Red palm oil- how much to give

[Kiwibird]

Poor Kiwi is having a rough molt this year, so I've ordered some red palm oil for him as a little 'boost' to help him I've heard so much about it being healthy for plumage, but I also know it contains a lot of fat. For a 420 gram bird, what would a good amount be to give him and how often to help him through his molt? Also thinking about offering during the winter every so often (maybe once a week?), as there truly is a lack of sunlight here during the winter months. Any suggestions? I've heard so much about it, but theres just so little information on how to use it!

 

[KimKim]

I keep my red palm oil in the fridge so it hardens. Then I use a spoon to get out about a teaspoon and stick it on top of my greys morning chop. It's the first thing he goes for! He will also eat it straight off the spoon when it's hardened like this.

 

[Kalidasa]

I bake it into bird bread instead of oil. Also slather it on veggie pasta. Occaisionally I mix it with coconut oil, smear it on one of my cheeks (face lol) and let him lick it off. That's the preferred method here

 

[Kiwibird]

I was thinking of putting maybe 1/2tsp on a little on a crouton-sized chunk of bread (sprouted organic) every morning until he's finished molting, but the fridge idea is great too! I don't know about letting Kiwi lick anything off my cheek. He might get a little carried away and mistake flesh for a nice treat

Do you really offer it every day during the regular year though? I thought it was more of a supplement thing rather than something that should be offered daily (?). There seems to be a lot of conflicting information on the internet though. Some sites say give it every day, but they seem to be the ones selling the oil. Other more "information" based sites seem to suggest offering it as more of a treat, except when birds are molting (or to pluckers who are healing, which doesn't apply to Kiwi) because of the fat content. I'm just kind of confused on that

 

[henpecked]

I give about 1/4 teaspoon per week for amazons. Of course my zons eat fresh palm nuts almost all year around.

 

[witchbaby]

I've been giving Merlin around .15cc daily with a syringe. I also add it to birdie bread which everyone gets as a treat. I haven't had much luck serving it with a spoon or mixing it with their food. No one likes the taste.

Edit: I offer it daily because of my vet's recommendation. Harrison's power treats also contain palm oil if you'd like to serve it as an occasional treat.

 

[Kiwibird]

I wouldn't even know where to begin getting palm nuts lol, and Kiwi is not a big nut fan in the first place. He loves cashews and will eat almonds and pistachios, but thats about it for nuts. I've offered him many different kinds of nuts, but most he flings (including peanuts, and I've NEVER seen a parrot fling a peanut before lol). But thanks for the advice on 1/4tsp once a week Thats along the lines of what I was thinking. He eats a lot of fruit and veg, so it's not like he's nutritionally deficient, have just heard palm oil is a feather booster and good to offer in winter when they can't be outdoors

 

[KimKim]

Oops, I just went and looked at my teaspoon measuring spoon and that way more than I give, sorry about that. I do about 1/4 tsp also, everyday. Idk why I was thinking a teaspoon was smaller :/

 

[Kiwibird]

Oops, I just went and looked at my teaspoon measuring spoon and that way more than I give, sorry about that. I do about 1/4 tsp also, everyday. Idk why I was thinking a teaspoon was smaller :/

Lol, I was thinking that a tsp seemed like a *bit* much to give a bird every day but I didn't want to say anything:54: I am going to se if he likes it drizzled on bread or out of the fridge as a more solid substance and try him with 1/4tsp a day for the next few weeks and then 1/4tsp a week after that

 

[henpecked]

The palm nuts aren't really nuts. They have a flesh covering over a "nut" , some of the zons will sometimes eat the nut part but most just eat the flesh. There's many different species of palms ,most have "nut" or fruit. Search the forum ,i've made several threads about feeding palm nut. I realize you're in the NW and don't have many palms, pretty common around here.Many species of wild birds(and feral parrots,quakers,nandays,zons) eat them in my area, including squirrels,deer,pigs,coon,etc. BTW a coconut is also a palm nut,just really big without the fleshy cover.
[ame="http://youtu.be/QO8Cn2daQrU"]Palm nuts 004 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Kiwibird]

Who knew palm trees produced fruit-like nuts? Not me lololol! Thats very interesting though. I do vaguely remember the palms along the roads in Phoenix, AZ having some kind of fruit or nut, but you definitely wouldn't want to feed your bird anything you found growing along the pollution-ridden roads in PHX! You're right that theres not a whole lot of palms up here in Oregon, but if you ever want to send a care package to Kiwi:54: