How Do I Get Fibre Into My Sick Jardine?

Hi all,

I hope you'll forgive me for making my first post a question, but I really need some good advice...

I have a four year old Jardine's Parrot called Savanna who recently became ill. After showing all the signs of an ill bird and being sick day after day, we took her to the vet and an x-ray showed up a large amount of material stuck in her gizzard. Worried about heavy metal poisoning the vet took blood, the test results show no long term damage to her liver of vital organs and no poisoning, which is wonderful.

My parrot sticks to her humans like glue and the only thing we could conclude could be in her gizzard is the paint from her cage. Cage chewing is a habit we have found hard to break. Jardine's owners will know they have very strong beaks!

Now she has to clear this very dense amount of paint flecks in her gizzard. The vet suggests that surgery is not an option and that we have to shift the substance using diet - one packed with fibre.

My question is 'What Can I Give Her To Clear Her Gizzard And Get Fibre In To Her?'

I have read of feeding birds, with this problem, Peanut Butter, I guess as it may survive the stomach and be sticky enough to grasp to particles in the gizzard, but I'm worried I'll make her worse. Her little crop bloats so easily now so sugars make me worry.

She is eating and drinking well, eats high quality parrot seed daily, and fruit and veg daily too. She loves fruit juices, parrot friendly soups and sauces and is currently taking vet issued amoxicillin twice a day to stop her sickness.

Thank you all. I will post a more indepth post as she gets better to help people avoid doing what I did so wrong for my little parrot

Jen xoxo

ps: a tip... before she were diagnosed Sav was eating peanut shells, which was odd for her. We took them away fearing they were making her ill, but recently we have found out that they contain fibre. She also converted to mainly eating dried sweetcorn. Maybe this will ring bells with someone out there seeing this change in their bird too.

First of all please do not feed peanut shells. They are a high potential for fungus/mold. That would really make your bird sick. Fiber could be found in the nuts (no peanuts) pre cracked of course, many of the boxed organic cereals, cooked oatmeal, toasted whole grain bread (good to spread with almond butter and cooked beans. I am sure there is more but this is what I can think of now. Hope your little bird gets better.

I once treated a Parrot that had a partially blocked intestine.

We were advised to ONLY feed a baby bird hand rearing formula He was to have no other foods until the mass had completely gone. Because the bird was in a very weakened state from not being able to digest food properly i had to crop feed him 3 times a day. It took 6 months to get him back on track.

The reason for the hand rearing formula, because its full of goodness & easy for the bird to digest. Anyway ask your Vet what he thinks.

ok just on an off shot?? soluble fibre?? could this be a short term solution?? this canbe mixed with her water?? (amounts according to instructions)

or rice bran, mixed into a paste with a bit of juice or water? its much smoother and finer to take then wheat bran and has a natural sweetness to it as well

i do hope your bird gets better soon

Hi all,

I would remove the peanuts with shells as Jardy's are prone to aspergellogis, but if one slipped through the net she would pounce on it. I guess she was trying to tell us what she needed by eating them.

I am going to an organic health food store today, and the pet shop, with a list of your suggestions. I will bring her back some goodies.

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. You've given me lots to consider. I think we've a long road ahead, but we'll get there I'm sure.... she's just found enough energy to make a sprint for my laptop anyway

Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.

Jen xoxo