Anyone use garlic in their birds diet

[animecouple]

I cooked some lentils and galic and them added some old fashiond rolled oats at teh end... the quakers ADORED it! the lovebirds pecked a bit... half the budgies loved it and the other half would touch it... and my tiels would even look at it. he he.. its a start I know with humans and animals garlic is good for cleansing and for getting rid of parasites ...let alone just healthy!

[amiestgermain]

Originally Posted by Sabauda

I had always heard that garlic was not so great for birds, but one of the only "veggies" my Sennie will eat is pesto sauce - basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, on pasta. He loves this, and it's one of the few green things he will eat.

It is wonderful for them in small doses. But if a parrot eats TOO much garlic they can develop anemia. But the too much is apparently a good bit. An ekkie expert gives each of her ekkies one clove a day.

Scarlett gets it cooked into her mashes, and she loves it. I had to cook sweet potatoes and peppers with garlic in order to get her to even try them. Now she eats them with no problem.

[jylu97]

My Avian vet actually recommended using garlic since it may have its benefits in preventing coronary artery disease.

[Parapetenia]

Garlic is great! It does amazing things, but can cause anemia if fed too often. I work at a petstore, so bringing home parasites has always scared me. I give a slice or two every couple weeks and have never had any parasite infestations(despite a couple 'customer-induced' lice and mite problems at work).

I haven't tested this next part on birds, but from what I've read(about toucans) and experienced with aquariums, tannic acid does many of the same things(no parasite resistance though). Filtering water through peat moss will bind up heavy metals and other toxins(much like activated carbon) and it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Some toucan breeders use this peat "tea" with toucans to stop iron build up in the liver. This would be a great practice for those who have aviaries made of galvanized wire. Just food for thought.

[chirpy]

I've started adding a clove of garlic to Chirpy's rice/pasta mix, she seems to love it. Makes her breath stink though!

[cozyparrot]

Garlic is good for birds. You don't even have to peel it. Just offer it to them and let them work to get at the tender parts. Many premixed bird foods packaged by reputable food companies contain garlic.

Gena

[jmfleish]

I use garlic here and there too but it does really make their breath stink, especially the Ekkies. It's a great anti-bacterial.