Zoo database

Red-crested turaco

Tauraco erythrolophus

Natural diet Red-crested turaco

Fruits

The red-crested turaco is an omnivorous bird that primarily consumes a variety of fruits in the wild. Next to this, they also consume some plant material and insects, but not much is known about these amounts.

Feeding advice Red-crested turaco

Feed quantity per day

30-40% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 0.3 kg and eats 35% of its body weight, it will get

0.3 x 0.35 = 0.105 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

30% Concentrates
35% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
35% Other vegetables

Proportions (fresh product)

0.3 x 0.105 kg = 31.5 g concentrates
0.35 x 0.105 kg = 36.8 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.35 x 0.105 kg = 36.8 g other vegetables

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Variety of insects

Not recommended

Fruits
Bread

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
Supplement the diet with ad libitum soluble grit as a source of calcium (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).

Common diseases

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

Metabolic bone disease
Splayed legs

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Wisbroek Softbill Diet Large

T16 Softbill Maintenance

Softbill Diet

Michiel Derks

Director Petfood & Zoos