Ornamental Birds–Husbandry, Nutrition, Medical Care

Dear Colleagues,

Ornamental birds are classed as exotic pets, with some special features in regards to keeping, therapy and nutrition.

In contrast to other pets, birds often attempt to conceal signs of disease, even though they are sometimes already seriously ill. For this reason, routine clinical examinations, in order to prevent disease, are particularly important for pet birds. In the context of therapy, rapid and purposeful action is necessary, as only a few days of reduced food intake can lead to death in smaller birds.

In terms of nutrition, ornamental birds can be categorized into grain eaters, soft food eaters, insect eaters and nectar eaters. Before grain eaters consume their food, the seeds are first dehulled, which leads to large differences in nutrient content between the supply and actual intake, which causes difficulty in calculating the energy and nutrient intake. In contrast to dogs and cats, there are barely any diets available for pet birds; therefore, dietary measures must be taken when nutritional diseases occur.

Poisoning is also observed more frequently in ornamental birds, although not every bird species reacts in the same way.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish original research papers or reviews pertaining to bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases, as well as their therapy, husbandry, nutrition and nutritional disorders.

The areas of interest include the following: clinical examination of ornamental birds; therapy for diseases; information on normal values for laboratory tests; handling; behavioral disorders and therapy; feed for ornamental birds; nutrition and nutritional requirements; nutritional and physiological peculiarities; dietary measures for nutritional disorders.

Prof. Dr. Petra Wolf
Guest Editor

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