Herbal medicines=healty birds

[batuhan]

Hi All,
natural-herbal medicines for us and for our birds
common dandelion-taraxacum officinale
it is a very important plant for finches during breeding season and treat their liver after given synthetic drugs..

pine-pinus
milkthistle,sowthistle-silybum marianum-carduus marianus
artichoke

batuhan

[franny]

Hi Batuhan,

What part of the dandelion is good? I've been feeding the leaves only... can they eat the flower? Or the seeds?

And pine? Do you give them pine nuts?

[Mannikin_luver]

Not be rude....but really? Wasn't one time enough?

[franny]

I'd like an answer to my question, so let's not antagonize him eh? He's giving a suggestion - you don't have to read his threads - you can just block him if you aren't interested in his opinions any longer. But I'd like to know what part of the dandelion he feeds to his birds - he seems to think he has good luck with natural foods.

[Pukasand]

What part of the dandelion is good? I've been feeding the leaves only... can they eat the flower? Or the seeds?

And pine? Do you give them pine nuts?

Those are good questions, Franny, and I would like to know also.

[mickp]

with dandelion my birds eat the leaves, flowers & seeds.
what isnt eaten they use as nesting material.

[debbie276]

Mine also enjoy the leaves, flowers and seeds. They haven't used any for nesting material yet though.

[L in Ontario]

That's really good to know, that every part of the Dandelion plant is okay for them to consume/use any way they want.

Do you cut up the leaves into 'beak sized' pieces or just toss a whole leaf or whole flower in the cage?

[nixity]

That's really good to know, that every part of the Dandelion plant is okay for them to consume/use any way they want.

Do you cut up the leaves into 'beak sized' pieces or just toss a whole leaf or whole flower in the cage?

The leaves are extremely delicate - if you cut them, they wilt and shrivel up VERY fast and the birds don't see as interested in them.

I fed them over summer when they were fresh at Whole Foods and would just tie a bundle next to a perch and they'd go to town.
Some like it more than others..

[mickp]

I try not to cut it, other tham to remove a section from the main plant. sort of like cutting flowers I guess. leave something there to regrow for later use. always have pieces hanging around in the aviary, a fresh piece every couple of days.

[dfcauley]

Isn't it funny? I used to destroy them in my yard.
Now I feed them to my birds.

[batuhan]

Hi Batuhan,

What part of the dandelion is good? I've been feeding the leaves only... can they eat the flower? Or the seeds?

And pine? Do you give them pine nuts?

Hi Franny,
I am sorry but as you know my english is not good enough to tell you everything in english..
so; the pictures and the videos will answer your questions much better than me/than my english..:


while the goldfinch eating honey


dandelion leaves


dandelion flowers and bee


dandelion-taraxacum officinale


dandelion-taraxacum officinale


dandelion field-seeds forum


dandelion

photos by batuhan

[lovemyfinch]

Now I know what to do with all my dandelions this summer We have not been allowed to use any type of pesticides for 4 years now, which means that those little fids had better get on with their appetite.

Another questions...would it work to dig up a couple of plants to pot them and let the birds have them fresh this way

[batuhan]

These are the dandelions which I give to my birds :when the flower heads are closed :










photos by batuhan

[batuhan]

these are my bird's videos while they are eating greens/plants :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXiY4nRto5c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg4Rr4du__k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMrPTeiFRBI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iDiI5vgJvQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3RkCdDbRHU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nPL3mGy1qI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyOHKeW5pN8

videos by batuhan