Dietary treatment of iron storage disease in captive birds of paradise (Paradisaea raggiana)

Citation

Helmick K, Kendrick E, Dierenfeld E. 2009. Dietary treatment of iron storage disease in captive birds of paradise (Paradisaea raggiana). In Ward A, Treiber K, Schmidt D, Coslik A, Maslanka M, Eds. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Tulsa, OK.

Abstract

Elevated serum iron parameters were lowered through dietary manipulation in captive Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea raggiana) using a modification of previously published low-iron diets. Study birds were part of a captive breeding program consisting of two males and one female, captive born, 3.5 to 9 years of age. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), percent transferrin saturation, body weight, and hematocrit were monitored through routine examinations and blood samples collected before dietary treatment and at regular post-treatment intervals for 18 months. Routine diet consisted of a variety of fruits, vegetables, a multivitamin supplement, and a commercial low-iron avian pellet, with a total dietary iron content of 55 mg/kg (dry matter) or 1.12 mg iron/bird/day on an as-fed basis. Dietary treatment involved removal of the commercial avian pellet for 30 days at 12 month intervals, for a total iron content of 42 mg/kg (dry matter) or 0.64 mg iron/bird/day on an as-fed basis.

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