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From: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: bird digestion (sort of indoor)
Message-ID: <277B7116.1C29@intercon.com>
Date: 28 Dec 90 16:21:42 GMT
References: <2707@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU> <3175@legs.UUCP> <27766494.2CA@intercon.com> <1711@cluster.cs.su.oz.au>
Sender: usenet@intercon.com (USENET The Magnificent)
Reply-To: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation, Herndon, VA
Lines: 32

In article <1711@cluster.cs.su.oz.au>, andrewt@cs.su.oz (Andrew Taylor) writes
>> (I wrote):
> > ... keeping food away from a bird for three days is really stupid.
> > A bird's metabolism is so much faster than a humans, that it would
> > be like keeping food away from a human for a week.
> 
> Size not faster metabolism is the important difference. Small birds
> may have problems with just 1-2 days without food. Many larger birds can
> fast for longer. For example mallards can fast up to 3 weeks. Champions
> are male Emperor penguins which fast for 3-4 months.  Of course, penguins are
> not typical cage birds.

I have no doubt that this is true with regards to ducks and penguins and
other types of birds that either migrate, or live in areas where food is
unavailable or in short supply for long periods of time.  Please remember,
however, that the original line of discussion was regarding cockatoos and
other cage birds and trying to adjust their dietary needs.  A cockatoo can
lose up to 20% of its body weight by not eating for one day.  Hard to believe,
but true.  I saw what was left of a cockatiel that didn't eat for four
days.  It was one of the most repulsive things I've ever seen.  The person
involved didn't know the bird wasn't eating (this was her first (and last)
bird).

I should have prefaced my above quote with "for most cage birds".

BTW, I am very interested in learning more about biology and digestion of
both cage and wild birds.  Please continue to provide this type of info.
It's really interesting what different species of birds do regarding food
and environment.

Mikki Barry
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