Zoo database

Toucans

Ramphastos spp.

Natural diet Toucans

Fruits
Insects

Toucans are omnivorous birds that primarily feed on fruits, but they also consume insects, small reptiles, and eggs. Their large and colourful beaks are perfectly adapted to their fruit-based diet as they use it to pluck fruit from branches and trees.

Feeding advice Toucans

Feed quantity per day

15-20% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 0.4 kg and eats 15% of its body weight, it will get

0.4 x 0.15 = 0.06 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

5% Insects and other invertebrates
50% Concentrates
40% Other vegetables
5% Fruits

Proportions (fresh product)

0.05 x 0.06 kg = 3 g insects and other invertebrates
0.5 x 0.06 kg = 30 g concentrates
0.4 x 0.06 kg = 24 g other vegetables
0.05 x 0.06 kg = 3 g fruits

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Variety of fiber-rich fruits (papaya, blueberry or figs)

Not recommended

Citrus fruits

Sugar-rich fruits

Avocados

Bread

Dog pellets

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
Protein intake should be increased during the breeding season, which can be done by supplementing insects, pinkies or tofu.
Since toucans do not have a crop, fruits and vegetables should be cut into bite-sized pieces and removed from any seeds to avoid gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Insoluble grit is not required if they go outside, as they will ingest small stones (read more about grit).
Toucans may lose their vivid colour if insufficient carotenes are supplemented, this can be prevented with the right concentrates.
Toucans are sensitive to iron. Therefore, iron-rich products or diet components that increase iron retention in the liver (e.g. citrus fruits high in vitamin C) should be avoided. Iron content of concentrates should be less than <85 ppm.
Provide a large water basin to prevent difficulties when drinking.
Avoid feeding bread and other high starch products as this may cause gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Although present in their natural diets, feeding fruits 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).
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:

Iron storage disease
Obesity

Species within this group

Toco toucan
Green-billed toucan
Channel-billed toucan
Citron-throated toucan
Choco toucan
Keel-billed toucan
White-throated toucan
Yellow-throated toucan

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Handfeeding Ramphastid

Wisbroek Softbill Diet Large

T20 softbill breeder

T16 softbill maintenance

Kevin Kieft

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