Diet supplementation with fish broth in early life improves bone development and growth of scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different dietary supplementations (fish or shrimp) on the growth, bone development and beak pigment disappearance in scarlet ibis kept in captivity. One-day-old scarlet ibis (n = 20) were assigned to one of two diets, where 10 birds were fed a diluted commercial diet supplemented with shrimp broth, and 10 were fed a diluted commercial diet supplemented with fish broth. The feeding trial started at day one until day 35. The diluted commercial diet consisted of a flamingo diet diluted in water (puree). Chicks growth, bone development (radius, tarsus and tibia), and disappearance of beak pigmentation were recorded. No mortality was observed in the groups of the chicks fed supplemented commercial diets. Chicks fed diets supplemented with shrimp or fish broth gained weight from the first to the 35th day of life. However, from day 14 to the end of the trial growth was significantly higher in birds fed fish broth than shrimp broth. Again, the fish broth diet increased (p < 0.001) the length of radius and tibia in comparison with shrimp one from day 14 and thereafter, while this similar difference in the tarsus was observed starting from day 28. The disappearance of the pigmented portion of the beak was not specifically affected by the diet, and it decreased over time. In conclusion, young scarlet ibis grow better in captivity when fed diets supplemented with fish broth than with shrimp broth.