Zoo database

Blue-and-yellow macaw

Ara ararauna

Natural diet Blue-and-yellow macaw

Blue-and-gold macaws are herbivorous birds that mainly consume nuts, seeds, and fruits. They use their beak to crush seeds and nut shells. Occasionally, they ingest clay from riverbanks to help them digest toxins from unripe seeds.

Fruits
Fruits
Grain / seeds
Grain / seeds
Leaves
Leaves
Nectar
Nectar

Feeding advice Blue-and-yellow macaw

Feed quantity per day

10-15%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 1 kg and eats 12% of its body weight, it will get
 
1 x 0,12 = 0,12 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

70% Concentrates
15% Leafy greens and cabbages
15% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0,7 x 0,12 kg = 84 g concentrates
0,15 x 0,12 kg = 18 g leafy greens and cabbages
0,15 x 0,12 kg = 18 g other

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Nuts with shell
Variety of vegetables
Soluble grit

Not recommended

Bread
Fruits

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Kidney disease (gout)
  • Obesity

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least one feeding moment per day.
  • Provide less palatable food in the morning, when hunger is greatest.
  • Supplement the diet with around 15% seeds and nuts.
  • Supplement the diet with ad libitum soluble grit as a source of calcium.
  • Insoluble grit is not required if they go outside, as they will ingest small stones (read more about grit).
  • Although present in their natural diets, feeding fruits might lead to might lead to gastro-intestinal disturbances because of the high sugar level and low fiber level in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
  • Avoid feeding bread as the high starch content may cause gastro-intestinal disturbances.
  • Stimulate foraging behaviour by using feeding puzzles and scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).