Anti-Feather Picking Formula

              
  • 1 oz GSE (grapefruit seed extract) - available at a health food store - it is a liquid natural antibiotic / antifungal / antiviral / antiparasitic.   It can help the skin to heal. Plus it tastes so bitter it might deter the chewing.
  • 1 oz Colloidal Silver - again available at a health food store - it is a natural antibiotic. It is minute particles of silver suspended in distilled water.
  • 1 Tablespoon of Eucerin lotion - available at a pharmacy - it is an over the counter human moisturizer, but it is not greasy - it can help soothe the dry itchy skin.
  • Mix with 4 ounces of HOT water in a larger bottle and shake very well to disperse all the ingredients in the water.

This is your "master" bottle.   The master formula should be an amber or dark golden color.

Shake the master bottle well before making your diluted solution. Then use about a Tablespoon of the master formula mixed in another 3 oz of hot water, again shake well.

Your dilited solution should be almost colorless. You can either spray it on the bare skin or apply it directly to the bare skin with your fingers, or a cotton ball, or whatever your bird will accept as an applicator. Keep the formula away from the bird's face - the GSE can sting the eyes. Because the solution is mixed with HOT water, the birds seem to tolerate it better than cold - it seems more soothing to them.

Some birds just hate being sprayed or hate to have the formula applied no matter what, and in that case you just have to restrain the bird (maybe with another person's help), apologize, reassure, and apply the formula - only takes a very short time of restraint. Of course, a treat afterwards is mandatory .
 
Jasmine I have to use cotton balls to soak her down.
 
PLEASE make sure you use from the diluted mixture.

I got this formula from the web.   Jasmine is really improving and it has to be the taste of the GSE, as she goes to pick and changes her mind.
 
-- Toolady

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