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Birds are known to eat a considerable amount of food each day, even up to 12% of their body weight. A common rule is that the smaller the bird the more often it eats, but larger birds can consume up to 18 pounds of food daily. So, why do birds eat so much?

Birds eat so much because they have a very fast metabolism. These animals are constantly moving, flying, running and using up body heat for day to day activities. They need to eat so much to power their bodies. Larger birds need large meals less often and smaller birds need small meals more often

 

Why do birds eat so much?​

Birds are small creatures, at first glance, you would assume that they would need small amounts of food to get them through the day but birds need more food than you expect, the reason behind this is very simple:

The answer has to do with their fast metabolic rates. Birds have highly active metabolisms to power their running, flying, hunting, body heat, hunting and general health needs. A hummingbird for example needs to eat enough to power the 200 flaps per seconds its wings make and the 1200 beats per minute its heart makes not to mention its other bodily requirements.

Some birds may have less frequent eating cycles, like chickens, yet they can eat large amounts at each meal.

How many times a day do you feed a bird?

While birds eat a considerable amount of food to fuel their metabolism, the frequency for feeding differs often based on the size of the bird. Smaller birds require smaller quantities of feed in frequent supply. Therefore, making feed available throughout the day is the suggested practice. While larger birds tend to eat less frequently but in larger quantities. Therefore, providing feed once to five times a day is sufficient.

Do birds die if you stop feeding them?

Birds won’t die immediately from hunger of you stop feeding them. Though such an act is not recommended. Some birds like chickens, can store feed within themselves for periods of time. This is one reason not to overfeed chickens as it can lead to several dietary issues. Free-range or wild birds are very resourceful, if you skip feeding them a few times, they will find other sources to supplement their needs. Caged birds however should be well provided for as it’s the owner’s responsibility to maintain the wellbeing of the pet.

What should you feed birds?

Deciding on the right feed for your bird depends on the type of bird it is. There are various species of birds with differing dietary needs. For example, hawks, falcons and other birds of prey require more meat in their diets. While canaries, budgies and parrots require more nuts, fruits and vegetables. Feeding a hatchling pigeon worms is a no-no as it is not yet matured enough to handle it. Birds also need calcium, choline, and protein-rich sources for their health. Birds generally love unsalted nuts, and occasional bits of lean meat and fresh vegetables.

What shouldn’t you feed birds?

You shouldn’t feed birds any human only foods such as chocolates, candies, coffee, alcohol, onions and garlic. Birds have smaller digestive systems, processing certain foods is not within their capabilities, while some foods are downright toxic to birds. Toxic foods include:

• avocado as they contain traces of persin

• Coffee or caffeinated foods as they can cause heart arrhythmia and hyperactivity

• Salty food as it can unbalance the electrolyte levels in birds

• Fruit pits and apple seeds as they contain traces of cyanide

• Candies, even sugarless candies as they have xylitol that can cause liver damage in birds

Conclusion 

In conclusion, birds eat so much because they need to supply their bodies with energy for daily activities. Birds use up a lot of energy daily to fly, run, search for food, catch food and stay away from predators. They have fast metabolic rates and this requires them to eat more food. Smaller birds need to be fed small amounts of food often and larger birds need large amounts of food less often.

Free-range birds will not die if you don’t feed them, they will eventually find food on their own. You should feed your bird according to what they usually eat in the wild. Birds of prey would need meat and herbivore birds require more vegetables. Just make sure you aren’t feeding your bird toxic foods such as avocado, coffee, caffeinated foods, salty food, candies, fruit pits and apple seeds.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in:  Why do birds land on your head?, Why do birds roost?, Why do birds ruffle their feathers?, Why do birds eat gravel?