Can I breed my crossbeak?

[hinkjc]

Nutritional deficiencies can occur for various reasons. From parent stock, feed consumption (improper mixes) to malabsorption issues within a particular bird. Sometimes you can resolve these with vitamin supplements or changing the current diet. Typically vitamin supplements are a good start to see if the bird shows improvement (straightening of the toes) and responds to treatment. If they do, then you need to identify the source of the problem to ensure the bird's nutritional needs are being met.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Yes, as Hinkjc says, it can be that a particular bird is for whatever reason unable to properly absorb or metabolize nutrients as well as other birds.

I also have to say that I have not found any brand of commercial food that I feel provides an outstanding diet. There are several that are adequate and others that are downright poor. Commercial feeds are formulated with cost as being the major factor, long-term quality nutrition is secondary to cost.

 

[Krys109uk]

I also have to say that I have not found any brand of commercial food that I feel provides an outstanding diet. There are several that are adequate and others that are downright poor.

What do you do about this? I've been less than impressed with the available feed.​

 

[Kezzie]

Thank you everyone for your great advice. Most of it confirmed what I was afraid of- that there's really no way of telling if it's genetic. And I want to reiterate that I would NEVER knowingly introduce genetic faults into a breeding program. EVER. I was just hoping it wasn't genetic.

Rosie will live a happy life with us and the other laying hens. Just watch- I bet she'll also lay the darkest brown egg too!

Does anyone have any suggestions on what type of vitamin I should be giving her? Will Poly-Vi-Sol work?