested for toxicity. All the fractions had a pronounced effect upon production; however, only the chloroform eluates were found to affect hatchability of the eggs.