Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Hi Mark,
    
    I ONLY use it on Fruits and Veggies and in some prepared food
    mixes.  My vet had made a good point that in water, after its
    been sitting for a few hours, there is probably little to no
    more vitamin value in the water.  This is primarily due to
    evaporation and dilution.  Besides, some birds (like mine) are 
    finicky about how their water tastes. 
    
    Sprinkle it on their fresh foods, they won't know the difference!
    
    Anybody else got info on this?  I have always wondered myself if
    there was actually something better than Nekton-S or if this is
    the best on the market.
    
    See ya!

    Hi All!
    
    I used Nekton-S all the time till I was started using 2 oz a week.
    That got a little expensive.  Now I use Vita-Preen - which comes
    from Sunshine Products in Florida.  Much cheaper, 1# is $6.89!
    
    You can use the Nekton either way...in water or on food.  I poked
    little tiny holes in the lid and used it like a salt shaker till
    the water turned colors.
    
    Karen makes a good  point too.  Not only do the vitamins loose some
    value in the water...they are sweet....and attract bacteria after
    a day.  so using them on soft foods and such is probably better!
    
    On a REAL HOT DAY, after work, sometimes their water smells like
    swamp water and I do not use any vitamins in the water in summer
    months!
    
    Hey, how's Sinbad?
    
    j
    

    Hi Jean,
    
    She is doing OK.  I think she is still trying to get over
    her trips to the vet.  I was surprise at how stressed she gets at the 
    vet and how long it takes her to return to normal.  It took her
    a week to start to talk again.  I don't know what normal is for her.  
    I don't know how active she should be or vocal etc..  I have never
    owned a Congo Grey.  I know that my Dbl Yellow Head was always into 
    something or making noise etc... She doesn't seem to be as inquisitive 
    as I would think she would be.  
    
    Mark
    
      
    
    When you think about it she really has been through a lot.  I took
    her from the only home she new.  Had her nails cut and wings cut
    and then took her off to the vet 3 times.  I think that kinds made
    her a little tense to say the least.  She is not as trusting as
    she used to be but I think I'm winning back her confidence.
    
    Mark
    
    
   
     
    
    Mark
    
    

    I use Nekton-S combined with Nekton-R (for redder feathers) or
    Nekton-Bio (when Zack is molting) in his water.  And Nekton-MSA
    (minerals and trace elements) sprinkled on his fresh food.
    
    I agree with Jean about the water possibly going bad in the summer
    and I always dump it, wash the dish and replace it with fresh plain
    water about dinner time in the summer.  During the rest of the year,
    I change the water only if Zack has dumped half his breakfast into
    it.
    
    Of course, with the number of birds that Jean has to take care of,
    it could take hours to dump, wash, and replace the water twice a
    day!!!
    
    Dom

    RE: .3  MARK,
    
    Does Holly understand the effects of going home with you?  ;')
    
    RE: .4  Dom, Hi!
    
    Yeah, it get so bad, I use a gallon of bleach just for the birds
    in a weeks time.  The only supplements I use in the water is vitamins.
    All the minerals and factor supplements I add directly to soft food.
    
    And in the summer months, I almost never use anything but clear
    water...they bathe in it, poop in it an try sprouting their millet
    sprays in it....I Cant't Take the Pressure anymore!!!!   8^}
    
    J

    I use necton S in with cod liver oil & wheat germ oil.  it sticks
    to the seed this way and my bourkes love it.  c. kroll

    Does anyone use Super Preen??  I looked at it the other day and
    it seems incredibly complete.....vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
    
    Question about vitamins.....I have been mixing the powder in with
    the rice mix.  My vet recommended not putting vitamins in the wter
    as thy start to lose potency immediately as well as creating a breeding
    ground for bacteria. The vitamins give you guidelines as to dosage,
    e.g., 1/8 tsp per bird.  However, since they never eat all of the
    food, or discard rice hulls, vegetable skins, etc., how much of
    the vitamins are actually getting into the birds?  So, how much
    do you actually need to mix in in order to know the bird is getting
    an adequate dosage?
    

    I use a teaspoon per quart of oiled seeds along with a other
    supplements. this lasts 6 birds of virious sizes about 2 weeks.
    
    all are healthy and breeding,  or trying to.

    I use SUPER PREEN and do feel it is MOST complete.  As far as the
    dosage, I believe its 1/8 tsp per 1lb of food.  I think I'm probably
    giving a bit over this amount, more like 1/8 tsp per bird per
    day and have been doing so for a long time.  The super preen has
    an almost Anise smell too it.  My birds don't pick around the
    heavier coated vegetables like they used to do with the other
    vitamins I used.  They seem to actually like the taste.  My Cockatoo
    will actually stick her tongue on the spoon after I do all the 
    mixing and eat up all the rest of the powder stuck to it.  But
    then again... Clare will eat anything.

    I use the Necton S and put it directly on the fruit and veggi's
    in the morning.  My grey doesn't seem to mind it and I know that
    she has to be getting some of it.  I don't really measure the amount
    I just kinda sprinkle it on and then mix it all together.  
    
    Mark