Red Palm Oil - How much, etc

[katie_fleming]

Hey guys,

I bought Jasper some red palm oil (from the parrot store, safe for birds!) and I'm wondering how much you normally give your birds? I read to heat it up and drizzle a couple drops over his food.

His "snacky time" is his favourite thing in the day so I'm thinking putting it on that (as well as his probiotics) would be the best chance at him ingesting it.

How many times a week should I be doing this? It's to hopefully help with his feathers.

Thanks

 

[chris-md]

Parker usually gets maybe half a teaspoon. I don't melt it though. Usually just serve it solid and he digs right in.

 

[katie_fleming]

Every day? I was only able to get a small bottle, I should try and find it online other than a pet store maybe!

 

[chris-md]

Whenever I think about it. I alternate coconut and palm oil he probably gets some 3-4 days a week.

 

[katie_fleming]

Ok! Cheers

 

[coopedup]

I also alternate palm and coconut oil. You can find it on Amazon but please make sure it is sustainably harvested RPO. Orangutan habitats have been decimated by companies clearing forests to plant palm trees for commercial harvest. My vet showed me how much to give Wrangler...he basically put the end of a wooden qtip about an inch into the jar and pulled it out. The solid oil that stuck to the stick (not really a measurable amount) was what he said I should use, and that a jar would easily last a year. You can drizzle/stir in but if they dont eat all of their food you really dont know that they are getting all they need. I've started wiping it on the edge of the bowl--and he eats it from there. I use coconut oil more as a seasoning--so that's melted and mixed into the chop

 

[katie_fleming]

Very helpful thank you

 

[Tami2]

Hi,

Are you using it to prevent plucking or because they're plucking?
And I'm curious, does it work?

Thanks, Tami

 

[chris-md]

Hi tami!

Ekkies have a special dietary requirement, chief among them higher vitamin A requirements compared to other species. Red palm oil is a phenomenal source of vitamin A, next to other red/orange veggies like peppers and carrots. So a few times a week a small bit of it can be added to a meal to give them a vitamin a boost.

You just have to be careful though because ekkies also require a low fat diet. Any oil is going to be primarily fat so moderation is critically important.

 

[Notdumasilook]

Why not just feed them sweet potato?? My birds relish it in their chop and it has huge amounts of beta keratin (precursor to vit A) as well as other nutrients.. they are cheap.. available at grocery stores.. and easy to prepare.

 

[chris-md]

Sweet potato is quite commonly offered up by ekkie owners! But it's also high in carbs, also not great. It's also not as concentrated as sweet potato, and variety is critical in an ekkie diet so "instead" - as your message implies by saying "just use " is probably the wrong way to look at it.

 

[Tami2]

Hi tami!

Ekkies have a special dietary requirement, chief among them higher vitamin A requirements compared to other species. Red palm oil is a phenomenal source of vitamin A, next to other red/orange veggies like peppers and carrots. So a few times a week a small bit of it can be added to a meal to give them a vitamin a boost.

You just have to be careful though because ekkies also require a low fat diet. Any oil is going to be primarily fat so moderation is critically important.

Ahhh okay, thx. I have read parrot owners are giving it to their birds that pluck.
I'm always looking for ways to prevent it.

 

[Tami2]

Why not just feed them sweet potato?? My birds relish it in their chop and it has huge amounts of beta keratin (precursor to vit A) as well as other nutrients.. they are cheap.. available at grocery stores.. and easy to prepare.

My Grey loves sweet potatoes.

 

[Notdumasilook]

Ah gotcha.. Guess with Ekies the fats in the palm oil are preferable to the carbs of sweet taters. With my Amazon the fats would be my bigger worry. Hes recovering from liver issues so sweet taters work best for me. Thanks for the info.

 

[coopedup]

Not every bird eats what they should. Sweet potato is part of my basic chop, along with red pepper and kale. He's a finnicky eater still, so a lot of times he wont eat his chop or only toys with it until he finally gets hungry. When I first got him he wouldnt even eat chop OR sweet potato and he still refuses carrots in any form. As Chris said, it's more of a vitamin boost, to supplement the high vitamin A diet they already get. To help with the benefits of Vitamin A, I try and make sure Wrangler gets several hours of outdoor sunshine time a week. Im in the beginning stages of planning a mini aviary (we live in condos so space/hoa issues are a consideration) so that he can have more time but at 110+ degrees this week, he's been limited. He hates the heat as much as we do.

Tami, unfortunately it has nothing to do with plucking, just general good health....if there were a miracle cure both chris and I would be right on it!

 

[chris-md]

Like Janet says, it's more a natural supplement (to give actual vitamin A supplement would not go over well). So you can't view it as "in lieu of", how you are currently framing it, because red palm oil is more of a panacea than a food stuff. Can't say the same for sweet potatoes.

 

[Notdumasilook]

Well one is a supplement and one is a food. In the case of my critters being they get plenty beta keratin I don't feel the need for additional supplements. But heck Im not knocking giving supplements if the situation or special needs call for for it. I have been known to give my critters extra vitamin C sprinkled in their chop being that one has a compromised immune system.

 

[chris-md]

Remember, we are talking eclectus. As noted, ekkies dietary requirements are very different from what you are used to, based on your listed parrots owned. What you may perceive as adequate for your amazon may be wholly inadequate for ekkies.

 

[Notdumasilook]

yeah I think I already said that myself a few post ago. Thank s again)

""Ah gotcha.. Guess with Ekies the fats in the palm oil are preferable to the carbs of sweet taters. With my Amazon the fats would be my bigger worry. Hes recovering from liver issues so sweet taters work best for me. Thanks for the info.""
I would have never figured that sweet potatoes are a big "no no" in an Ekies diet... but I will make a note of that fact. Thanks

 

[Anansi]

I wouldn't say sweet potato is a no-no for ekkies. Rather just that it can fall into the "too much of a good thing" category. I offer sweet potato to my ekkies, but unlike with carrots I just wouldn't feed it every day.

Same really with any potato.

Activity level also factors in. A bird who flies about as often and swiftly as Jolly would have less to worry about from the carbs in sweet potato than a bird who rarely flies, like Maya.

Honestly though, to me it's less about ekkies specifically than birds in general. Simply put, not providing them more for consumption than they can burn off.

I haven't weighed in on the red palm oil since I've never given any to my ekkies, but from what I've read it should definitely be offered in moderation due to its fatty content... lest the potential harm comes to outweigh the benefits.

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