Coconut Oil and your birds

This would be a good time to post some good benefits off coconut oil. My family has been using coconut oil for over 2 years not. i add a teaspoon to each meal, potatoes, rice, sups. Its been used as skin moisturizer, lip balm, on cuts and scrapes, even as natural tooth past. I use it on my dogs, cats but in an honest opinion never used it on my birds. Few months back i was cooking in the kitchen and give the spoon with a little bit of coconut oil on it to my amazon. He loved it as he liked the spoon clean it was the first time i hard him say "more" from then on, i have made it a once a day treat. i have noticed a great change in his feathers, and in the over all health. Now coconut oil is added to all my birds diet.
I have been using coconut oil on a small canarie who came to me with extremely dry scaly legs, just looking at it looked painful. At first i used Aloe Vera but didn't get the results i was looking for, she was still sitting on the bottom off the cage. Last night i have decided to soak her little legs in Coconut oil and with the amazing results, for the first time since she's been with me she's been sitting on the perch. So I guess since coconut oil is anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-protozoan, and has anti-viral properties it helped this little birds come back to her normal.

I have realized that there's not much on the internet about parrots and coconut oil so i will continue my search and try to keep everyone up to date.

Birds with Arthritis

In the last year our family rescued a white headed paonus. She is 20 years, and has a very severe arthritis. Since she's been with us i have her on my bird diet, so it slightly helped her with this crippling disease. This is the first time i have ran in to this problem, besides dogs and cats so i have done some research on herbal remedies that will work on birds.

First off all these are the signs to look for:
- toes show dis-figuration, point in unnatural direction, you can see red swollen feet.
- When you look at the bottom off their feet you will find pressure sores
- have a hard time gripping on the perch, as well will have problems maneuvering around the cage.
- clumsy, easily lose their balance, some will spend most off their time at the bottom off the cage.

These are the few things i have found work:

Aloe Vera plant - massage joints with Aloe Vera juice,
                          - cut a small section on plant and feed to your bird as well you can take the gel and                                massage their feet. I have done both she seems to enjoy the plant.
*note some birds may be allergic to Aloe Vera so spray some on your finger touch your birds foot, wait 24 hours to see if reaction occurs. *

Raw Honey and Cinnamon - i add to the mixture off seeds raw honey and cinnamon, i have noticed very speedy recovery. Here are some other anti-inflammatory foods which are given to my birds on daily basis, grape seed extract (which is added to their drinking water you can use apple cider vinegar as well) Pumpkin seeds, yogurt, dandelion.
-Apple cider vinegar: helps maintain the optimum ph balance, so minerals do not crystallize, very effective on cats with stones.

Heat - you can use a heat light or obtain a heated perch. Works great for those colder night or winters.

You can use Aspirin for your birds, which i did use from time to time. For the use off aspirin please consult your veterinarian as well for any open sores you can use Hibitane Cream - "Antibacterial and anti-fungal.  Can be obtained though your vet. I prefer Coconut oil which works wonders on birds. ( I will do a post just on Coconut oil and its uses)

So here it is few simple things i have learned over the last year working with Taz and her arthritis, even though she's 20 i hope to have her for few more years to come. And this is the first time in months her sleeping on her perch.

Carying For Your Pet Bird

Ensure that your pet's cage is sized for the type of bird you have (the bigger size the better). Do not keep larger size birds in small cages. Give your bird as much time out off the cage as possible.

Use natural cleaning product (grape seed extract, vinegar), avoid using bleach

Note that some plants can be harmful for your pet bird. The list of poisonous plants will be published soon. Please check in later.

Did You Know? - About Cockatiels

Did you know that cockatiels (Nymphicus Hollandicus) are native to Australia. Cockatiels are one of the most popular types of pet birds due to their gentleness and affectionate nature. They live up to 10 - 12 years or to an amazing 30 years if kept on a healthy diet.