Thrive and Gloss

[Max]

Hi all,

I found a product in the UK called thrive and gloss, available here:

http://www.awbirds.co.uk/thrive-n-gloss ... -872-p.asp

"Thrive-and-Gloss Used as a conditioner, contains protein, cod liver oil, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine, iron, sodium. An excellent source of Vitamins: A-D3-E-B1-B12."

Introduced to my Gouldians last week, and it has given the feathers a gloss i have never seen before. I guess this is something they were really missing from their diet, i've struggled to get mine to try new foods, but the moment i put it in a small finger tray they were scoffing it down like it was their last meal! More energy and a lot more bouncing males!

[Rox]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. Cod liver oil has been used on people and animals (dogs, horses etc) for ages as a skin and coat conditioner. I've honestly never thought of using it on the birds before.

I wonder if you could use cod liver oil on your normal dry seed (lightly coated) as a conditioner?

[debbie276]

That's interesting that you noticed a difference in the feathers in a week because it usually takes them molting and getting in new feathers to see a change. After all, the old feathers are already made, feathers are not alive.

[Max]

Hi debbie276 the feathers look really well preened and shiny, ill try to take a good picture when i get home from work to share but am limited to a 10mp phone camera!

Getting super excited to see what colors my fledglings will turn out to be!

[Colt]

It's possible the cod liver oil creates "oily" (and I use that term very loosely) skin, or skin less dry than before. Or perhaps it affects their preening gland causing them to produce more oils to coat their feathers with as they preen.

[MiaCarter]

Colt -- That's exactly what I was going to say.

I've never used this product, but I've used lots of coat supplements for my dogs with cod liver oil, lanolin, etc, and that's how they work -- by producing oils on the skin, which is transferred to the hairs. I imagine it works the same for birds.

In fact, a teaspoon of olive oil over the dogs' food twice a week makes for a nicely moisturized, shiny coat. (Transformed my rescued Yorkie's hair from dry and frizzy to sleek and shiny. Even better than foiling treatments, where you soak the fur in oil for a couple days, while wrapped in foil. Her hair looks shiny and silky -- like hair, not fur. It's made her hair gorgeous as we're growing it out!

Never tried olive oil with birds. But if it's safe, it's worth a go, I suppose!