ALOE...consumption

[CLB]

Not to highjack the Punkin thread, I found this when googling the benefits of eating aloe.....thought I would share. I am sharing for comment, not because I have any experience!!

 

http://www.aviannetwork.com/articles/aloe.htm

[birdhouse]

I would tell you aloe is good for fids in any pure form. Very good. BUT there are things in it that can potentially cause problems, especially for some fids. So it's on the list of things to watch when feeding &/or limit, a/or just feed the middle w/o the offensive slimy layer just under the skin. That's really the only dubious part. JMHO

 

btw glad you started a new thread. Can't seem to find a thing that's archived on this forum & we've had some very good discussions. So I think it will be good to have this discussion again.

 

This might be a good link. Land of Vos is one of the sites where I've found a lot of pro-Aloe articles.

 

http://www.landofvos.com/articles/wingtips/aloe.html

Edited September 18, 2012 by birdhouse

[Jayd]

Please remember, landofvos is a Holistic site. It's reputable, but please research and question if you feel uncomfortable. They recommend onions and garlic, untill there is more proof, we don't...There are around 400 species of the Aloe Vera plant, all aren't safe. Our Mr Dave is truly a expert of this subject..Here's a couple of his references.

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?189248-The-other-aloe-vera-gel

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?189967-100-natural-aloe-vera-juice

Edited September 19, 2012 by Jayd
forgot to add links duh!

[Talon]

I don't know about aloe, but garlic is DEFINITELY toxic!!!!!! We had a member here who was told he should feed his grey garlic, that is was safe for it,he did and the bird passed away quickly.

 

Not sure I would trust any site that tells you garlic is fine....

[birdhouse]

I do tend to holistic sites often. So that was an easy one off the top of my head. I certainly don't agree w/everything I read. I'm not a Carolyn Swicegood groupie. But she is referenced on a lot of very credible sites besides her own. Land of Vos appears to be well respected in many circles. Although there are certainly going to be controversies & you can discredit anybody if you work at it a little. Which just shows where bird keeping is at right now. The best of the best can still find a lot to disagree on.

 

I've researched fresh fed aloe for a few years now. Doesn't make me any kind of expert. Just convinced me that aloe has very worthwhile properties for my own flock. I'm sorry I don't have the stick any more & can't say which type. But, I've grown my own, fed it to my birds & seen no issues. I've read often enough that's what seems to cause the problems so I did avoid the bitters to be safer. It's also an occasional addition to their diet in the winter when I think it should do the most good. And I don't feed more than a small amount at a time.

 

Initially I made the decision because of everything I've read on a number of different types of sites. Including GF, if only I could find the threads w/the member discussions & references I was looking for. But I can only track one little one down & the reference link is dead, unfortunately.

 

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?81754-Aloe-Vera-Juice

 

http://www.parrot-and-conure-world.com/non-toxic-for-birds.html

 

http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/nutrition_and_supplements/

 

http://www.greenandhealthy.info/aloeveraplants.html

 

http://www.aviannation.com/archive/index.php/t-8685.html

 

http://www.avianweb.com/kidneydiseasebirds.html

 

http://www.avianweb.com/gout.html

 

http://eclectusparrots.net/aloevera.html

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=20&cad=rja&ved=0CFcQFjAJOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegabrielfoundation.org%2Fdocuments%2Fselectedshorts.doc&ei=BChZUPyiIISF0QGny4DwCA&usg=AFQjCNFvYhXtOLbvXa86JCL-PvEfQszsKQ

 

 

For however many sites that say it's ok, there's a bunch that say no. That's why I originally used the word "debatable" when I brought it up in the Punkin thread. But I think debate is good because it gives parronts that much more information & perspective to use so they can make better choices along the way. Because we all have to make our own minds up in the end.

[Luvparrots]

I don't purposely fed live aloe vera plants to my parrots but I have had to purchase new aloe plants on and off because my parrots and my canary love to eat them. I have houseplants all through my home and my parrots and canary nibble on this or that one. They always go after the aloe vera plants so I have had to try and place the aloe plants in less accessible places. There have been no bad effects on my gang. I only post this because I think it is an interesting subject and this is what goes on in my home. Personal choices.

[Jayd]

A friend reminded me, thank God for friends, always check for article dates or expiration. The Aloe plant is a interesting subject and definitely holds a place in our parrots lives.....

[danmcq]

I don't know about aloe, but garlic is DEFINITELY toxic!!!!!! We had a member here who was told he should feed his grey garlic, that is was safe for it,he did and the bird passed away quickly.

 

Not sure I would trust any site that tells you garlic is fine....

 

I remember that poor member from Hawaii. He had unfortunately preparing/skinning Garlic cloves and they were laying out and by the time he noticed it, his grey had consumed an entire raw garlic clove. When the necropsy was performed, the tiny pieces were found... in his intestines and it was diagnosed as an obstruction and they were perforated and black, it was a very sad occurrence. It is a very serious and unfortunate accident. It is also one others here should be aware of if they happen to have a bag of garlic cloves hanging or laying around. It is unknown if the garlic actually played any role in this or not according to the avian vet.

 

Here is the actual thread from 2007 if anyone would like to read it: http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?45455-My-Parrot-Died

Edited September 20, 2012 by danmcq

[danmcq]

Now back to the actual thread topic. Aloe Plants are toxic when it is eaten.

 

I will just provide some good links on this and just say I only use the 100 percent juice for misting my birds and the gel only if needed for a scrape or cut.

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/446586-is-the-aloe-vera-plant-toxic/

 

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants/aloe

 

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/?section=species&id=66

 

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Aloe+vera

[birdhouse]

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25572396@N04/7981431942/in/photostream/

 

 

 

http://www.parrot-link.co.uk/index.php?topic=42000.0

 

These photos are obviously not of greys or meant to prove anything about whether greys can eat aloe. They're only meant to show that (all) aloe is not toxic to (all) parrots. That theory obviously needs work. The Brown-Head's are also feeding in the wild. No arguably misguided parront involved.

 

Always better safe than sorry. No one should ever feed their birds anything that they aren't as fully convinced as possible is safe. But there are a lot of things that are still being discovered about healthy diets. Bird, human or otherwise. Aloe is still apparently open for discussion.

 

And whether they chose to feed it or not, parronts can still learn a lot just from doing the research. Which makes this is a greyt thread. I really hope it keeps growing.

Edited September 21, 2012 by birdhouse

[danmcq]

These photos are obviously not of greys or meant to prove anything about whether greys can eat aloe. They're only meant to show that (all) aloe is not toxic to (all) parrots. That theory obviously needs work. The Brown-Head's are also feeding in the wild. No arguably misguided parront involved.Always better safe than sorry. No one should ever feed their birds anything that they aren't as fully convinced as possible is safe. But there are a lot of things that are still being discovered about healthy diets. Bird, human or otherwise. Aloe is still apparently open for discussion.

And whether they chose to feed it or not, parronts can still learn a lot just from doing the research. Which makes this is a greyt thread. I really hope it keeps growing.

I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. Your right, there are some poisonous aloe species. I do know and understand that you of course are only referring to the common aloe plant we are all custom to having the extracts from and the plants themselves. The scientific data out there right now is inconclusive as a whole for both humans and parrots as far as ingestion. Some humans benefit from it and others experience gastrointestinal problems from it. However, it is all referring to drinking the juice that has been extracted and processed, not the entire plant. As I am certain you know, the skin layer is a problem IF ingested. The photo clearly illustrates that parrots do feed on the Aloe plant in the wilds of Africa.

 

As I am certain you know, most parrots when eating anything with skin, does not eat the flesh and only drinks the juices and meat, thus the flesh becomes a mute point other than a small quantity of any juices that will ultimately make it's way in as well. But, one thing I believe we all know, is parrots and even birds eat one type or another of clay or dirt in the wild, which protects them from toxins by absorbing them. Our parrots at home can only get clay if it is included in their diet from pellets such as harrisons or some other manufacturers. If they are not eating food containing clay, they do not have that protection.

 

I must apologize for my very short posts many times that do not communicate at all why I have such an opinion. I am so busy at work during the day, that when I do post it takes all of 30 seconds as I am on the phone with a client in need of software engineering help.

 

This is a very interesting topic and ultimately, based on the scientific data out there right now, each must come to their own conclusion. Obviously, today the phones are slow so far.

Edited September 21, 2012 by danmcq