Ingredients: 

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup flour of your choice ( I used 1/2 cup rye and 1/2 cup millet) 

1/2 cup coconut flour

1 egg ( or use 1 tbsp flax meal mixed with 3 tbsp water )

2-ounce apple sauce 

1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped almonds 

water as needed 

Coconut oil as for greasing

Directions: 

The mix of flours and oatmeal

Add enough water so the dough sticks together

Ready for the oven

All cookies are gone, start baking them again

DIY Nuritiberry

We all know what nutriberries are: round balls of seeds, pellets, or veggies that birds go crazy for. In simplest form, my version of nutriberries are made by first creating a sticky base and then adding your seeds, veggies, and nuts to form any shape you wish. 

For the sticky base, you can use any dry fruit and add additional ingredients to your parrot's liking. I added half of the mashed sweet potato, for added nutrients, like vitamin A. Nut butter or a mashed banana are a few ideas to add to your sticky base. 

Next to the base, you add flax seeds. Flax meal will work better because it will create a binding effect when water is added. If you don't wish to use Flax or Flax meal, one egg white can be added. 

The most important step: using a blender make the smoothest paste with your dry fruit mixture by adding small amounts of water. Transfer the bowl and add your seeds, nuts, greens, veggies, and fruits to the dry fruit mixture. The mixture should hold its shape so as not to be too sticky.

If it is too sticky, add more of your seed/nut mix. If the mixture became too dry and won't stick together, you need more base. The beauty of the recipe is that it is easily adaptable and you can easily change it to fit your purpose. If all fails, spread the mixture on a cookie sheet and bake. 

Basil eating her Homebaked Nutriberry

Ingredients:

Directions:

 
Add the first three ingredients into your blender and make a smooth stick mixture. Add water when necessary. 

Transfer your mixture into a bigger bowl if needed, then add all your seed/nut/greens and mix well. 

Make balls or any other shape. 

Bake 325 for 15 minutes 

Cool completely before freezing or giving it to birds.   


  

Kismet testing the home-baked nutriberry

MILK THISTLE FOR LIVER DISEASE 

Charlie was diagnosed with Liver disease when he was rescued

“Milk Thistle, sylibum marianum, is a wonderful herb for the liver. It has been shown to protect the liver and heal liver cells. Its active ingredients are found in the fruiting bodies, the seeds and the entire plant. The content of silymarin is highest in the fruiting body! Although there are fewer liver-healing properties in the seeds, birds will readily eat these tasty millet-size seeds, making milk thistle seeds an excellent addition to the diet for any bird with liver problems.

There is a nutraceutical extract of milk thistle called silymarin, which is a flavonoid having an affinity for the liver. It is used quite commonly in Japan and Europe for acute liver toxicosis. It’s primarily used to regenerate hepatocytes, where it improves the flow of bile and fat to and from the liver. If used in too high a dose, however, it can cause loose stools due to the increase in bile it produces. Milk thistle, or silymarin, is one of the best herbs for liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, acute toxicosis of the liver and fatty liver disease. It is also beneficial for bile duct inflammation and is a potent anti-oxidant. Glutathione is one of the most important hepatic detoxification pathways of the body, and milk thistle increases glutathione content in the liver by up to 35 percent.” David McCluggage, DVM

We use at the rescue, Milk Thistle seeds for maintaining liver support but when we have a bird with a liver health issue, we use ‘Silamarie’ by Bio-Health. This is Milk Thistle fruits (Silymarin) with no other added ingredients. These are 450mg (powder) per capsule.

Usage: Approximately ¼ of the MT powder, then divide in half (1/8th ) to give each dose per 1 soft hand feed x twice daily. If faeces become too loose, reduce the dose. Warning: it is possible the stools will turn very dark green to black. Don’t be alarmed, as the MT is doing its job, thus cleansing the liver and bile ducts of accumulated rubbish and toxins from the liver. 

Further information on Milk Thistle: http://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/singleherbs/milkthistle.html

ALOE VERA HERBAL DETOX FORMULA FOR LIVER DISEASE

Another additional treatment, alongside Milk Thistle nutraceutical extract for liver (and kidney) disease is 'Aloe Vera Herbal Detox Formula' by Lily of the Desert http://www.lilyofthedesert.com/our_products/category/condition-specific-formulas/32

Usage: Aloe detox does not eradicate bacteria like antibiotics so you are not going to need a probiotic to follow the treatment. Dosing: start the bird out on 1 half capful to 1 pint of water. Once the bird is used to the taste, increase it to 1 capful to 1 pint of water. !f the bird is sick or you think he/she may have ingested something toxic, give the formula at 50/50, or stronger, as long as they drink it. Store the opened Aloe Detox bottle in the fridge, as it then has a long shelf-life.

We have successfully used Aloe Vera Herbal Detox Formula alongside the Milk Thistle nutraceutical extract with two parrots here at the rescue. One of the parrots had a severe kidney infection that later compromised the health of his liver. Both birds made a full recovery

Additional supporting links: 

http://www.avianweb.com/liverdisease.html 

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww24eii.htm 

Compiled by Julie Hamilton, New Life Parrot Rescue & Helpline Service (UK) Charity Reg No: 1056409

If you are active on social media you will come across people saying no to apple seeds because of cyanide poisoning. Though it is true that apple seeds have cyanide, is it enough to kill or cause harm? 

First of all, a little bit of science. 

Directions