Hints & Tips
Healthy Chicks/Feast and Potent Brew
One of the things that I found that works the best for big, healthy chicks was a combination of Feast and Potent Brew used together. Both these products are by the Birdcare Company, Sadly the company has decided to discontinue the Feast and go with a new product called the Simple System, which for me as a user of predominately pellets won’t work. It would be duplicting a lot of stuff already in the pellets so now I am trying to find another product that will serve the same purpose. I am in the process of trying Quiko Egg Food. So far, so good. You can get this from www.simbadsbirds.com., You can get the Potent Brew still from Marge Morell at http://www.2sistersaviary.com/. I will still be using that.
Spice Mix
I was given this mixture quite a long time ago by a breeder of cockatiels. It is simple and you have the ingredients in your kitchen cupboard. It is made up of two parts grandulated garlic powder (not salt), one part each of ginger and one part cinnamon. The garlic is a natural antibiotic, the cinnamon has been proven to kill E-coli, and the ginger settles the tummy. I use this at least once a day in my handfeeding formula. It is more of a preventative then anything else.
Quikon Med
This is an all natural oregano herb. This is also a preventative It is a natural bactericidal, coccicidol and fungicidal product rather than an antibiotic. Rather than inhibiting bacteria, QM destroys them so that no resistant bacteria and oocytes remain. I use this once a day in the handfeeding formula. Sometimes I found that my baby greys might develp a bacterial problem, and then of course, they would have to be treated with a routine of antibiotics and an antifungal. With the use of this product…I have not had any problems with bacterial infections developing…Sometimes you have babies that just don’t seem to be doing well, but are not actually sick, well just a pinch of QM in the handfeeding formula once a day will usually perk those guys right up. You can order a small container from www.simbadsbirds.com ., They are located in Miami, FL, and see if you don’t notice a difference in those “just not so right” babies. You can call them at 305-262-6077 and ask about the product.
Fertility Problems
I have been trying a new product from Avitec called Aviagra which is a product that actually brings both the hen and male into breeding mode at the same time. I have been using it for this breeding season and have found that I have more eggs and more fertile eggs. The real test will be to see if some of the pairs that I have that have had trouble, or have not bred at all, will. You can get this product and read about it at www.avitec.com., or you can get it from the gal in Florida that I do, www.2sistersaviary.com., Marge Morell.
Optimum Bird
This is a product very much like Instant Ounces which sadly, we can’t get anymore. This is added to the formula for the Day-One babies. I used to use the Instant Ounces every time that I fed my babies. I did try a new product that is very like the Instant Ounces it is called Optimum Bird and made by Dr. Walt a very knowledgeable breeder, and I am very pleased with it. You can reach Dr. Walt at 580-212-5382. if you want to try it.
Avian Trio
This is a great product for keeping your guys healthy. It is all natural so no chance of overdosing no matter what diet your birds are on. It is made up of bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis. It is a wonderful helper for fertility problems. You can read more about it and order it from Jane at http://www.prettyparrot.com/ She is great to deal with and very knowledgeable. You will love this product and your birds will be healthy and have beautiful feathering. Please tell Jane I said Hi.
Universal Soar & Nurture
These are two wonderful products from http://www.chinaprairie.com/. I have used the Nurture with Day-One baby greys and it is a wonderful probiotic along with some all natural herbs. Puts all the good stuff in the babies that they usually get from Mom and Dad. The Universal Soar has as one of its ingredients a natural clay that actually removes toxins from the bird’s body, as well as Spirulina and several really good all natural herbs. I like these two products as I try to only use all natural products with my birds, and have found these two to be really great. I highly recommend them.
Avi-Culture
This is an avian specific probiotic. You can read up on the product at http://www.avi-culture.com/., I got the $25 size. I haven’t had it for very long so cannot give feedback on its use as of yet, but I like the fact that you can put it on seeds/pellets/egg food, as well in the water. I can’t put stuff in the water as we now have an automatic watering system and it is harder to use water as a carrier now. Check it out at the above site and see what you think…
Parrot Deli
This is an all natural product that you can make yourself. It was originally developed by Dr. Lee Simons in Florida. It consists of 4 parts of Alfalfa leaf powder, one each of carrot, beet and grandulated garlic powder. I put it on all of my wet mash, seeds and even a pinch in the handfeeding formula once a day. You can order the ingredients from www.frontierbulk.com., I just made some here and it is super good stuff to give to your birds. You can even use to for yourself on salads, potatoes, rice….it looks like chives, and is as good for you as for your birds.