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Infused Water (Tea?)

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Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby KimberlyAnn » Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:19 am

So I posted a few months back about tea that was sold at a bird store. This weekend, I went to a talk about bird nutrition from a biologist (Jason Crean) who came up with the tea.

He talked a lot about the need for birds to get omega 3, natural foods, and proper protein. He has worked for years, helping zoos feed their animals the right type of diet and it's truly sad some still have obvious problems. One zoo fed their parrots onions! That was their only fresh food besides pellets. :(

But what I thought was so interesting, was his views on tea for birds and sprouting or soaking seeds for birds. The obvious reason is for enzymes and nutrition, but he brought up a good point. Birds never get fresh water in the wild. They also need variety in their meals...sort of another way to keep them from being bored.

I do this already with Emmi...I soak her dried flowers in water and there is always a little water left in the dish, which she loves to drink. For bacteria reasons, I don't leave this in her cage all day, but she sure loves it when she gets a dish of water with "stuff" in it. I've found recently that it makes her try new foods she didn't want to eat before.

How many of you put things in your parrot's water dish? What do you use?
My family: "Emmi" Green Cheek Conure (12/15/2012), One husband, two step kids, and one baby boy born in January 2015!
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KimberlyAnn
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Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby Pajarita » Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:10 pm

I do it regularly but it's only juice (apple, white grape or orange), never anything solid. But I have two birds that would soak dry things in their water - even though their 'dry' things are not really dry because it's birdy bread and I make it quite dense and moist. My Citron too does not eat bread or cookies (both birdy versions) without dunking them first, he hates dry anything!

And then there is Zoey's tea in the afternoon, of course.
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Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby KimberlyAnn » Tue Apr 01, 2014 11:23 pm

I love that you have tea time with your bird...lately Emmi and I have had coffee time in the morning. I drink my coffee and she tries to fly to my cup...I'm too quick! :)

I try to give her some "tea" at the same time, but she knows it's different. Lol
My family: "Emmi" Green Cheek Conure (12/15/2012), One husband, two step kids, and one baby boy born in January 2015!
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KimberlyAnn
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Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby jparrothead » Wed Apr 02, 2014 12:56 pm

This is interesting-- what kind of tea, exactly do Emmi and Zoey get?

I also want to start 'sprouting' eventually, and this seems like a great way to do it.
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Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby Pajarita » Wed Apr 02, 2014 3:24 pm

Zoey gets chamomile, star anise, chick weed, linden, an herb from back home called 'marcela', another one called 'cedron' which is very similar to lemon verbena and whatever else I have in the pantry that is completely innocuous and tasty) . The tea, itself, is made out of herbs (she doesn't get any real 'tea') and is very weak but its warm and she likes to drink it (she has her own cup) when I drink mine (we also have cookies with it, only hers are birdy ones -LOL)
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
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Types of Birds Owned: RoseBreasted too, CAG, DoubleYellowHead Amazon, BlueFront Amazon, YellowNape Amazon, Senegal, African Redbelly, Quaker, Sun Conure, Nanday, BlackCap Caique, WhiteBelly Caique, PeachFace lovebird, budgies,
Flight: Yes

Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby KimberlyAnn » Wed Apr 02, 2014 3:41 pm

Emmi gets hibiscus, lavender, rose petal/hips, rosemary, oregano, chamomile, dandelion, and any fruit I decide might be nice. I'm forgetting some, but I'm not at home. I just keep her herbs in jars and just toss two selections of herbs at a time (a pinch of each) in a tiny amount of water and put in the fridge to "infuse" over night. I like to keep her guessing and try different herbs together. Lately, I've been putting in pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and buckwheat to soak too because I've been lazy. (This is enough to release the enzymes in the seeds and nuts, 7-8 hours) Then I give the whole dish to Emmi, herbs and all. She finishes them pretty quickly and drinks the water. I just buy her organic herbs in the bins at the health food store, cheaply! If I make extra, I also have infused water for the next day, but I like tea so I normally make my own in another jug. For Emmi and I, I spend around $15 every two months or so. I'm guessing Emmi alone costs $5. Lol
My family: "Emmi" Green Cheek Conure (12/15/2012), One husband, two step kids, and one baby boy born in January 2015!
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KimberlyAnn
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Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby jparrothead » Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:53 pm

Wow, that is great, from both of you!

I keep some mint tea (in tea bags) around the house. I sometimes have it in the evenings--could Darwin my GCC enjoy the 'leftovers' in a bit of warm water after I have steeped a cup? Is mint healthy for them?
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Gender: This parrot forum member is male
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Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby KimberlyAnn » Wed Apr 02, 2014 11:54 pm

I'm not so sure on the mint. I've heard mixed things so I don't use it. If it has real tea leaves...then stay away. But I would try straight hibiscus or roses for starters. (dried organic) They love it! Green Cheek Conures eat flowers in the wild and their is enzymes that are released in the water that's healthy. Just steep them in water that is no higher then 150℉ because any higher and it kills the enzymes.
My family: "Emmi" Green Cheek Conure (12/15/2012), One husband, two step kids, and one baby boy born in January 2015!
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KimberlyAnn
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 610
Location: Sacramento, California
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Green Cheek Conure
Flight: Yes

Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby KimberlyAnn » Wed Apr 02, 2014 11:58 pm

And whole rose hips. They love them! :)
My family: "Emmi" Green Cheek Conure (12/15/2012), One husband, two step kids, and one baby boy born in January 2015!
User avatar
KimberlyAnn
Amazon
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 610
Location: Sacramento, California
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Green Cheek Conure
Flight: Yes

Re: Infused Water (Tea?)

Postby jparrothead » Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:06 am

Ha, well given that I use this tea from Bigelow: http://www.bigelowtea.com/Catalog/Produ ... l+Tea.aspx

he gets a lot of those, without regular 'black' tea, which I would never use. Looks at these ingredients:
peppermint leaves, spearmint leaves, rose hips, lemon peel, hibiscus
jparrothead
Lovebird
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is male
Posts: 40
Number of Birds Owned: 1
Types of Birds Owned: Green Cheeked Conure (Yellow-Sided)
Flight: No

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