New Senegal!!!!

[Pajarita]

LOL - There is no herb in there that would cure an external wound by ingesting it, they are all for internal organs so it wasn't the herb salad that cured the quaker, my dear.

The truth is that, in most cases, giving it to the birds is just a waste of money and time. And it's not as if a bird will drop dead of an excess of sodium intake. It just slowly damages their kidneys but it takes years and, when you find the bird is in renal failure, you just assume it's something that was supposed to happen and not something that has been acting on them for years (pellets could have the same harmful effect but people still feed them to their birds).

As to birds improving on it, personally (and you will have to excuse me if it offends you), I think it's more a placebo effect that anything else because most herbs in there are not preventives, tonics or cleansers, they are for treating symptoms of specific conditions but these don't work as preventives, only when you have the condition and only at a certain regime (dosage, frequency, etc) so even these would not work if they are randomly taken. I have used alternative medicine my entire life. I was born and raised in a third world country and this was a way of life for us plus my great grandmother was very well know for her herbal knowledge, my grandmother learned from her and I learned from my grandmother (one of my great uncles owned the largest herbal and homeopathy business in the country) but I continued researching and experimenting with them my entire life and I can assure you this mixture of all these different herbs could not possibly work even if the birds were able to diagnose and medicate themselves with elements they have not been taught to use and were not even part of their natural habitat (which would imply they have a superior knowledge than any other species on earth, including humans).

I have had this argument many times, even with the lady who put it together and sells it, and I can tell you without the shadow of a doubt that this product is nothing but a gimmick. Herbs are fabulous for birds! I recommend them to all bird owners and also use them every single day but I use specific herbs that treat exactly what they need treated and prepared the right way (some of the herbs on the salad are meant to be infused, some are meant to be concentrated, etc) and combined with herbs that enhance the effect and never used with herbs that overlap their function. Let me give you an example, this mix has spirulina and kelp which are both salty so the birds like them (but they are also very high in iodine which birds don't need unless they have a thyroid deficiency and it has been found that consuming large amounts of iodine creates an imbalance in thyroid hormone production) and, as you well know, salt makes you retain water but, at the same time, it has several herbs that are diuretics (which are NEVER recommended for birds because they damage their kidneys). Another example, it has milk thistle seed and it lists the properties correctly - only problem is that the medicinal properties of the milk thistle seed are not in the seed, they are in the aril and they need to be concentrated to be beneficial.

Their premise is (and I am quoting from their site): "allowing them (the birds) to choose *what, when and how much* when it concerns their diet." If parrots actually knew 'what, when and how much' nobody would have any trouble switching them from a terrible diet to a good one, would they?

Mind you, I am not arguing that animals self-medicate or use natural elements to combat health issues but in every single example we find in nature, we also find either an old member of the social group that teaches the young what to use and when (like elephants and great apes) or behavior learned from their parents (like birds that line their nests with specific leaves that prevent fatal parasitic infestations) and in every single case it's an element found in their natural habitat while captive parrots learn nothing from their parents and the herbs in this mix come from all over. Sheesh, even I could not tell them apart when they are all dried up, chopped and mixed together and I know them all!

[river-7]

Great dispute and I will deffinatley take it into concideration and try and do some extended research before feeding to baby Zuess.A lot I don't know about it just going by what a lady told me that owned 22-birds and all her birds are quit old. And that was the one with the quaker that told me about it. Must do more reading . Thanks soo much really appreciate your opinion-River-7

[river-7]

I thought it was time for a little update on baby 'Zuess'. He stepped up into my hand for the first time yesterday, I was soo proud of him. And I too started making up a silly little song for 'Zuess'. And he loves, loves it.It goes something like this=Had a little birdie and his Name was 'Zuess' and he had a friend named 'Zack'.ect; And he just loved it and puts his beak closer to me so he can taste me at the same time.Last night I was doing some more research, and he actually spoke a word= Good boy, good baby. Just out of the clear blue. And he has started to dance when I sing his little silly songs.He lifts each foot to each song I sing.will continue later-River-7

[Pajarita]

Awwww, Senegals are irresistibly adorable when they love you - and hell on wheels when they don't -LOL

[Wolf]

That is for sure !

[river-7]

Another little update on Baby Zuess;Well what can I say other then he is coming along just beautiful.Well little baby nipped me for the first time because he didn't know what I was doing to his fav; toy. Some of the things came loose on it and he was playing with the clacker part of a tiny bell[dangerous] please remove people!!! It can be swallowed.So of course I wanted to remove it and fix it- bang he let me have it. I didn't see it coming. So I told him just a minute and Mommie will fix and you can have it back.So Mommie fixed it and gave it back and he was a very happy camper lol.It was funny in a way and know I can remove check it and put back and he's fine with it. I guess he thought I was taking it for good and he just loves, that toy. He is putting on weight, still on 2-hand feeds a day and eats everything as usual.He has heard the new conures but was in bed when I brought them home and he doe's not show the least bit interested in them.He hears them of course but could not care less. He is a very busy boy all day as he plays and comes out and plays some more. No time for other birds lol.Still can't fly and i'm hoping his wings will grow in and he can take off.but he's still young and lots of time as i'm just loving the baby part of him that needs his mommie.All for now-River-7