FINCHforum

I found a site that says you should give Oregano to your birds (and you) because it has 42 times more antioxidants than apples and 30 times more than potatoes. It's loaded with antimicrobial compounds that fight cold-causing bacteria and researchers found that it destroys giardia.

Wonder if you can give it either dried or fresh! Hey now dat's Italian.

Hi Cindy,

Not really sure how I want to approach this....
But yes.. I use Organic Oil (Essential Oil ONLY) of Oregano with my birds.

I actually use a variety of Medicinal (not perfume) grade Essential Oils but I rely heavily on a good friend of mine to assist me with application when I have used them in the past.

I do not know how potent the every day dried oregano would be, so I would think it would need to be fresh, but Oregano is a "hot" oil, and so the fresh plant itself might also be too hot and cause irritation in the crop - the way arugula does, I suppose.

I have only used it internally a couple of times in "do or die" situations.
Otherwise, I just use 5 drops on a tissue when I see a bird that is sick or fluffed.. it's one of my first arsenals of defense and I believe I have had a great deal of success with it in certain situations.

Sometimes it doesn't work, because if the infection is progressed I don't think it's sufficient enough to work effectively against it.

When my mom visited last, she was starting to get a cold, and she started taking the Oil of Oregano orally since I had it and told her about it, and she started feeling better within 24 hours

Maybe for us it is a good thing. I was not sure about using it for birds, thought I would ask. I wasn't sure since some herbs can counteract with certain meds, say if you are using a supplement how it affect it.

You know how you read something on the internet, it sounds good but you are in doubt...thought it best to ask.

here is a list of the herbs I make available to my birds.
oregano, basil, coriander, endive, marjoram, cress, dill, mint, rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme, garlic, wormwood and dandelion.
these are grown in pots which I rotate through the aviaries, the birds pick at them when they want to.

Thank you Mick. Can you give chopped dried herbs as well?

dont see why not. live plants is just easier for me, as I have the space to do it

Mick, I do not have a green thumb. I could pick up a few pots of herbs and try it. I can set them on the porch in a big container.

Will they handle the heat and humidity of Florida? I have shade on the pool deck and it is screened in? Love the idea of fresh oregano and dill.