Spring Detox / Renewal
by Marilu Anderson, Avian Nutrition,
Care and Behaviour Consultant
Phone: (503) 771-BIRD
We take a wholistic approach in caring for our parrots & small birds. We try to address their nutritional, behavioral, social, physical, & environmental needs in everything we do as their caretakers. Twice per year, fall & spring, we like to do a 'system cleanse'. I especially anticipate spring's detox as it's a transitional time of reawakening & renewal. This is also a terrific opportunity to take full advantage of the sudden abundance of food sources, after winter's lull & scanty produce offerings. Since our birds always eat a variety of foods year around - veggies, sprouts, fruits, whole grains & legumes, seeds, nuts, & pellets - the spring detox menu is more of a fine tuning of the norm.
In addition, we use specific herbs & remedies to help regenerate the body. It also involves relocating or reassigning cages, rearranging toys & perches, & more frequent bathing as weather
warms up. Increased full spectrum lighting follows Nature's lead, with lots of fresh air & 'real' sunbathing enhancing their environment. Lots of birds are molting, some are feeling their hormones, & their own complex relationships evolve.
The detox is usually for 2 weeks, but if anyone has special needs, we rest 1 week, then resume for 2 more weeks. Here's the basic guidelines:
*No processed foods - This means we take a break from pellets, cooked foods (except for eggs & some light steaming of certain veggies), & whole grain breads & pasta. Seeds are fed dry, soaked, & sprouted. ALL produce should be organic & as local as possible. We're trying to 'rest' the body, cleanse, & rebuild.
*Root veggies - Carrots, beets, rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, radishes, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, etc. These should be well scrubbed to remove soil, & served raw or lightly steamed, to increase availability of Betacarotene. Root veggies are very nutrient dense, & often advised for liver problems. They're cleansing, as well as nutritious.
*Greens & weeds - Lots of great greens are available right in your own yard in spring! Be sure they haven't been exposed to sprays, systemic garden products, or car exhaust. Dandelion is fantastic for the liver, the main organ of detoxification. You can feed not only the leaves, but flowers & (scrubbed) roots, as well. Chickweed, sorrel, mallow, plantain, & purslane are all good food sources. These common 'weeds' are good sources of trace minerals, enzymes, fiber, & other phytonutrients. The best cleansing greens are the 'bitter' greens. Include kale, chard, chicory, mustard greens, beet & carrot tops, radish tops, raddichio (not green!), romaine, dark leaf lettuce, & any other fresh seasonal greens.
*Herbs - Fresh is best, but you can also include properly dried, organic herbs. Alfalfa, echinacea,
St. John's Wort, raspberry leaf, peppermint, spearmint, basil, thyme, parsley, sage, cilantro, parsley, chamomile, wheat grass - many of these are easy to grow yourself, indoors or out. Chop fresh & add to other wet foods, hang sprigs of fresh herbs from cage bars, offer treat cups of dried herbs. Don't forget powdered or granulated kelp, as an excellent source of iodine, especially for Australian birds, like Budgies & Cockatiels.
*Garlic & Ginger - I often add chopped fresh garlic for it's blood cleansing & antimicrobial properties. Fresh grated ginger aids the digestive system & calms anxieties (also good to prevent car sickness!). Both are given freely during detox.
*Pollen & Flowers - While Lories are big consumers of pollen & blossoms as a diet staple, all parrots can benefit. Use local pollen for it's anti allergy & immune boosting effects. Edible flowers include (organic) pansy, hibiscus, hawthorn, nasturtium, & violet (NOT African Violet). Wild parrots are often seeing chowing down on blossoms. Check your local health food store for more variety. Do NOT feed sweet pea, tomato, or morning glory flowers.
*Berries - All kinds of berries are wonderful sources of antioxidants. Berry season is just beginning, but look for strawberries & blueberries now. While grapes, especially red, purple, & black, are nutritious, NEVER buy those imported from Chile - they're loaded with systemic fertilizers & pesticides, which can NOT be washed off.
*Milk Thistle - We use milk thistle seed & glycerite tincture year round for Budgies, Cockatiels, overweight birds, & those with existing liver problems. During detox, all the birds receive daily milk thistle, as it not only cleanses the liver, but rebuilds it, too.
*Juices - I've been juicing for my birds for over 30 years! All my birds love green juices, & during detox they have some at least 4 times per week. Any & all of the above mentioned produce can be juiced, along with celery, apple, pear, citrus, peppers, etc. Juice is power packed with nutrition, but also tends to be high in sugar & water, so remember to offer appropriate serving sizes, & don't OVERindulge.
*Enzymes - Produce contains the most enzymes when it's raw & fresh. Enzymes help the body convert food into the necessary elements to be digested & utilized by the body systems. Papaya is rich in natural digestive enzymes & we feed it (or juice it) daily during detox (include seeds) You can also buy capsules of digestive enzymes at your health food store, & sprinkle the powder on wet food. Use about 1/3 capsule for a large bird, like a Cockatoo.
*Aloe Vera - Aloe vera is the great healer, inside & out. Use the juice or gel from fresh leaves, on wet food. 'Aloe Detox' is a liquid supplement (aloe contains milk thistle & other healthful things) you can buy at health food stores. Offer straight in a cup, or add to water or juice. We give some daily during detox.
*Other Supplements - Although I use many natural supplements year around, every bird's supplements are offered daily during detox time. Remember, though, MORE is NOT better!! A pinch or 2 per bird is plenty. Brewer's Yeast is rich in Vitamin B Complex, aiding nervous system
mood, & regulating body systems. Flax Seed Oil is high in Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids, helping
skin, feathers, molting, plucking, heart, & endocrine system. 1 - 2 drops per bird on wet food, refrigerate & don't over heat as it's unstable in light, air or heat. We don't normally give Vitamin supplements, due to the richness of our birds' normal daily diet. If your bird is seriously malnourished, though, you may want to add a natural vitamin supplement during this time.
Short term usage shouldn't result in vitamin toxicities possible with overuse. We do use a trace mineral supplement year around, including during detox, due to the notoriously depleted soils in the modern world. If your birds don't regularly chew their cuttlebone, you may want to grate some into their wet food, again a pinch or 2 per bird. Almonds are fed to everyone (ground up for small birds), due to their high Calcium & EFA content.
*Allergens - We eliminate foods known to cause allergies, in particular wheat & peanuts. If any birds are sensitive, this gives them a break. Peanuts can also be a source of aflatoxins, causing liver damage, or Aspergillus, which leads to respiratory problems.
*Live Food & Eggs - Mealworms are sold at many pet stores for reptiles. Many parrots enjoy occasional mealworms, as do finches during breeding. Remember, our companions are omnivores, & eat from a variety of sources. Mealworms are high in protein & fat. Offer only very small quantities, & use the small ones, as tough skins can be hard to digest. Eggs are a great source of protein, in an extremely digestible form.
They also contain sulfur, & yolks offer fat & Vitamin A. This is the one food that should be well cooked - I prefer hardboiled & chopped to serve. Shells can be washed & baked on low heat, then ground & put on wet food as an excellent Calcium & mineral source. While my birds get eggs occasionally year around, they get SMALL servings of eggs every other day during detox. Finches feeding babies get eggs daily. Don't leave eggs in cages more than an hour to avoid spoiling.
*Psyllium, Fennel, & Slippery Elm - Ground psyllium seed husk is a fiber source that aids elimination. Fennel seeds, whole or ground, enhance the entire digestive system. Slippery elm bark powder reduces inflammation in the digestive system, while detoxifying the entire body. All are available at health food stores, & a pinch or 2 of each is added daily to wet food.
*Remedies - We use probiotics on a rotation system with raw, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar in our birds' water all year long. Probiotics help maintain healthy gut flora &, after antibiotic
treatment, help reestablish the 'good' bacteria. During detox, we use a good brand of bird probiotics (there are several on the market) in daily water (filtered, non-chlorinated) & add homeopathic remedies from 'Avian Medicine Chest', as well. In particular, we always use 'Systemajuv' & 'Hemotox' for all our birds. Systemajuv is an herbal remedy to rejuvenate the entire body, eliminate bacteria, detoxify the system, & build up White Blood Cells. Hemotox fights chemical toxins, cleanses blood & liver, & works against environmental & food toxins. If your bird chews metal, you may also want to use 'Metaltox' to help remove heavy metals from the system & avoid metal toxicity.
The difference in how our birds appear to feel after their spring detox is notable. We rarely have birds diagnosed with infections, & those 'rescues' with chronic ailments often go into remission. Constant happy chirping, talking, singing & dancing are our reward. Feathers glow, energy abounds, & eyes sparkle. The time, effort, & money invested in our companions' well being proves worthwhile, season after season.
Why not try a little 'spring detox/renewal' for your feathered friends?
Reprinted with thanks from the May 2006 newsletter of www.yourparrotplace.com.
In addition, we use specific herbs & remedies to help regenerate the body. It also involves relocating or reassigning cages, rearranging toys & perches, & more frequent bathing as weather
warms up. Increased full spectrum lighting follows Nature's lead, with lots of fresh air & 'real' sunbathing enhancing their environment. Lots of birds are molting, some are feeling their hormones, & their own complex relationships evolve.
The detox is usually for 2 weeks, but if anyone has special needs, we rest 1 week, then resume for 2 more weeks. Here's the basic guidelines:
*No processed foods - This means we take a break from pellets, cooked foods (except for eggs & some light steaming of certain veggies), & whole grain breads & pasta. Seeds are fed dry, soaked, & sprouted. ALL produce should be organic & as local as possible. We're trying to 'rest' the body, cleanse, & rebuild.
*Root veggies - Carrots, beets, rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, radishes, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, etc. These should be well scrubbed to remove soil, & served raw or lightly steamed, to increase availability of Betacarotene. Root veggies are very nutrient dense, & often advised for liver problems. They're cleansing, as well as nutritious.
*Greens & weeds - Lots of great greens are available right in your own yard in spring! Be sure they haven't been exposed to sprays, systemic garden products, or car exhaust. Dandelion is fantastic for the liver, the main organ of detoxification. You can feed not only the leaves, but flowers & (scrubbed) roots, as well. Chickweed, sorrel, mallow, plantain, & purslane are all good food sources. These common 'weeds' are good sources of trace minerals, enzymes, fiber, & other phytonutrients. The best cleansing greens are the 'bitter' greens. Include kale, chard, chicory, mustard greens, beet & carrot tops, radish tops, raddichio (not green!), romaine, dark leaf lettuce, & any other fresh seasonal greens.
*Herbs - Fresh is best, but you can also include properly dried, organic herbs. Alfalfa, echinacea,
St. John's Wort, raspberry leaf, peppermint, spearmint, basil, thyme, parsley, sage, cilantro, parsley, chamomile, wheat grass - many of these are easy to grow yourself, indoors or out. Chop fresh & add to other wet foods, hang sprigs of fresh herbs from cage bars, offer treat cups of dried herbs. Don't forget powdered or granulated kelp, as an excellent source of iodine, especially for Australian birds, like Budgies & Cockatiels.
*Garlic & Ginger - I often add chopped fresh garlic for it's blood cleansing & antimicrobial properties. Fresh grated ginger aids the digestive system & calms anxieties (also good to prevent car sickness!). Both are given freely during detox.
*Pollen & Flowers - While Lories are big consumers of pollen & blossoms as a diet staple, all parrots can benefit. Use local pollen for it's anti allergy & immune boosting effects. Edible flowers include (organic) pansy, hibiscus, hawthorn, nasturtium, & violet (NOT African Violet). Wild parrots are often seeing chowing down on blossoms. Check your local health food store for more variety. Do NOT feed sweet pea, tomato, or morning glory flowers.
*Berries - All kinds of berries are wonderful sources of antioxidants. Berry season is just beginning, but look for strawberries & blueberries now. While grapes, especially red, purple, & black, are nutritious, NEVER buy those imported from Chile - they're loaded with systemic fertilizers & pesticides, which can NOT be washed off.
*Milk Thistle - We use milk thistle seed & glycerite tincture year round for Budgies, Cockatiels, overweight birds, & those with existing liver problems. During detox, all the birds receive daily milk thistle, as it not only cleanses the liver, but rebuilds it, too.
*Juices - I've been juicing for my birds for over 30 years! All my birds love green juices, & during detox they have some at least 4 times per week. Any & all of the above mentioned produce can be juiced, along with celery, apple, pear, citrus, peppers, etc. Juice is power packed with nutrition, but also tends to be high in sugar & water, so remember to offer appropriate serving sizes, & don't OVERindulge.
*Enzymes - Produce contains the most enzymes when it's raw & fresh. Enzymes help the body convert food into the necessary elements to be digested & utilized by the body systems. Papaya is rich in natural digestive enzymes & we feed it (or juice it) daily during detox (include seeds) You can also buy capsules of digestive enzymes at your health food store, & sprinkle the powder on wet food. Use about 1/3 capsule for a large bird, like a Cockatoo.
*Aloe Vera - Aloe vera is the great healer, inside & out. Use the juice or gel from fresh leaves, on wet food. 'Aloe Detox' is a liquid supplement (aloe contains milk thistle & other healthful things) you can buy at health food stores. Offer straight in a cup, or add to water or juice. We give some daily during detox.
*Other Supplements - Although I use many natural supplements year around, every bird's supplements are offered daily during detox time. Remember, though, MORE is NOT better!! A pinch or 2 per bird is plenty. Brewer's Yeast is rich in Vitamin B Complex, aiding nervous system
mood, & regulating body systems. Flax Seed Oil is high in Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids, helping
skin, feathers, molting, plucking, heart, & endocrine system. 1 - 2 drops per bird on wet food, refrigerate & don't over heat as it's unstable in light, air or heat. We don't normally give Vitamin supplements, due to the richness of our birds' normal daily diet. If your bird is seriously malnourished, though, you may want to add a natural vitamin supplement during this time.
Short term usage shouldn't result in vitamin toxicities possible with overuse. We do use a trace mineral supplement year around, including during detox, due to the notoriously depleted soils in the modern world. If your birds don't regularly chew their cuttlebone, you may want to grate some into their wet food, again a pinch or 2 per bird. Almonds are fed to everyone (ground up for small birds), due to their high Calcium & EFA content.
*Allergens - We eliminate foods known to cause allergies, in particular wheat & peanuts. If any birds are sensitive, this gives them a break. Peanuts can also be a source of aflatoxins, causing liver damage, or Aspergillus, which leads to respiratory problems.
*Live Food & Eggs - Mealworms are sold at many pet stores for reptiles. Many parrots enjoy occasional mealworms, as do finches during breeding. Remember, our companions are omnivores, & eat from a variety of sources. Mealworms are high in protein & fat. Offer only very small quantities, & use the small ones, as tough skins can be hard to digest. Eggs are a great source of protein, in an extremely digestible form.
They also contain sulfur, & yolks offer fat & Vitamin A. This is the one food that should be well cooked - I prefer hardboiled & chopped to serve. Shells can be washed & baked on low heat, then ground & put on wet food as an excellent Calcium & mineral source. While my birds get eggs occasionally year around, they get SMALL servings of eggs every other day during detox. Finches feeding babies get eggs daily. Don't leave eggs in cages more than an hour to avoid spoiling.
*Psyllium, Fennel, & Slippery Elm - Ground psyllium seed husk is a fiber source that aids elimination. Fennel seeds, whole or ground, enhance the entire digestive system. Slippery elm bark powder reduces inflammation in the digestive system, while detoxifying the entire body. All are available at health food stores, & a pinch or 2 of each is added daily to wet food.
*Remedies - We use probiotics on a rotation system with raw, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar in our birds' water all year long. Probiotics help maintain healthy gut flora &, after antibiotic
treatment, help reestablish the 'good' bacteria. During detox, we use a good brand of bird probiotics (there are several on the market) in daily water (filtered, non-chlorinated) & add homeopathic remedies from 'Avian Medicine Chest', as well. In particular, we always use 'Systemajuv' & 'Hemotox' for all our birds. Systemajuv is an herbal remedy to rejuvenate the entire body, eliminate bacteria, detoxify the system, & build up White Blood Cells. Hemotox fights chemical toxins, cleanses blood & liver, & works against environmental & food toxins. If your bird chews metal, you may also want to use 'Metaltox' to help remove heavy metals from the system & avoid metal toxicity.
The difference in how our birds appear to feel after their spring detox is notable. We rarely have birds diagnosed with infections, & those 'rescues' with chronic ailments often go into remission. Constant happy chirping, talking, singing & dancing are our reward. Feathers glow, energy abounds, & eyes sparkle. The time, effort, & money invested in our companions' well being proves worthwhile, season after season.
Why not try a little 'spring detox/renewal' for your feathered friends?
Reprinted with thanks from the May 2006 newsletter of www.yourparrotplace.com.
