suggestions?

[Owlet]

So recently Lincoln's been growing in some more pin feathers, especially on his head where he can't preen them. And I'm not allowed to touch the head. so he's been reasonably crabby and I want to give him some chamomile tea but I don't know how to serve it to him in a way he might actually ingest some. Any suggestions?

 

[EllenD]

That's a good question...Will he drink out of your mug/glass if you're drinking something? I know my guys won't drink anything unless I'm drinking it, then it's suddenly interesting and they want some of it. Bowie will sit on my shoulder and drink out of my mug/glass, whatever I have he wants.

Otherwise I don't know, unless he'll drink it out of a regular bowl...

 

[Owlet]

I will have to try that as I normally don't drink from glasses (love me my water bottles) but maybe he will. I tried once putting it in a normal bowl but he didn't seem interested and why favor a plain Strange Water over the nice fresh Trusted Water xD

 

[Owlet]

I was thinking maybe cooking some oatmeal into it. Like cook some oatmeal make it in the watery side and sprinkle some chamomile leaves on top and mix it in. Or put it in a bowl and have almonds at the bottom so he has to fish for it... but I think almonds float.

 

[ChristaNL]

Good thinking (though they can acutally reach their head to scratch every single part if they want to ).

I actually spray them with lukewarm (or cold) very strong chamomile tea if they are in mild pain or just have irritated skin.
If not from the inside out... then just go from the outside in.

Soaking them in that stuff really works.

 

[TiredOldMan]

How about cooking the oatmeal in chamomile tea?

 

[Owlet]

I ended up doing that, he ate a little but not a lot. it's a start.

 

[noodles123]

Does he have access to rough/comb-like toys that he could use to scratch his own head? Some parrots will use tools to accomplish scratching themselves...It might be worth a shot?

 

[Owlet]

Does he have access to rough/comb-like toys that he could use to scratch his own head? Some parrots will use tools to accomplish scratching themselves...It might be worth a shot?

he wouldn't. he hates anything touching his head. It's gotta better due to having box like foraging toys he has to stick his head into but still iffy.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Ugh, what a wet blanket I am! Does your avian vet recommend chamomile? In what dose? And administered how? I'd ask and follow up along those lines...

Wet blanket, peace out.

 

[Owlet]

My vet recommended a anti-inflammatory last time he was molting, medical grade. I think it was .2ml a day I can't exactly remember I know I have the numbers somewhere though. Considering chamomile isn't as strong as a medical grade anti-inflamitory would be she just gets like.. a teaspoon diluted in 2 - 2 and a half cups of water not to mention additionally diluted in around a cup of oats. And he ate.. very little of it. Maybe like 1/8th of a cup worth. So he didnt get much at all.

 

[chris-md]

How about cooking some noodles or brown rice in it? Noodles will soak up the tea and birds gobble it up.

 

[Owlet]

I will try that next time! I gave him a bath earlier and he has SO many more pin feathers than I thought on his head.