"Protein - What Is It?"

Proteins are essentially compositions of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, traces of other elements and differing combinations of amino acids, which are linked together into a long chain by peptide bonds. There are 22 different amino acids of which 12 can be made inside a Budgerigar's cells. Every body tissue and fluid with the exception of bile and urine contain proteins. However, because of the differing combinations of amino acids within a protein, those found in one tissue may vary greatly from those found in other tissues or fluids.

 

A protein that contains adequate levels of all the amino acids are referred to as "complete" or "high quality" proteins, whereas those proteins which are deficient in one or more amino acids are termed "incomplete", "low quality" or "limiting" proteins. In other words, the protein quality describes the amount and proportion of essential amino acids in relation to a Budgerigars requirement for these amino acids.

 

Why is this important?

 

Proteins in the body are constantly being made and broken down. As mentioned, a Budgerigar can synthesise some amino acids from other amino acids but in order to do this, several "essential" amino acids, namely arginine, lysine, methionine, tryptophan, histidine, leucine, phenylalanine, treonine, valine and glycene must be present. The only source of these ten essential amino acids, is through the diet. As the body does not store these amino acids for later use, (they are passed through the kidney as waste within several hours) they must be present at the time other non-essential amino acids are introduced into the system in order for synthesis to occur. Additionally, if there is not enough energy supplied by the diet, these essential amino acids are then utilised for energy requirements instead of synthesis.

 

 

 

In general, animal proteins are considered to be "high quality" proteins, while proteins from vegetable sources are felt to be "incomplete" or low quality (lacking one or more of the needed amino acids). For example, the amino acid strength of legumes are lysine and isoleucine while their weakness is limiting tryptophan and methionine. Of the other vegetables, tryptophan and lysine are strengths while weaknesses are isoleucine and methionine. Although we don't know all of the specific amino acid requirements for our birds, we do know that serious amino acid deficiencies and/or borderline amino acid deficiencies cause:

• Poor growth.
  
• Poor feather growth.
  
• Reduced egg size.
  
• Lack of melanin pigment in black-coloured feathers.
  
• Increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral and fungal disease.
  
• Decreased reproductive success.
  
• Increased body fat.
  
• High mortality.
  

We are additionally aware that during certain life cycle processes there are increased requirements for intake of "high quality" protein.

from THE MASTER BREEDER

Edited April 3, 200916 yr by Daz

okay, so Daz, should we be aadding protein formula to seed? I have seen a nationals winning breeder adding protein powder to the seed he feeds his birds. Should we all do this?

Dave great question, I've just posted a topic to discuss this same point. >Link <

I am using a protein powder in my soft food for the birds right now. It is 80% protein and from whey product...vanilla flavoured. Designed for racehorses but doing the birds some good. Its even improving the size and feather of my husbands parrots

Bob Smith uses Baby formular in his water with White egg powder... I am aware that too much protein causes Kidney failure.. but how much is too much???

 

Looking for info.

Bob Smith uses Baby formular in his water with White egg powder... I am aware that too much protein causes Kidney failure.. but how much is too much???

 

Looking for info.

I know other show breeders who put baby formula on bread and serve it that way.

 

A point about birds eating MEAT. Unfortunately the other day I lost a bird in the aviary...he had a testicular tumour and was in retirement in the aviary for his last days. He had died through the night, but I had left home early due to work commitments and upon my return later in the day I saw him on the aviary floor. In a few short hours the other aviary birds had made a good job of eating him. Showing that they both need the meat and also bone. A fact.

interesting article Daz, thanks

So are you saying we should give them raw or cooked meat?

I wouldnt give raw meat.... I have always given cooked

Cooked is safer.

If they haven't had meat before, mix it in with their normal greens otherwise they may not see it as edible the first few times. never leave meat with the birds for longer than 2 hours, and that meat must be freshly cooked (within 24 hours) .

I give my birds cooked meat and chicken. It's better than all the additives.

Edited April 4, 200916 yr by Pearce

I quite often give my bird a cooked chicken carcass, in a few hours there is virtually nothing left. Haven't tried raw meat products.

I wouldn't try giving raw chicken... that could be deadly I would imagine...

I am a convert to the whey powder but I cannot see myself serving up meat- cooked or raw- to my birds. Budgies may occasionally eat meat in the wild but I cannot see how it could form a regular part of their diet.

Bob Smith uses Baby formular in his water with White egg powder... I am aware that too much protein causes Kidney failure.. but how much is too much???

 

Looking for info.

 

 

 

Daz - can you elaborate on the water additives Bob uses. Never heard of baby formula and white egg powder added to water before.

Bob mixes the white of the egg powder into the water, he also mixes in a Baby formular as well. This, I beleived, is changes twice a day.

 

For a good animal protien tray boiling chicken pieces untill cooked. Let cool. Break the meat into a blender and blend finely. Put into the frezzer and freeze. Chop back up in a blender untill a fine powder and mix into the soft food.

Bob mixes the white of the egg powder into the water, he also mixes in a Baby formular as well. This, I beleived, is changes twice a day.

 

For a good animal protien tray boiling chicken pieces untill cooked. Let cool. Break the meat into a blender and blend finely. Put into the frezzer and freeze. Chop back up in a blender untill a fine powder and mix into the soft food.

 

 

Wouldnt it be great to be retired, and have time to do all these things. For some of us time poor people that is unrealistic. But im sure there are other ways of getting protein into the birds.

 

 

A breeder i know for animal protein uses ground up dog food pellets, has been using it for 20 plus years.

Hmmm... I am realising just how little I know when I read threads like this...

A breeder i know for animal protein uses ground up dog food pellets, has been using it for 20 plus years.

 

My tame cockatiel is always rading my dogs dry food bowl... now i know why Might give it a shot with the budgies

Bob mixes the white of the egg powder into the water, he also mixes in a Baby formular as well. This, I beleived, is changes twice a day.

 

For a good animal protien tray boiling chicken pieces untill cooked. Let cool. Break the meat into a blender and blend finely. Put into the frezzer and freeze. Chop back up in a blender untill a fine powder and mix into the soft food.

 

 

Wouldnt it be great to be retired, and have time to do all these things. For some of us time poor people that is unrealistic. But im sure there are other ways of getting protein into the birds.

 

 

A breeder i know for animal protein uses ground up dog food pellets, has been using it for 20 plus years.

 

Working 10 hours aday I need to provide the highest quality of food for the birds.. So I need to look seriously at these types of routines and adapt them to my life style.

Bob mixes the white of the egg powder into the water, he also mixes in a Baby formular as well. This, I beleived, is changes twice a day.

 

For a good animal protien tray boiling chicken pieces untill cooked. Let cool. Break the meat into a blender and blend finely. Put into the frezzer and freeze. Chop back up in a blender untill a fine powder and mix into the soft food.

 

 

Wouldnt it be great to be retired, and have time to do all these things. For some of us time poor people that is unrealistic. But im sure there are other ways of getting protein into the birds.

 

 

A breeder i know for animal protein uses ground up dog food pellets, has been using it for 20 plus years.

 

Working 10 hours aday I need to provide the highest quality of food for the birds.. So I need to look seriously at these types of routines and adapt them to my life style.

 

Exactly my point Daz - We all need to develop our OWN feeding system within a few tried and tested guidelines

Heath as posted, I believe that 50% is put through the beak. You do have to have that other 50% in the pairing, but just how do you get the 50% through the beak when you are gone 10 - 11 hours a day and have to sleep another 8 hours. That leaves 35 hours in 7 days to work the birds.. Take cleaning out and there isn't much left.

 

I am happy with my current routine and look forward to seeing the outcome. (if any)

Edited April 4, 200916 yr by Daz

I am using a protein powder in my soft food for the birds right now. It is 80% protein and from whey product...vanilla flavoured. Designed for racehorses but doing the birds some good. Its even improving the size and feather of my husbands parrots :grouphug:

 

 

There is a chapter in the Master Budgerigar Breeder titled "Can you give too much protein?" Research has shown that the therapeutic window for protein in budgerigars is between 17% and 27% protein. "Therapeutic window is a range within which the maximum benefit of the medication for the dosage given"

 

There is also evidence that high % protein diets can cause kidney problems.

 

I'm not sure if this is where daz is getting his info from, but and excellent source of scientific data relating to Budgerigars

Yes it's one sorce.. but please remember that if you are feed 30% protein that when added to vegitables and hulled oats the percentage is decreased (watered down) and them how much is the bird eating and how much seed is added to that. ????????

 

It's a big guess. It's a bit like adding canary to seed.. yes it increases it but how much does the bird eat? I had a bird that through out all the canary from the seed bowl and only ate millet????