GB2373709A - Pet bird feed - Google Patents

Abstract

A birdseed cake comprises a first layer 2 of one or more varieties of birdseed and disposed on part of the surface of the first layer a second layer 4 comprising a second nutritional composition 3 other than birdseed, wherein the second component is present in an amount of 0.5 to 50 % by weight of the birdseed cake. The second composition may comprise nuts, herbs, egg or dried fruit.

Description

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION The present invention is concerned with a nutritional composition suitable for domesticated birds.

The feeding of domesticated birds presents particular problems not encountered in the feeding of other domesticated pets. A pet bird is normally confined to its cage, which is also the location where feed is provided. In contrast, a cat or dog, for example, is not usually confined to a particular area of the domestic environment, and the provision of feed may occur in a number of locations. Specific problems associated with the provision of feed to domesticated birds are set out below.

The owners of domesticated birds are often ignorant of the amount of feed to give to the bird, or may unintentionally over-feed or under-feed the bird at any one time or over an extended period. This is a particular problem for feed compositions in the form of loose seed. Although birdseed suppliers may attempt to give guidance in the form of dosage instructions provided with the product, these guidelines are often not adhered to by the petowner, either through ignorance or laziness. For those bird-owners who are diligent in the provision of the correct amount of birdseed, the existing solutions, which include measuring the seed into a dosage cup to ensure the correct daily requirement, are cumbersome. Equally, the lack of certainty of the correct dosage amount can lead to anxiety in the owner.

The provision of too much, or too little, feed is undesirable since the supply of proper nutrition is vital in maintaining the health of the bird. In addition, the provision of too much feed is economically disadvantageous for the owner.

The provision of too much feed to the bird is also undesirable since it means that there is often old birdseed present in the cage. For instance, when the feed-tray of the bird is starting to become empty, the owner often simply tops up the feed-tray with loose seed without cleaning out the old birdseed. The presence of old birdseed in the cage can lead to health and hygiene problems for the bird.

A further reason why the provision of too much feed to the bird is undesirable is that, once the bird has sated its appetite, the presence of loose seed in the cage means that the bird can play with the seed and throw it onto the floor of the cage, resulting in waste seed on the floor of the cage. Again, this is economically undesirable for the owner. In addition, this waste seed can lead to health and hygiene problems, for instance since the bird could eat old seed from the floor of its cage where its excrement may also be present. This problem persists despite daily diligence on the part of the owner in keeping the birdcage clean.

The existence of a domesticated bird is such that it does not have access to its natural environment and, as a result, it does not have access to its natural foodstuffs. Accordingly, the owner is responsible-for ensuring variety and stimulation, and this is not generally possible with existing birdseed. In addition, a wider variety of feed is important to increase the level of food-acceptance by the bird. Existing solutions to lack of variety, which include the purchase and provision of two or more different products, are cumbersome and can be expensive.

It is an object of this invention to provide a feed composition suitable for provision to birds, particularly domesticated birds, which overcomes the aforementioned problems.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a birdseed cake comprising a first layer of one or more varieties of birdseed and disposed on part of the surface of the first layer a second layer comprising a second nutritional composition other than birdseed, and wherein the second component is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 50 % by weight of the birdseed cake.

Preferably, the birdseed cake comprises a first layer of one or more varieties of birdseed and disposed on part of one surface of the first layer a second layer comprising a second nutritional composition other than birdseed, and wherein the second component is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 50 % by weight of the birdseed cake.

Preferably, the second component is present in an amount of at least 1.0% by weight of the birdseed cake. Preferably the second component is present in an amount less than about

30%, preferably less than about 20%, and typically less than about 10%, by weight of the birdseed cake. The birdseed cake of the present invention has the advantage that it provides a fixed dosage of feed for the bird, thereby solving the aforementioned problems associated with incorrect dosages, and has the further advantage that it provides nutritional variety. In addition, it has been found that the bird shows an unexpected preference for eating a seedcake rather than loose seed, providing a further advantage in terms of nutritional benefit, health and hygiene.

The term"birdseed"as used herein means any seed suitable for feeding to birds and includes sunflower seeds (including striped sunflower seeds and white sunflower seeds), millet (including red millet and yellow millet), sesame, barley, rye, oats (including oat kernels), wheat, buckwheat, com, maize (including yellow maize), rice with husks, peanuts, niger seed, rapeseed, hemp seed, teasel seed, linseeds, canary seed, canary grass, thistle seed, sorghum, sudan grass seed, watergrass seed and clover seed. Different varieties of birdseed can be used for different types of birds according to dietary requirements.

The second nutritional composition is different from the birdseed first layer and may be any composition edible to birds. Suitable substances include nuts (including peanuts), herbs (including parsley and aniseed), egg (yoke and/or albumen) and dried fruits (including apple, banana, kiwi and papaya). The second nutritional composition may comprise additional vitamins and/or minerals. The second nutritional composition may also comprise substances such as iodine (which can help to protect the thyroid gland). The second nutritional composition may be coloured and/or flavoured and/or textured in order to provide variety for the bird. In addition, birdseed cakes having different colours and textures can enhance owner-perceived enjoyment of the feeding occasion for the bird, thereby adding value to the product. Of course, the variety also enhances the actual enjoyment of the feeding occasion by the bird.

The layer of the second nutritional composition is disposed on only a part of the total surface area of the birdseed layer and so does not encapsulate the birdseed component of

the cake. Thus, at least part and preferably 50% or more of the total surface area of the birdseed cake is birdseed. Preferably, at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, and more preferably at least 80% of the total surface area of the cake is birdseed. Preferably therefore, less than 50%, preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, and more preferably less than 20% of the total surface area of the birdseed cake is provided by the second nutritional composition.

Preferably the birdseed cake is provided with a recess defined by the moulded shape of the birdseed, in which recess is provided the second component. The recess may be of any size or shape appropriate for the provision of the desired amount of the second component.

The birdseed cake may take any shape convenient and suitable for provision in or around a birdcage, and is preferably a substantially circular disc. In the following discussion, the birdseed cake is described in respect of a cake in the shape of a substantially circular disc.

However, it will be understood that the following discussion is equally applicable to any other suitable shape of cake.

For a cake being a substantially circular disc, the diameter of a recess is preferably between about 40 and 80% of the overall diameter of the cake. The cake is preferably from about 35 to about 45 mm in diameter, typically about 40mm in diameter, and preferably from about 10 to about 15 mm in depth, more preferably about 12 to about 14 mm, and typically about 13 mm in depth.

Typically, a birdseed cake according to the present invention weighs from about 5 to about 25 grams, preferably from about 10 to about 20 grams, more preferably from about 11 to about 15 grams. The amount of the second nutritional component is preferably present in an amount from about 0. 1 to about 2. 0 grams, preferably from about 0. 1 to about 1. 0 grams, and typically from about 0. 3 to about 0. 8 grams.

Preferably the birdseed cake has a total weight suitable to provide a dosage per day of between 15 and 30% of the bodyweight of the bird. Hence, if the average budgerigar has a bodyweight of 40-50g, the birdseed cake preferably weighs about 10g.

In one embodiment, the birdseed cakes are provided, or sold to the customer, in a pack comprising multiple birdseed cakes, for instance a pack comprising 2 to 20 cakes, typically 5-10 cakes, wherein there is a variety of toppings on the birdseed cakes in the pack. Preferably, each birdseed cake in the pack has a topping different from the topping of other cakes in the pack.

The birdseed cake may be produced by mixing the birdseed component with a suitable binder material and moulded into the desired shape in accordance with conventional techniques known in the art. Suitable binders include gelatin, modified starch and gum.

The mixture is then allowed to set, the shaped seedcake released from the mould, and the product then dried until the desired moisture content is attained. Preferably the moisture content of the birdseed cake is in the range of from about 5.0 to about 10.0%, preferably from about 6.5 to about 9%, and more preferably from about 6.5 to about 7.5 %. The second component may be applied either before or after the shaped seedcake is removed from the mould, and either before or after the drying step.

The birdseed cake may be provided to the bird by affixing it to the exterior or the interior of the birdcage or by placing it in or on the feed-tray.

The invention is illustrated with regard to figures 1-4 in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the birdseed cake (1) comprising a birdseed base (2) containing the second nutritional component (3).

Figure 2 shows a view of the birdseed cake (1) from below showing the birdseed base (2).

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the birdseed cake (1) showing the birdseed base (2).

Figure 4 shows a section on X-X of Figure 1 showing the birdseed cake (1) comprising a birdseed base (2) having recess (4) containing the nutritional component (3).

The invention will now be described with reference to the following examples. It will be appreciated that the following is by way of example only and that modification of detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES A number of birdseed cakes were produced according to the present invention, using the method described above. The birdseed, about 12g of millet and canary seeds, was mixed with an appropriate amount of modified starch and gum binder and placed in a mould of about 40mm in diameter and about 13 mm deep. Pressure was applied by hand before the mixture forming the birdseed base (2) was removed from the mould and dried to achieve a moisture content of about 7 %. A variety of foodstuffs, including dried apple and peanuts, were then placed in the recess of the base (2) and adhered thereto using light pressure and the same modified starch and gum binder. The resultant product was a firm seed cake that breaks under moderate pressure and weighed about 12.5 grams.

Claims (6)

1. A birdseed cake comprising a first layer of one or more varieties of birdseed and disposed on part of the surface of the first layer a second layer comprising a second nutritional composition other than birdseed, wherein the second component is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 50 % by weight of the birdseed cake.

2. A birdseed cake according to claim 1 comprising a first layer of one or more varieties of birdseed, and disposed on at least part of one surface of the first layer a second layer comprising a second nutritional composition other than birdseed, wherein the second component is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 50% by weight of the birdseed cake.

3. A birdseed cake according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the birdseed is selected from one or more varieties of sunflower seeds, millet, sesame, barley, rye, oats, wheat, buckwheat, corn, maize, rice with husks, peanuts, niger seed, rapeseed, hemp seed, teasel seed, linseeds, canary seed, canary grass, thistle seed, sorghum, sudan grass seed, watergrass seed and clover seed.

4. A birdseed cake according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the second nutritional composition is selected from nuts, herbs, egg and dried fruits.

5. A birdseed cake according to any preceding claim comprising a recess in the birdseed layer within which the second nutritional composition is provided.

6. A birdseed cake according to any preceding claim wherein the birdseed cake is a substantially circular disc.