Calming Crackers

[kme3388]

I just gave Nico some calming crackers that I seen online when I was googling feather plucking. I randomly do this to see if something new came about that helps with feather plucking behavior now & then. You never know maybe one day there will be a resolution.

Anyways these calming crackers really affect Nico. It doesn’t to me seem like he’s “sick”. He honestly seems “drunk” or “high”. He eats more than usual after having a calming cracker as well. His stepping up abilities are interesting. He wants to step up but it appears like he can’t decide with which claw. Eventually hours later he goes back to himself.

Does anyone have any experience with these calming crackers? It looks like natural ingredients. I don’t understand why he’d be affected to this extent.

 

[zERo]

Could you maybe post pictures and say what brand they are?
I’ve not heard of calming crackers, I have seen some on a few organic bird sites though.

 

[kme3388]

Could you maybe post pictures and say what brand they are?
I’ve not heard of calming crackers, I have seen some on a few organic bird sites though.

 

[zERo]

View attachment 60972

Hmm, that’s odd that those would make him act that way, based on those ingredients listed.
Maybe don’t feed them, just to be on the safe side.

 

[Thechoplady]

I would listen to your instincts. You know your bird. If something seems off, I would probably discontinue it.

 

[kme3388]

I would listen to your instincts. You know your bird. If something seems off, I would probably discontinue it.

Thank you, I'm hoping someone else has tried these as well. They do in a way calm Nico. It's very temporary though.

If he's eating anything that is designed for parrots I've made progress with him. I think, or assume his previous owners fed him people food based upon how he acts when he sees it. Especially potato chips. He will get rather aggressive over potato chips.

 

[rheashard2]

Came across this article tis morning. I read the ingredients. What kind of cinnamon is used? There's 2 basic things called cinnamon. One type is avian toxic. The calming hebs ginger, chamomile, lavender have calming effects and considered safe but like everything else there's a but. These effect the central nervous system. Combined and with no amounts listed flashes a warning in my mind. Another red flag is 'and other greens'. What are these greens? Are the other greens people safe only? Another red flag is fruit puree. What fruit, what amounts? Our pets can't tell us if something is making them feel better/worse/weird. The non regulation of herbal products concerns me a lot. Part is labeled listing of ingredients that seem to say a lot but say little. This product looks aimed at pluckers. This has few identifying specific causes. There's even fewer solutions that work consistently. Owners are concerned and look for solutions. I have this attitude influenced by decades of being a health care worker. This is subject to personal experience. Look at coffee. Considered safe but individual responses vary. There's those who drink it by the pot so dark and so strong it should be classed as toxic. Then there's others who just sip so see thru weak. These poor folk become wired for days.

 

[saxguy64]

I've not seen this one before, so I'm curious about what else it might contain. CBD has become very popular in the human world, and we see it used in calming treats for dogs. I'm skeptical, but people tell me they work great. No idea how it affects birds, but given their sensitivity to EVERYTHING, I imagine it's not really safe. It would pretty much fit Nico's symptoms, but I'd think they would list it in the ingredients, or put it right on the top of the label.

Maybe I'm a little hyper sensitive ATM about CBD/THC after my dog spent two days at the emergency vet. They assumed THC toxicity since he had all the symptoms. Hard to do when there's nothing in my house for him to get. I've tested him to be sure, and it was negative, but we don't know if that's because of the treatment while he was there. Tremendous amounts of IV fluids and interlipid treatment to absorb any fat soluble toxins, so I just don't know. Praying that it's not something a neighbor did, but who knows? They're kinda nuts. We've listened to their little yappy dogs all day every day for 20 years and never said a word, but they have a meltdown if one of ours gets out and lifts his leg on one of their trees.

 

[kme3388]

Came across this article tis morning. I read the ingredients. What kind of cinnamon is used? There's 2 basic things called cinnamon. One type is avian toxic. The calming hebs ginger, chamomile, lavender have calming effects and considered safe but like everything else there's a but. These affect the central nervous system. Combined and with no amounts listed flashes a warning in my mind. Another red flag is 'and other greens'. What are these greens? Are the other greens people safe only? Another red flag is fruit puree. What fruit, what amounts? Our pets can't tell us if something is making them feel better/worse/weird. The non regulation of herbal products concerns me a lot. Part is labeled listing of ingredients that seem to say a lot but say little. This product looks aimed at pluckers. This has few identifying specific causes. There's even fewer solutions that work consistently. Owners are concerned and look for solutions. I have this attitude influenced by decades of being a health care worker. This is subject to personal experience. Look at coffee. Considered safe but individual responses vary. There's those who drink it by the pot so dark and so strong it should be classed as toxic. Then there's others who just sip so see thru weak. These poor folk become wired for days.

If ask these questions at a store for human food and get told I’m mean I’ve never understood why labeling doesn’t list things in full. I do agree that feather plucking doesn’t have a clear cause. Yet we are jumping on some subjective things as resolution. I just try my best with the parrots I have. Ill try things that appear harmless as the worse things that will come from it are nothing at all.

 

[kme3388]

I've not seen this one before, so I'm curious about what else it might contain. CBD has become very popular in the human world, and we see it used in calming treats for dogs. I'm skeptical, but people tell me they work great. No idea how it affects birds, but given their sensitivity to EVERYTHING, I imagine it's not really safe. It would pretty much fit Nico's symptoms, but I'd think they would list it in the ingredients, or put it right on the top of the label.

Maybe I'm a little hyper sensitive ATM about CBD/THC after my dog spent two days at the emergency vet. They assumed THC toxicity since he had all the symptoms. Hard to do when there's nothing in my house for him to get. I've tested him to be sure, and it was negative, but we don't know if that's because of the treatment while he was there. Tremendous amounts of IV fluids and interlipid treatment to absorb any fat soluble toxins, so I just don't know. Praying that it's not something a neighbor did, but who knows? They're kinda nuts. We've listened to their little yappy dogs all day every day for 20 years and never said a word, but they have a meltdown if one of ours gets out and lifts his leg on one of their trees.

I am really sorry to hear about your dog. Is he feeling better now? Luckily we live in a dog neighborhood, and always have. They all bark if a leaf blows by. I can hear multiple neighbors at night along with me calling their dogs in after they all bark at the moon (each other). I’m not well versed on CBD. I know it’s being marketed as beneficial for pain issues. I’m sure to an extent our animals hurt just like we do. I have 2 parrots with broken wings. Both will droop their broken wing to rest them. They really protect their broken wings too. It would be nice to have something safe to give them.

 

[saxguy64]

KME, I agree with you. I do think it's worth exploring things that might help every now and again. Plucking is unfortunately so complex that we never truly know. We have birds capable of speech, why don't they just tell us what they need... in English, or whatever language their owners speak? Okay, dare to dream, right?

Oh, and Marshall seems to have made a full recovery, thank goodness! Cute picture for tax

 

[rheashard2]

If ask these questions at a store for human food and get told I’m mean I’ve never understood why labeling doesn’t list things in full. I do agree that feather plucking doesn’t have a clear cause. Yet we are jumping on some subjective things as resolution. I just try my best with the parrots I have. Ill try things that appear harmless as the worse things that will come from it are nothing at all.

I've never been this way about food, supplements, lab and especially meds. It doesn't bother me. I might be annoyed because of my time concerns etc. But it is consumer right to know. AKA your right to know. Look at the labels on OTC products. The print is so small even 20/20 vision need a magnifying glass. Some labels the contrast is so poor that If interested I take a picture and enlarge it. Look at the lack of instructions on electronics. A few times when I've queried companies involved I was told to Google or YouTube. Those devices got the most negative reviews I can send. Please think, ask, think, reply, ask again and change wording. The response about CBD got me thinking (more). Depending on country of origin for ingredients there could easily be even more undesirable ingredients. Especially because of lack of regulation in this field. But I have been told that I am the worst of my birthsign, Virgo. I , add what ifs, look up, , add different what ifs, think, repeat and by the second Tuesday of next week I MAY have an answer.