Mac is in boot camp for the next 12 weeks..............

[mtdoramike]

I don't feed Mac pellets.

 

[Pajarita]

Then you should be fine, Mike.

I was reading an article about the surprise effect that creatine has on women with depression (the ones that took it along with an anti-depressant did better than the ones that just took the anti-depressant alone) and I know that pigeon racers have been supplementing their birds with it (it's used by bodybuilders for muscle development and fatigue) for years so I was thinking that maybe it helps birds with FDB...

 

[Pajarita]

I have been feeding the avian tranquality and avian trio to Ruby for well over a year. Her blood works last month shows no signs of it causing any problems and I feed her Ekkie organic speciality pellets. I have always read that Ekkies in the wild consume more pollen that most other species as they are mainly fruit eaters which is pollenated by bees. I get all my pellets and supplements from prettyparrot.com and Jane there is an Ekkie specialist, as she has been breeding them for many years. She is well known for having the highest quality Ekkies available, so I trust her research and knowledge.

Please don't take this the wrong way because I don't mean to offend, just clarify. Normal blood work (CBC and chemistry panel) tell you very little aside from whether the bird has an infection or not because liver and kidney enzymes usually show normal levels until the organs are only working at 25% capacity. Blood protein is also not indicative of diet per se (although it does get affected when there is long-term malnutrition). High protein usually means dehydration, cancer or long term/chronic infection.

Fruit eaters don't consume pollen when they eat the fruit. The pollen is in the flower which will produce the fruit so unless a bird eats HUGE amounts of flowers (which no parrot really does), the amount of pollen they consume is negligible.

And I do believe you when you say that this lady has been producing high quality ekkies and good breeders know a lot about their birds but their goals are completely different from a pet owner. Breeders need their birds to get hormonal (or they don't produce babies) and, as bird loses 25% of their nutritional reserves every time they lay an egg, they need to feed them higher protein and vitamins/minerals than a pet owner would.

 

[Boysmom]

Pajarita, Are you a Avian Veterinarian ? If you aren't an AV then I DO take offense to your comments. A lot of your posts to people on here have came across as pompous and mean spirited and several of us have discussed your comments. If you want to be helpful to other members, you may want to restrain some of the attitude and censor yourself. If you would like examples of the posts that are offensive, PM me and I will be glad to point them out.

 

[ShellyBorg]

Mike, I have another suggestion for you on this subject. I use a product called Avian tranquility during molting for all my birds, and since Ruby had started to rub the feathers off her face recently I started her back on it. It has decreased her face rubbing and she does have tiny pins in those spots now.

AVIAN TRANQUILITY

I had never heard of this product. Thank you for posting it. I have a Zon who is afraid of oxygen at times it seems, I know he had a really bad diet for over 5 years (so bad we are dealing with beak growth issues) I will give it a try also to see how he does on it.

 

[Boysmom]

ShellyBorg let me know if it helps your Zon out. It is an awesome product and is available from My Safe Bird Store who sponsors this forum also. Plus if ordered from MSBS, Kathie always includes a birdie and human goodie bag of candy and free foot toys in all your packages from her.

 

[mtdoramike]

I got the Avian Tranquility in the mail yesterday and gave Mac dose of it. He seemed to be more mellow yesterday afternoon, but this may have just been wishful thinking. Only time will tell. I can say this though, both Tiki and Mac had their grooming yesterday morning. Mainly their nails clipped. Mac was really fidgety afterwards and was trying his best to attack his feathers after the grooming, which I think traumatized him. The Avian Tranquility did seem to calm him, sooth him and I didn't have to constantly watch him.

So even if this winds up being the only benefit from Avian Tranquility, it would be totally worth it. Just sprinkle a 1/4 teaspoon or so in their breakfast the day of the grooming to help calm them down after the stressful event. I will also add here that the groomer couldn't believe the change in Mac's feathers since her last visit and couldn't believe how well they were coming out.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I truly hope it isn't wishful thinking...but that it will work.

Mike, you lead by example here with your parronting!!!

 

[Boysmom]

I'm so glad it has helped in some way. It's true that only time will tell if it helps with the plucking. It definately calms them down IMO.