Zoo database

Pied avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta

Natural diet Pied avocet

Insects
Invertebrates / crustaceans

The pied avocet is a carnivorous bird that feeds in shallow water. Most of their diet is made up of crustaceans, insects, worms, mollusks. Occasionally, they may consume small fish and plant matter.

Feeding advice Pied avocet

Feed quantity per day

5-10% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 0.3 kg and eats 8% of its body weight, it will get

0.3 x 0.08 = 0.024 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

10% Insects and other invertebrates
90% Concentrates

Proportions (fresh product)

0.1 x 0.024 kg = 2.4 g insects and other invertebrates
0.9 x 0.024 kg = 21.6 g concentrates

Diet suggestions

Not recommended

Bread

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
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).

Common diseases

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

Metabolic bone disease

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Wisbroek Micro 22

Floating micro

Insect Patee Premium - Min. 50% insects

Buffalo worms

Mealworms

Grasshoppers

Melvin de Boer

Purchasing & Logistics