Feeding Softbills for Good Health
Softbill Formulated Diets Available Online
Softbills feed mainly on fruits and to a lesser extent on leaves, buds, and flowers, occasionally taking small insects, snails and slugs.
In captivity, the following diet is recommended:
- A dry mix of low-iron softbill diet. Dr. Harvey's is a higher quality, commercially available food mix for birds. Some formulated diets for softtbills are often questionably high in iron)
- Please note: Liquid nectar needs to be replaced several times daily. In warm weather every 4 hours. Spoiled nectar will cause your lory to become ill and possibly die.
- Mixed dried fruit
- Fresh or Frozen Produce, such as:
- Fruits: figs, apples, pomegranates, papaya, pears, grapes, cantaloupe, pineapple, figs, kiwi, bananas, oranges
- Vegetables: sweet corn, corn-on-the-cob, carrots, iceburg lettuce (finely chopped), tomatoes
- Fruits & veggies can be served shredded, sliced or diced into 0.75 cm cubes.
- Another healthful addition to their diet are flowers, including pansies, nasturtiums, roses, hibiscus, marigolds, and dandelions.
- NOTE: All fruits, veggies, flowers and branches should be pesticide free. Organic is always best. (For non-toxic ways to control pests in the house or garden, please visit this webpage.)
- Protein: Grated mild cheese, hard boiled eggs (especially important in the breeding season)
- When available (and ideally!): provide fruit tree branches with flowers and buds
| Foods to Feed Only in Moderation: |
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| Foods you may consider NOT feeding | *Peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxin, a fungal toxin. Aflatoxin is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in birds and other animals. Roasting reduces aflatoxin but does not eliminate it entirely. North American peanut producers are currently working on eliminating contaminated peanuts from their products. Especially peanuts with dark spots on them should be considered suspect, but even those that look clean and perfect could possibly be contaminated. |
| Foods to NEVER Feed: |
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