Just wondering what you guys do in regards to daily water supliments and the likes? How often do you worm your birds? I guess I'm asking, what is your routine when it comes to giving additives/medicines to help your birds stay in tip top shape?

Worm 4 times a year

Ivermec spot on for lice, etc whenever a new bird arrives and opportunistically if birds are caught for another reason(such as when I put them in a breeding cage)

Powdered eggshells (for calcium)

In water vitamin supplement once a week for all birds

Calcium block always available

 

 

My birds also get lots of fruit and vegies, soaked soup mix(lentils, split peas, chick peas, barley), soaked chicken grower crumble, green seeding grasses and native branches. I don't go overboard on the medicinal type supplements as I feel this provides a good diet as well.

what water vitamin supliment for do you use MB? can you use it in conjunction with calcivet?

You shouldn't generally use a multivitamin on the same day as a calcium suppement. I don't use calcivet as I powder my own eggshells instead so not sure of the recommendations specific to that product.

 

I personally work on the same theory as you will see written on every bottle of human vitamins "Vitamin supplements can only be of assistance if the dietary intake is inadequate" I like to give them as much variety in their diet, including providing a large selection of fruit and veg, native plants and seeding grasses as I feel this will always be a healthier way than simply dosing them up on synthesised supplements.

 

Just my opinion though

I'm increasingly influenced by the opinions of a couple of the top breeders of here who advocate using as little of medications as possible. They advise to let your budgies build up a health immunity system. So come summer-time I'm going to try and switch to 'natural' meds.

 

I'm currently doing monthly treatments of anti-parasites and Carlox HOWEVER once all my babies are out in the aviary I will switch to raspberry cordial and plentiful sprays of AIL throughout the summer. As for the use of Carlox, this is only because I've had persistent odd cases of cocci/enteritus for the last 6 months and decided to interrupt the cycle once and for all. I'll stop this in December and see what happens in the following month.

 

I'm also going to start giving the birds other branches besides Eucalyptus ... maybe some Bottle Brush, Gravillea ... we'll see.

 

I'm still going to keep adding apple cider and iodine to the water as these supplements help keep bacteria at bay, so very important in the hot weather.

I use the KISS method.............KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID as the saying goes.

 

I use calcivet leading up to breeding, partway into laying of eggs, raising of chicks and the newly fledged chicks get it here and there too.

The birds get a few drops of aqueous iodine every so often in their water.

I do not use multivitamins as their diet is so varied and way better than Ken and mine so they have no need for it.

Breeding pairs have little seperate finger drawers in their cages of whole egg powder and F-vite.

Ivermectin spot on for all incoming birds and any that look like they need it, or when catching up birds...just like MB does.

Worming every month during summer and every 3 months the rest of the year.

I treat sick birds as the needs arise depending on their illness.

 

My medicine cabinet contains.......

wormer, triple c, sulpha meds, calcivet, coccivet, doxyvet, probiotics, ivermectin spot on, breeding aid, a.i.l., ring cutters, forceps, white pepper, candling torch, medical type scissors, birds eye ointment, vitamin B 12, and aviclens.

 

I use Apple cider vinegar and I also use raspberry cordial.

 

That is what I call additive and meds. Food is another ball game altogether...like I said ...my birds eat better than we do.

what is the white pepper for Kaz??

I use the KISS method.............KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID as the saying goes.

 

I use calcivet leading up to breeding, partway into laying of eggs, raising of chicks and the newly fledged chicks get it here and there too.

The birds get a few drops of aqueous iodine every so often in their water.

I do not use multivitamins as their diet is so varied and way better than Ken and mine so they have no need for it.

Breeding pairs have little seperate finger drawers in their cages of whole egg powder and F-vite.

Ivermectin spot on for all incoming birds and any that look like they need it, or when catching up birds...just like MB does.

Worming every month during summer and every 3 months the rest of the year.

I treat sick birds as the needs arise depending on their illness.

 

My medicine cabinet contains.......

wormer, triple c, sulpha meds, calcivet, coccivet, doxyvet, probiotics, ivermectin spot on, breeding aid, a.i.l., ring cutters, forceps, white pepper, candling torch, medical type scissors, birds eye ointment, vitamin B 12, and aviclens.

 

I use Apple cider vinegar and I also use raspberry cordial.

 

That is what I call additive and meds. Food is another ball game altogether...like I said ...my birds eat better than we do.

 

Exactly!

 

I've switched away from Calcivet to Avian Science Liquid Calcium Supplement for 2 reasons: Calcivet has added sugar and can turn the water off quicker in hot weather and secondly the dose rates for LCS is half that of Calcivet so it is more efficient. The calcium rate for LCS is 22mg/mL.

Edited October 21, 200816 yr by renee

what is the white pepper for Kaz??

Its one of the best things to stop bleeding..............better than flour or cornflour.

 

PS Ken looking over my shoulder just said white pepper is nice on BUDGIE KEBABS

Edited October 21, 200816 yr by KAZ

Oi Ken ....

 

*** love your babies .....***

 

 

I Too like the "natural " approach using herbs and old folk remedies ... But sometimes Western medicines are needed ....

 

I have Sulpha Meds . Coccivet. Wormer - the rest i use ACV and herbs

Edited October 21, 200816 yr by Neat

KAZ

how often do you put apple cider into the water?

Do you only put rasperry cordial when they are sick?

 

RENEE

Where do I get LCS from and how often do you put that in?

I guess everyone does things differently, but I tend to run the apple cider vinegar more consistenly in the warmer weather to defeat intestinal upsets. Maybe around 2.5 ml ( half teaspoon ) to a litre is what I use but not daily....maybe 2-3 times per week. I do use it a little more than I would the raspberry cordial. But a sickish bird seems to like the sweetness of the cordial so its good for those times too.

Edited October 21, 200816 yr by KAZ

okay... I'm just trying to figure out what a good routine for my birds would be... I definately agree that over medication is a bad thing but at the same time I want to make sure that thy are getting all the right nutrients... One day they will be required to raise the population of my flock!

KAZ

how often do you put apple cider into the water?

Do you only put rasperry cordial when they are sick?

 

RENEE

Where do I get LCS from and how often do you put that in?

 

I've tried buying it online with little success. For now I get it in 150ml bottles from City Farmers or my local Pet Store.

 

I use it instead of Calcivet so, 2-3 weeks to my flock prior to putting my birds down to breed; 5 out of 7 days for the breeding pairs; 5 out of 7 days for my babies right through to 6 months (maybe longer).

 

I put 2 drops apple cider per Litre 5 out of 7 days except when I'm doing treatment of some kind.

 

Raspberry cordial is a 'natural' cure for worms, along with eucalyptus leaves (I think).

okay great. Thanks a million. Anyone wishing to donate any additional information will always be greatly aprieciated. I'm only an apprentice at this you know..

okay great. Thanks a million. Anyone wishing to donate any additional information will always be greatly aprieciated. I'm only an apprentice at this you know..

 

I give my birds branches of lemon-scented ti-tree which is supposedly a natural wormer. However, always hang it upside down. The birds will strip off the leaves and bark leaving sharp pointed twigs which can trap a bird's ring if the branch is placed upright. I grow my own ti-trees and "prune" off a branch for each flight, usually once a week. Have done this for many years. It has the value of giving the birds an enjoyable pastime as well as being of possible medicinal use.

Do you have a picture of the lemon scented ti tree ? Mine love peppermint tree branches the best :party0011: BUT I havent tried the ti tree

is that a no jaznjj?

Do you have a picture of the lemon scented ti tree ? Mine love peppermint tree branches the best :party0011: BUT I havent tried the ti tree

Hi Kaz, don't have a photograph but it is a very common native which a plant nursery would be able to show you. Crush the leaves in your hand and smell the lemon! When the birds work it over in the flights it also smells delightful. Not sure about peppermint tree - is this like a peppercorn tree? Budgies also like other types of ti-tree (leptospermum) branches but they particularly go for the lemon-scented. I have heard of people putting in branches of bottlebrush (callistemon) and I imagine kunzea would be okay too. Jaz

is that a no jaznjj?

Sorry, still learning to navigate the forum. Must have pressed the wrong button. Have posted a reply which should be up now to view.

hmmm thanks for the tip, will try and see if I can get my hands on one.

Good thread JB, I am reading with interest. I always like to know what others do also. I may or may not pick up their methods, but at least it gives me more choices to create my own "method".

hmmm thanks for the tip, will try and see if I can get my hands on one.

 

I'm finishing up for the night now. Good luck with the ti-tree. It will probably take a year or two to be big enough to use the branches, but once you can identify it you'll find it in other places like parks, reserves, bush, gardens. I cropped the ti-trees in my local reserve for years before growing my own. I just made sure that my pruning improved the plants and didn't destroy anything. The advantage of growing your own is you can guarantee there are no pesticides or pollutants which could harm your birds. Goodnight. Jaz

P.S. Budgies also like to eat tree lucerne but you have to check with your local council because I think in some areas it is a prohibited plant.

P.S.S. Also you can grow grain amarynth which is an annual. Birds eat both the seeding heads and the leaves and stalks. High protein. Seed available from mail order seed places like Eden Seeds or Phoenix Seeds. I could post some to you but not sure of the protocol.

Keep thinking of more things: beetroot, carrot, oranges (turn the skins flesh side out after squeezing juice for yourself) boiled eggs, endive, chickweed