health – Free Range Parrots

Deterring predators and pests

2020-04-23

NOTE: This article only applies to those with outdoor aviaries.

The internet is full of safe ideas to deter predators (e.g. raccoons) and pests (e.g. parasites) and they all have two things in common.

They are indeed safe for the most part
They don’t work for the most part

Unlike most articles on this site, there isn’t any hard science backing up much of what I say here. It is mostly based on an acceptable amount of anecdotal evidence, sometimes from me. 🙂 Regardless, before you buy your pepper spray or coyote urine, give this a read.

Note I wrote an article called How do I know who to trust that might help understand why I’m writing a non-scientific article and still considering it to be trustworthy to me.

I’m not reviewing remedies that don’t have enough evidence or that I have experience with so this is not a comprehensive guide.…

2020-03-31

I previously wrote an in-depth article about alternatives to bleach, where several alternatives were compared and fared extremely well against bleach.

Due to COVID-19, the EPA has put up a very comprehensive page on disinfectants that work against COVID-19 and also against more difficult viruses. I’ll highlight just bleach and my favorite, thyme oil, just as a comparison.

These all come from an amazing document called List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2, on the Environmental Protection Agency Website.

First, bleach wipes:

Then, thyme oil wipes:

Note that the only difference is the contact time. But as my other article explains, bleach is an insanely toxic substance and I encourage you to read my whole article. Second, thyme oil is safe to use on children’s toys, on food products, and in food processing. Just spray on, wait 10 minutes.

Why are you still using bleach then? Get it out of your household and dispose of it at your local hazardous waste facility.…

2020-03-30

NOTE: This is based on current scientific information at the time of publication. It’s possible the virus or information will change, but it’s accurate for now.

I hesitate to even comment on this because it’s currently a non-issue, but there is so much information and hysteria about everything related to COVID-19. Consider one of the largest bird rescue organizations in the country, Mickaboo and their COVID-19 response on their main page:

We also want to help the Mickaboo community safely support each other throughout this challenging period to ensure their continued good health and that of their birds.
COVID-19 Response from Mickaboo Leadership—Mickaboo

Granted, it doesn’t come out and say that birds carry COVID-19 and we can catch it from them and vice-versa, but it certainly does imply it. This sort of hysteria and lack of science-based thinking is what leads to panic.

Can we spread the virus to each other

Coronaviruses that infect animals can become able to infect people, but this is rare.

…

2020-02-24

There’s always a tug-of-war going on over whether Mother Nature can nourish us better than science can. Surely, with our giant brains, we can create foods that improve on what nature can provide.

But there exists solid evidence for humans that processed food has led to a wide range of serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The link above references a book that does an excellent job summarizing scientific research on both sides.

But what about food that merely has added vitamins and minerals? There are bird food brands like Dr Harvey’s and TOP’s that don’t use artificial vitamins and make bold statements about their beliefs.

Other pellets on the market contain fillers such as corn, soy, peanuts, added minerals and added artificial vitamins. TOP’s contains only real food ingredients.
TOPs Parrot Food—FAQs

And here’s the ingredient list for Dr Harvey’s Colossal Cockatiel blend. Note it follows the common advice of eating food whose ingredients you can pronounce.…

2020-01-26

L-Theanine is touted as a calming substance for parrots. Like a lot of things you read on the internet, no evidence is given to support any claims. So, let’s change that.

The products

First off, there are a number of products that contain L-Theanine, including one called UnruffledRx Parrot Calming Formula. It’s important to have a long name!

The claim they make is:

UnRuffledRx Parrot Calming Formula,with the active ingredient, L-Theanine, a Green Tea derivative, enhances alpha waves in the brain to produce a calming, yet non-sedating effect. L-Theanine has been found to improve alertness and disposition.

So, let’s take a look at these.

Theanine is found primarily in plant and fungal species. It was discovered as a constituent of tea (Camellia sinensis) in 1949 and in 1950, a laboratory in Kyoto successfully isolated it from gyokuro leaf, which has high theanine content. Theanine is substantially present in black, green, and white teas from Camellia sinensis in quantities of about 1% of the dry weight.

…

2020-01-13

Knowing that I don’t believe in processed (pelleted) diets, people ask me what I feed my birds. So I thought I’d share. It’s very elaborate but maybe you’ll find in it two interesting things to try.

First, note that I have a mixed flock 21 of the following bird species:

Cockatiel
Rosella
Red-rumped parrot
Elegant parrot
Bourke’s parrot
Budgie

Since many live in an aviary, separate mixes are not particularly practical. However, my mix percentages remain the same but I may use only budgie mix for a cage only containing budgies, but a mix containing cockatiel and budgie mix for an aviary.

Fresh food

Everyone gets fresh food every morning. Only a few birds are fruit eaters, but everyone gets veggies.

Fruit

Apples, pineapple guava, grapes. And sometimes things we buy for ourselves.

Vegetables

Fresh or frozen corn, sweet potato, celery, kale, dill, dandelion, mustard, parsley, basil, collards, cilantro, thyme, watercress, beans, chard, beet greens.…

2019-12-19

I wrote a previous post expressing my feelings about euthanasia. Even if you believe in it, it’s a vague decision. You can’t run a test on a bird and determine that the time has come.

Someone retold to me the criteria used by Brian Speer DVM of the Medical Center for birds. It still has subjectivity, but it’s still very useful and simple.

You start by thinking about the 5 things your bird enjoys most, or enjoyed if they are already in bad shape. If the bird can do at least a part of 3 out of five of the list, then the assumption is that they are still getting enjoyment out of life. Anything below that is time for euthanasia.

A friend of mine shared the 5 things for one of her birds dying of cancer:

Flying
Bossing other birds around
Eating
Preening
Hanging out with her mate and being affectionate

She’s still alive and doing all 5, but they are all diminishing.…

2019-10-30

There are a lot of alternative remedies out there and a lot of claims are made about whether they work or not. Usually, they claim that everything works. What’s missing from nearly all these articles is:

PROOF

The main thrust of this blog is to present ideas and back them up with science. Reading an article that says “diatomaceous earth kills parasites” without proof is not useful at all.

However, I’ve shown research to back up claims that diatomaceous earth helps with parasites and mites, among other things.

Today I move on to another alternative therapy that is touted, but rarely backed up with research: essential oils.

Now I’ve already presented evidence that thyme oil is a very effective disinfectant and a great alternative to bleach. In researching this, I came across some incredible research about the many ways essential oils can be used. The research comes primarily from poultry but pathogens are pathogens so the research should be taken seriously.…

2019-08-05

This article was motivated by interactions with my local bird rescue. Using three examples, I attempt to illustrate the importance of weighing the risk of disease with the likliehood of it happening. The goal would be maximizing the happiness of as many birds as possible, perhaps finding ways to mitigate risk rather than just refusing to take it on, losing benefits to birds in need.

If fostering and adopting birds feels like walking through a minefield, people will be less likely to become involved. We need to present people with risks that that have some probability of actually happening. Think of all the possible ways a child could get injured. Do we want to make sure a child is never exposed to any situation where they might become injured? What kind of life is that?

Newcastle disease

In 2019, Virulent Newcastle Disease made a comeback. In Northern California, a single case was reported on March 15 in a backyard chicken.…

2019-07-13

What is diatomaceous earth?

For this article, I’m leaning heavily on a very concise and clearly worded fact sheet from the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC). This organization is a collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency and Oregon State University and receives funding from no other sources.

Rather than describe what diatomaceous earth is, I’ll defer to NPIC.

Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Today, silica deposits are mined from these areas.

Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous; it does not have to be eaten in order to be effective. Diatomaceous earth causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect’s exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive, speeding up the process.

…

Free Range Parrots

How captive birds can have freedom

Category: health

Deterring predators and pests

2020-04-23

COVID-19 and disinfectants

2020-03-31

COVID-19 and parrots

2020-03-30

Can we spread the virus to each other

Natural vs artificial vitamins

2020-02-24

What about L-Theanine