Dry Skin

[Pharoh]

The avian vet told me on Oct. 29, 2005 that my Vosmaeri was molting.
Well this is Feb. 9, 2006 and she is still not got her feathers back. I have
learned that she is pulling out her feathers, but not her down feathers.
After countless hours searching the web for information about molting, feather
picking/pulling, etc. I have come to the conclusion that she has dry skin.
And I think it started with molting, then as winter came her skin started to get
dry so she is now picking her feathers. From what i have read it seems like aloe vera
will help with the dry skin. Now my question is what type of aloe? I have aloe in the
house, but I'm not sure if i should use it.
I have a bottle of spray gel aloe vera. and a bottle of Panama Jack, pure aloe and lidocaine.
If this aloe is not acceptable to use, what type of aloe solution should i use.

[felisdomesticus]

You want to buy pure aloe vera juice from a health food store. DO NOT use medicated aloe/skin treatments that are designed for humans.

this is a great article by Carolyn about aloe: http://www.landofvos.com/articles/wingtips/aloe.html

I buy a big bottle of George's steam-distilled aloe vera juice from our local natural foods store for about $8. Here's a link to the company's website: http://www.warrenlabsaloe.com/

You can also feed your ekkie aloe leaves. I buy mine from the grocery store buy growing your own works too as long as you don't use any funky chemicals on them. She gets a slice each day during the spring/summer/fall and she LOVES it.

I also give my girl fish oil to prevent dry skin. I open a few capsules into the batter I make for her bird bread.

[cfulhage]

When you say Aloe leaves...do you mean the things off the aloe vera plant that looks likes a cactus?

[Pharoh]

Felisdomesticus, Thank You for the info, it was very helpful.

[jamieo]

Originally Posted by cfulhage

When you say Aloe leaves...do you mean the things off the aloe vera plant that looks likes a cactus?

yes that's what cfulhage meant.

You can also buy spray bottles of moisturizing solutions at most pet stores that sell bird supplies. Here's an example product called "Molt Ease" that I've seen online and at PetCo:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2003&Nty=1

It contains Aloe Vera extract and does not contain anything that's harmful to birds.

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by cfulhage

When you say Aloe leaves...do you mean the things off the aloe vera plant that looks likes a cactus?

yes. I don't have any aloe plants of my own so I buy these huge leaves at the food store.

Scarlett goes NUTS for them. She bounces up and down on her boing when she sees me take it out of the fridge. She eats it and says "hello! hi! good girl!"

Aloe is also a natural antibiotic and detoxifying ingredient. It can only help your bird to feed aloe.

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by Pharoh

Felisdomesticus, Thank You for the info, it was very helpful.

You're welcome. I learned it all from Carolyn's articles at Land of Vos--she has truly made me into a great ekkie owner with all of her information and suggestions. We are supposed to wait until after she has replied to a post to respond but she is very busy--so I hope she isn't offended that I posted it.

[natureboy]

Tonight i went to our local store and purchaed an aloe plant.
I cut off a stalk and washed it good. i dried it off and gave it to hger and she dove right in, i also rubbed some gel on her skin we will see how this goes.

What a wonderful low costing effective treatment.