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Post by barryrendell3858 on Apr 28, 2005 15:12:29 GMT -7
Can anyone advise please
sparky has started to have a dried beak and its started to shed halfway down to the tip.Its not split,we are not sure if we should file it gently to even it out.we give him a varied diet and he has vitamin supplement in his water.Any suggestions,thanks barry
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Post by lidiam on Apr 28, 2005 17:51:15 GMT -7
Their beaks peel and get more rugged as they get older. I remember being shocked by Joshua going from beautiful, smooth, shiny black beak to peeled beak. Don't worry, it's an age thing!
Lidia
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Preston
Super Talker
NEED HELP? WE WILL ANSWER AS FAST AS WE CAN (Note: Preston passed away in 2012. We hold his memories dearly, he was a great person and super moderator.)
Sisika and Pete
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Post by Preston on Apr 28, 2005 19:19:28 GMT -7
I agree if he is getting the calcium he needs. Broccoli, almonds., and the like. Check the posts on food for calcium intake.
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Post by Jane on Apr 29, 2005 0:19:01 GMT -7
Beaks are composed of layers and can get a bit flaky round the edges due to use. Vitamin A is good for beak and feather condition; this is present in the form of beta carotene in vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli and other dark greens, peppers, watercress, and fruit such as cantaloupe melon, mango and papaya.
Red Palm oil is also a very good source and thought to be particuarly good for them but I haven't used it myself.
Jane
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Post by Africanewbie on Apr 29, 2005 2:09:52 GMT -7
Hi Jane,
What is red palm oil and where can I get it? Is this similar to wheat germ oil? I have tried giving vegies and fruits and he won't touch any of it after the initial taste with his tongue and if he does pick it up, it's only to throw it around. I am willing to try other things that are helpful. Thanks
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Post by Jane on Apr 29, 2005 3:04:27 GMT -7
It is the oil from the fruit of a tropical palm and is rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenes, hence its colour. It contains saturated fat which is unusual for an oil of plant origin but African Greys in the wild eat the fruits of the oil palm.
Red palm oil is thought to be excellent for feather, skin and beak condition but it has to be mixed in with other food to make it palatable, only in small amounts of course.
I haven't found it in any shops here but it might be available in specialist shops, otherwise you can get it on the internet.
Jane
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Post by lidiam on Apr 29, 2005 3:57:34 GMT -7
I am in the middle east at the moment, and will keep a look out for red palm oil in the supermarkets. Is it, Jane, from the same family of palm that gives us the (pickled) palm hearts that are often served here? Yummy, by the way.
Lidia
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Post by Jane on Apr 29, 2005 5:06:23 GMT -7
They are the same family but a different genus.
The African oil palm grows fruits which consist of reddish orange skin, oily orange flesh and a nut inside. They are available all year round and African Greys love them.
Jane
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Preston
Super Talker
NEED HELP? WE WILL ANSWER AS FAST AS WE CAN (Note: Preston passed away in 2012. We hold his memories dearly, he was a great person and super moderator.)
Sisika and Pete
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Posts: 5,912
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Post by Preston on Apr 29, 2005 19:21:44 GMT -7
I give... UNCLE!
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Post by lidiam on May 3, 2005 0:37:04 GMT -7
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Post by Jane on May 3, 2005 11:38:35 GMT -7
Lidia
I had heard that some paprika and the Old El Paso kits were contaminated with this Para Red dye.
Palm oil is in quite a lot of things, I have some peanut butter containing it and some biscuits.
Just have to hope the problem doesn't spread the way it did with Sudan 1.
Jane
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Steph
Weaned Todd
Joined: April 2005
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Post by Steph on May 12, 2005 5:21:00 GMT -7
That's scary- I eat old el paso stuff all the time and of course Silver shares!
Silver is 22 years old and her beak is not really peely but is layered and has ridges. I love all the pictures of the babies with lovely shiny beaks!! Can Red Palm Oil help once the beak is already layered, or is it to prevent it happening?
Mind you - maybe it's not worth it if there's a risk of Sudan I or Para Red dye...?
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Post by lidiam on May 12, 2005 6:19:46 GMT -7
Steph, I know what you mean about the lovely smooth and shiny baby beaks, they look adorable. As parrots age, their beaks peel in layers around the edges and at the point. This is inevitable, as the beak is made of keratin (like fingernails) and is constantly growing. I have never seen an adult grey with a really shiny beak. Joshua lets me rub his beak in between my thumb and index finger until it is buffed up, but he soon undoes my labours!  Lidia |
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Post by Jane on May 12, 2005 6:24:19 GMT -7
The beak is growing all the time so anything beneficial added to the diet would have a result in the long run.
I don't think the Para Red has actually been found in red palm oil, it is a high quality product to start with. I believe Para Red is something added to poorer quality paprika and cayenne to make it appear to be better quality, then that in turn has got into loads of other processed foods.
Jane
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Post by barryrendell3858 on May 12, 2005 15:23:48 GMT -7
thanks guys  |
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