COVID-19 has made a huge impact on our lives, and as a result, our bird’s lives. Shopping restrictions and social isolation has kept many of us from buying food and supplies at our regular stores. This may not cause a problem for you, but it will cause problems for your bird. Many people are purchasing their bird’s food from the grocery store or places that are convenient for them. While this may be easier for you, buying bird food from anywhere other than a specialized pet store can be harmful to your bird. Most non-pet stores do not invest time into researching what is safe for pet birds and are not focused on the welfare of your pets. This means these stores are sealing seed incorrectly, promoting ingredients that are not healthy, and stocking low-quality mixes.

Buying Seed That Was Sealed Incorrectly

Feeding your bird a seed mix that was sealed incorrectly can be fatal to your feathered friend. Seed contains moisture and if said moisture cannot escape the bag it will create the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Once your bird ingests the seed they may develop a fungal and/or respiratory infection. Common signs of infection include lethargy, depression, diarrhea, weight loss, change in or loss of voice, difficulty breathing, and anorexia.

Buying A Mix That's Full Of Unhealthy Ingredients

Most grocery store seed mixes are full of ingredients that birds love - but shouldn’t have. Ingredients like sunflower seeds, peanuts, and other foods that are high in fat are the main components in most bulk food and grocery stores. You may think these mixes are a good option because of how eager your bird is to eat them, but you’re basically feeding them a cheeseburger for every meal instead of something healthy. 

They Care About Profit, Not The Welfare Of Your Bird

Another reason you should not buy your bird’s seed from a grocery store or a bulk food store is because most places will only carry the lower quality mixes because they are cheaper to buy. We understand that the pandemic has taken many employment opportunities away, but when it comes to bird food, you should not cut corners - It’s better to spend the extra money now and have your bird on a good diet than feed them cheap food and have to pay a whopping vet bill later.