Mite Powder

[Admin]

We have bought some mite powder for Sugar and Spice just in case the plucking is for another reason other than boredom. How do you apply it without getting your hands bitten to pieces?? lol

They also have tonic in their water and LOTS of fresh fruit and veg to munch on to improve their diet, is there anything else we can do to help their health and feathers imrpove?

[lin]

Wrap them in a towel, and just uncover bits at a time. Oh, and Sal, you be the one holding and let Jon rub it in, that way YOU won't get bitten

[Admin]

hehe ok thanks lin, i'll make sure we do it that way round

[luvmybirds]

Hi Sal, can't say I have used mite powder, but I had a heap of aviary birds that needed to be done yesterday before selling and even though I prefer a spray mite solution, I found it was easy to do by wrapping the birds in question in a towel which can protect their eyes and ceres as you don't want to get any of the stuff in their eyes, plus saves your fingers from being chopped off as most birds hate you doing it no matter how tame they are. Takes a bit of practice but using a towel also ensures the birds can't fly away LOL. As for improving the condition of their feathers, have you heard of spirulina, it has been reported to work wonders with improving the condition of feathers. I myself use a product called seaweed meal or kelp meal and the colors of my birds are definitely more vibrant, increases sexual activity and I have had larger clutches of eggs with more fertility. Here is a link with a little bit more on spirulina. Hope this helps Cheers Anna
www.geocities.com/RainForest/6463/spirul.html

[Admin]

Thanks that artical was a big help, ive just done a web search and i can get it from my local health shop in powder form so will pop out tomorrow and get some. Thanks again Anna

[luvmybirds]

Hi Sal, don't know if you can get it there in health shops, but another good product that is great for improving feathers is LSA (Linseed, Sunflower and Almond meal) Chock full of essential omega 3 and omega 6 oils necessary for good feather formation. You can sprinkle small amounts on soft foods or you can mix a bit through dry seeds using a small amount of good oil (I prefer to use grapeseed oil myself) so that the LSA adheres to it. The LSA should be kept in the fridge so that it doen't go rancid. Cheers Anna

[Berserka]

Good tips both luvmybirds - exalted 1!

[MotherHen]

Good that you are passing in the wonders of this Kelp anna....
It is great that people are passing on the thing that others have told them...

Thanks Anna for do this..Also Kelp has amega 3 and 6 as well....

9 is to do with coconuts...More for you greys

[Julie]

Plenty of protein needed too-egg food,chick rearing feed,boiled,chicken bone etc. At least ten hours of darkness too.

[Admin]

thanks jules i have been giving them as much protien stuff as i can but so far they wont touch it, they are just starting to take an interest in the fresh stuff we put in so hopefully they will start on the egg food etc soon.

they have a more variety food in their cage than i have in my cupboards lol

[Julie]

Mine were just the same for a long long while-until I put the CeDe egg food mix into a little dish with a mirror on the back and then they started eating it. They all now enjoy the egg food bars too and it took them ages to try them.

[boomberry]

I did Barnslee in a towel as he bit hard back then.

One thign if it hasnt been mentioned is do it in a morning and not on a night as they can inhale the fumes which isnt good.

[Admin]

Thanks Boombs