Softbills

The term softbill covers a wide variety of birds and does not imply that these species have soft beaks, but rather refers to the fact that they eat soft foods. They fall into three basic categories; omnivores, fruitivores, and insectivores. Ominivores eat a mixed diet of fruit, vegetable and animal protein foods. Fruitivores are fruit and nectar eaters. Insectivores require a diet primarily consisting of insects. Some of the more common or recognizable species are Mynahs, Toucans Magpies, Jays, Crows and Turacos.

Because of the diversity of bird species that fall into this group, it is difficult to provide one care sheet that covers all of them. Anyone interested in keeping softbills must research the needs of the particular species that they re interested in keeping.

At Orchid Tree Exotics Aviary we use two basic diets; a fruitivore and an omnivore.

Fruit Mix

2-3 cups Orchid Tree Exotics Softbill Formula.

6 Bananas peeled and chopped

2 kiwis peeled and chopped

75-100 grapes chopped

2 cups frozen peas & carrots

Mix in Bowl, let pellets absorb moisture from chopped fruit.

Omnivore Mix

2 cups Iams Dog food soaked

2 cups of Orchid Tree exotics low-iron Softbill pellets

1/4 cup chopped beef-heart

250 meal worms

10-12 frozen mice.

Once dog food has absorbed the water mix with softbill pellets, Add meal-worms, beefheart and mice as needed.

There is no standard rule of thumb concerning housing softbills. Tiny members of this group like Japanese White Eyes and Pekin Robins can do well in small flight cages 2 feet high by 18 inches wide by 2 to 3 feet long. Larger members like Toucans, Mynahs and Turacos really need substantial walk in flights. Regardless of the species, the important thing to remember is that these are very active birds that require room to fly.

Generally softbills are not kept as pets. They do not normally tame well and are kept mostly for their beauty, activity level, and interesting behaviors. Even when hand-fed, they don’t make good pets. Rather than bonding with their human caregivers, hand-fed softbills only lose their instinctive fear of humans and can therefore become very aggressive. They really are not suitable pets for novice, or inexperienced bird keepers.