Coconut oil spray bath?

[Howldaloom]

I recently treated all my birds for mites.

Now i would like to try and improve feather quality so have added coconut oil to their seeds.

But what about adding it to warm water and spraying them with it?

What do you think?

And hi! im new here!

 

[CindyR]

I am a new bird owner so I do not have an answer about the coconut oil. I am sure someone will be along soon that can answer your question. I just wanted to say welcome

 

[weco]

Improving feather quality in birds happens from the inside out, i.e. improvement would have to come from the correction/curing of any illness and/or improvement in their diet, not by spraying with a topical solution.

We are talking about true coconut oil, not some commercially prepare skin oil you might use on your own skin, aren't we? Use of commercial solutions that are not made to be eaten should be considered potentially toxic and/or deadly to birds.

Unlike human skin that may or may not be improved by using topical oils, a bird's feathers are no longer living once the blood has receded back into the bird's body. For any improvement in the appearance of a bird's feathers, the existing feathers will need to be moulted out and new feathers grown in.

The spraying of oils onto a bird's feathers could cause the bird to barb, chew and/or pluck their feathers and may prevent the bird from properly preening their feathers.

You don't indicate where you live, but adding coconut oil to dried foods may cause the oil and food to become rancid and/or attract insects.

 

[SparkkiSparkS]

I dont know about adding it to a spray. However I also add some coconut oil to their food from time to time, its good for them and they love it! I have heard of people using it for their feet and beak but not their feathers.

 

[Howldaloom]

I live lincs uk so always cold rofl.

It is pure virgin coconut oil in a tub that you eat. The birds, cats, dog, hamster and ourselves eat it.

I didnt consider that the feathers are dead really. So you would think keeping up feeding the coconut oil would have the same affect.

I was more thinking along the lines of skin irritation and ways to sooth it naturally and a mite killer.

But probably not a good idea.

Thanks for the welcomes and replys =)

 

[weco]

Unless you have a mite problem, there's no reason to treat a bird. I'm not familiar with mites that you may have there, but mites are usually active at night & if you place a white sheet of paper in a cage, at first light you should find them on the white paper.

Not sure about coconut oil as a mite killer either, but with a bird, you have several layers of feathers to get through before you reach their skin, so you would almost have to entirely dip the bird into a solution for it to reach the skin and any oil residue will make it look much like a seabird that has fallen into an oil slick.

For bird feathers, think fingernails or your hair.....the nail-bed & hair roots are still growing, but once they are outside of your body, they are no longer alive and would not benefit from any oil solution.

Doesn't the UK average cold stay around -2C? That is sweater or jacket weather on this side of the big pond. When it gets below -10C we start putting on coats.....I had the experience of spending a week around -50C one time.....that was cold.

Unless your feathered friends are allowed to run with chickens or wild birds, you should never have to medicate them except on advice of a veterinarian and just because something is sold in a pet shop, it is not always good for your pet.....also, you want to be careful about mixing anything in a bird's water, because many birds will refuse to drink it due to the different taste and can actually cause themselves to dehydrate.

 

[Howldaloom]

I will continue to feed it i think but wont use it on feathers. You make some good points.

What is your view on feeding coconut oil?

 

[weco]

I have never fed it to my birds, but have fed them coconut...or should I say they have taken it from the counter when we were in the kitchen and they have coconut milk in curry, when I fix that.

While many people believe that their diets and those of their animals must support the supplement & additive industries, I am not one of those people. In the wild, most parrots will never encounter a lot of the things we are told they need to receive a well balanced diet.....then you have to consider that the birds we choose to be our feathered companions will most likely never eat what their wild cousins enjoy everyday. If my birds enjoy something and it is not bad for them, it will probably be occasionally included in their diet, but I'm not sure coconut oil would be a regular staple because of the fat content.....but occasional treats wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Grenage]

I'm with weco on this, health comes from within.

There's a reason all of those fancy lotion and shampoo adverts say "improves the appearance of...".

 

[Turquoise]

Coconut oils, the cold pressed type made for human consumption is ok to add to your parrots food. I first read about it in on of the "Bird Talk" magazines and I have since seen other writings about it being one of the good oil supplements for parrots. It shouldn't be given like in every meal from what I read and it doesn't take but a very small amount. And it is supposed to be very good for us non feathered flock as well.

So Howldaloom, I think it should be fine to continue to feed to your birds as you have already been doing. I will mention that if anyone is in doubt about anything you might want to feed your birds, to check with your avian vet to be on the safe side.

 

[MonicaMc]

Seeds are not a healthy diet for budgies...

If you really want to correct feather issues, then they need to be on a healthy diet. A healthy diet consists of seeds, pellets, vegetables, some fruits, cooked eggs, healthy grains and healthy legumes.

If your birds aren't eating healthy, you can improve their health by buying a sprout seed mix and feeding your budgies sprouted seeds instead of dry seeds. You can then work on incorporating other healthy foods into their diet.


That said, it can be really easy to get budgies eating a pellet and seed diet. Check out the following two threads I've created.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/23367-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

 

[RoseateToo]

Only thing I want to add is that you can kind of improve feather quality from the outside. I have personally seen many filthy birds come in with heavy, piecy feathers that were the result of too much oily handed human petting, and with regular (plain) water sprays, the feathers cleaned up and resumed the soft, shiny, fully look. It's the same idea as a person having greasy hair and then washing it. Birds DO need to bathe and it's for this reason! That said, I agree with weco that adding coconut oil to the water spray won't do anything for healthier feathers and may in fact weigh them down or upset the balance of nature oil or dust.