For non-breeding companion birds the provision of a suitable diet is not problematic, notwithstanding however, that key components are usually not available at the average local pet store or pet food supplier. Softbill bird diets are manufactured by leading pet food companies as universal mixtures tailored to thrush-like birds, including Pekin Robins, exotic starlings and mynah birds. These mixtures have balanced constituents to provide all required nutrients and minerals, but additional vitamins, minerals, trace elements and some essential amino acids may have to be supplemented to the basic food mix at times of high demand.
It seems there are as many recipes for diets as there are keepers of Pekin Robins, which illustrates that the Pekin Robin can feed on wide range of food items. There is great value in using proven diets and composite mixtures. Mynah bird pellets contain the required nutrients in a balanced mixture, if the robins accept the product, technically only water and some treats, mainly for occupational stimulation are needed to ensure the well-being of the bird.
Bird on Scale
In fact, composite foods such as chick starter have been included for that reason in many soft-bill diets. Zoological gardens are moving more and more to complete premixed diets for most of their animal species to avoid pitfalls, where individual animals hog some food items and deprive others of them or fill themselves on single items not containing all essential nutrients, and so creating deficiencies to sustain themselves. By recognizing that animal body tissue is built out of protein, among other things, and that protein is composed of essential amino acids and, furthermore, that plants do not have all of these, (with the only known exception of the soybean), we can understand that animal protein is critical for growth and cell replacement. Some animals create their own missing amino acids in their stomach or cecum (cud chewing animals and horses for example) with the help of a symbiotic bacterium flora, but Pekin Robins do not. Animal protein is supplied via insects, egg food, cottage cheese.
The changes from one diet to another should be gradual. It is important to obtain the diet and or food samples from the previous owner to make the changeover. An unfamiliar food offering combined with transfer stresses and confusion due to new surroundings can affect the condition of a bird quickly. We can ensure that the food is at least familiar to help the acclimation process. Again a maintenance diet should not be difficult to provide.
For diet mix and recipes, go to Food Recipes.
The over all aim in preparing a comprehensive diet is to offer a large spectrum of nutrients and food constituents to ensure that all the building blocks are offered to the birds to build and support their body maintenance, reproductive functions and robust conditions. Pekin robins accept a wide range of food items and there are as many diets as there are Pekin Robin keepers. I have done nutrient analysis on the above diets to ensure good nutrient balances . Details can be found in my book “Pekin Robins and other Softbills”
Feeding of Live Insects
Imagoes and larvae of Lesser mealworms, Mealworms, Waxworms and Crickets
The parents feed their young throughout the day during daylight hours. It is important to provide live insects on an ongoing basis by either bringing live food to the adults 4 to 5 times per day, from early morning to late evening, or by setting up self-feeders.
Self-feeders are plastic containers about 18 to 16 x 12 foot print and 10 to 12 inch high, which are placed in the enclosure. Once or twice a day live crickets and mealworms are dropped inside. They do not escape from the container. Chick starter and a piece of orange or apple is added to sustain the insects. It is helpful to prop a forked branch close to the bottom to give the birds a landing spot to get used to the self-feeder. Waxworms can be fed this way but they can easily climb the smooth wall of the self-feeder. These are fed directly to the birds. One could crush the heads of waxworms and crickets for direct feeding so that they do not escape. A pair of tweezers can be used for this. To make food insects more manageable they can be held in a refrigerator for a few minutes to slow them down. Live mealworms can be contained in a small glazed dish. Direct feeding allows for better monitoring of food consumption and behavior changes, but such time commitments can not always be made for the approx. 30 days the chicks are depending exclusively on live insects food.
The amount of insects to be fed is gauged by consumption. A family of five can consume up to 300 insects a day (depending on insect size). The parents will take a good portion themselves and eat less of the non-insect food during the breeding season.
Cricket breeding in a recycled freezer. Green floral foam contains eggs. Temperature is regulated by a thermostat. Two heat lamps are used to back each other up if one fails.
Maintaining the insect cultures requires special facilities and extra time commitments, but it is often the only way to ensure that a variety of food insects are available when needed. Mealworms and crickets can be purchased at local pet stores, realizing that the cost will be considerable to raise Pekin Robins on purchased insects. Mealworms are the stand-by for most Pekin Robin keepers, but aviculturists caution not to feed too many. It can cause eye disorders, foot tissue (gout) problems and obesity. High consumption offers too much protein in adult birds and interferes with mineral absorption due to Ca:P imbalances.
An offering of 10 per day is considered safe with combined vitamin provisions. Waxworms are a much relished food, but these too can cause mineral deficiency and obesity. Crickets have a better nutrient balance and more roughage than the former, still Ca is insufficient. Interestingly, many Pekin Robins are not interested in feeding on crickets outside the breeding season, but readily fed them to their chicks.
The breeding and maintenance of insect cultures is an entire topic unto itself. This topic, along with detailed diagrams is available in my book “Pekin Robins and Small Softbill Birds” available from Hancock House Publishing.
Feeding station showing drinking water tubes and pull-out tray with dishes for a variety of foods and mineral mix. Note how the pulled out tray prevents escapes of birds.
Feeding tasks consume the greatest amount of time commitment where efficiency in operation pays off. It is highly recommended to mount sliding food trays in the front or perimeter wall to eliminate the opening and closing of doors. It avoid escapes and speeds up the feeding task. Food is provided in glazed dishes for good hygiene and a watering tube is mounted at the food station. These utensils can easily be cleaned/exchanged daily. The food tray should be mounted a comfortable level to serve it, which at the same time accommodates the Pekin Robins as “grab and run” feeders, which prefer not to feed on the ground. Soft food is replaced daily.
All aviaries have at least two sources of water : a bath and a drinking tube. Bathing Station also serve for drinking. I generally uses tube drinkers for a nectar drink in a small drinking tube for back up. It provides the birds with extra energy. A 10% to 20% sugar/water stock solution, which is kept refrigerated can be offered free choice to the birds. A water soluble vitamin/mineral supplement could be added as well and if need be, medication.
The tube drinker is placed near the food dish. Pekin robins do not necessarily resort to eating snow for hydration and birds have been lost when the drinking water was frozen for 24 hours, although snow was available.
