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There's more to chamomile than meets the eye. This herb has been used for centuries to heal wounds, relieve pain and calm upset stomachs. But did you know it's also good for promoting sleep? Chamomile is so good for bird's too.
Is chamomile safe for birds?
If you’re looking to soothe a bird with anxiety, fear, or other issues related to poor nervous behaviors, chamomile can be an excellent choice. In fact, it’s one of my personal favorites for calming birds because it is very gentle yet it has such an effective impact.
Yes, chamomile is completely safe for birds. You can give your bird chamomile in a variety of forms. It can be brewed as a tea, served in a dish, or given in tincture form. You can also add it to your bird’s food or use it as a bird bath spray.
How do you make chamomile tea for birds?
There are several ways to make chamomile tea for birds. One way is to add 1 teaspoon of dried flowers per 2 cups of boiling water. Pour into a cup and allow it to steep for 4 minutes. You can steep it a little less time or more time until you notice the desired effects. But, don't steep it for longer than 6 minutes.
But, birds also enjoy eating organic dried chamomile flowers. We like to toss a pinch of dried chamomile flowers into our morning bird chop. Maybe 1/4 teaspoon for small birds like budgies or green cheek conures or a full teaspoon for large birds, like an Umbrella Cockatoo.
Does chamomile tea detox the body?
A cup of chamomile tea is a relaxing treat to have before bed. But did you know that chamomile can actually work its way through your body and detox it? Learn more about these interesting properties, including which other foods have them.
It helps the liver While you might be aware that chamomile is good for your digestive system, it’s also very beneficial to your liver. In some studies, chamomile was shown to have a positive effect on toxic compounds in birds who had overindulged in fatty seeds.
It’s filled with sesquiterpene lactone, which helps cleanse the liver's detox pathways. Lastly, the anti-inflammatory qualities of the herb help the body better handle the cleansing process's smooth function.
What are adaptogen herbs for birds?
Adaptogens can relieve stress, anxiety, and depression by balancing hormones throughout the body. One adaptogen herb that can help your bird relax is chamomile, which also serves as a digestive aid. Steep a cup of dried chamomile flowers in hot water.
Common and bird-safe adaptogen herbs include herbs like holy basil, ashwagandha, nettle leaf, dandelion root, licorice root, passionflower (Passifloraceae), chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and valerian (Valeriana officinalis).
What are the benefits of chamomile tea?
Chamomile tea offers a multitude of benefits, particularly in promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels, which can be especially beneficial for birds susceptible to anxiety. Chamomile is renowned for its gentle yet effective calming properties, making it a popular choice among herbal remedies. Its natural sedative effects help alleviate insomnia, anxiety, and stress, offering relief to birds experiencing these conditions.
One of the key advantages of chamomile is its ability to soothe physical manifestations of stress. This includes calming nerves and reducing restlessness, which are common symptoms in birds that may exhibit behaviors like feather plucking when stressed. By promoting a sense of calm, chamomile helps birds relax more effectively, potentially improving their overall well-being.
Chamomile is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to support digestive health. These additional benefits can contribute to a bird's overall comfort and health, particularly during periods of stress when digestive issues may arise due to heightened anxiety.
Offering chamomile tea to birds can be done in various forms, such as incorporating it into their drinking water or blending it with other bird-safe herbs to create a soothing herbal mix. This gentle approach ensures that birds can enjoy the benefits of chamomile in a safe and palatable manner.
Overall, chamomile tea stands out as a natural and effective way to help birds manage stress and anxiety, providing a calming influence that supports their emotional and physical well-being.
Anti-Itch Properties
Added benefit, especially for bird lovers, is that Chamomile helps to lessen swelling. When a bird scratches its body or pulls its feathers, it causes inflammation, which in turn only makes the problem worse. The antimicrobial qualities of Chamomile actually aid in treating a skin infection and decreasing swelling.
We highly recommend taking any skin problems to the vet for a thorough diagnosis. After all, your parrot may have a food allergy or another issue mimicking dry skin, or even arthritis. Still, your parrot may find instant relief from a quick soak in chamomile spray while you work out the source of the itching.
Dry Eyes
Does your bird scratch at itself a lot? Well, the soothing properties of Chamomile Flowers for Parrots can ease eye irritation. Since it reduces swelling and inflammation, a warm teabag of Chamomile gently compressed on the eye may ease discomfort.
Stomach Discomfort
Say that you’re a domestic parrot that has one food option. In other words, you have to eat the pellet that your owner supplies. But, maybe that pellet has a property that causes gastrointestinal distress. You’d be up a creek!
We mentioned before in this post how Chamomile can help reduce swelling in the smooth tissues of your bird. Well, the stomach and intestines are made up of smooth tissue, so ingesting chamomile is an excellent natural remedy. Please note: Stomach discomfort could be a sign of a more serious problem, so, yet again, always consult with your bird vet for a true diagnosis. But even with a diagnosis, you’ll still want to address your pet's discomfort. Chamomile can help.How to Administer Chamomile to a Parrot
When you give Chamomile tea to your parrot, be sure to watch for a reaction to the herb. While rare, some pets experience allergic reactions to new supplements. Others may experience diarrhea, vomiting, swelling, or even breathing difficulties. These are often signs of an allergic reaction. We recommend using Chamomile in combination with other herbal supplements to avoid long-term side effects from use.
Here are a few ways to administer chamomile
Brew A Tea: Chamomile is a naturally occurring herb that comes in a couple different formats for parrots. The easiest way to give your parrot Chamomile is, hands-down, to make a tea by steeping raw flowers for a few minutes. You might want to change the tea 2 or 3 times a day since any natural substance in water will attract bacteria. Just be aware that you should always have fresh water available, too..
Loose-leaf Herb Mix: Parrots love their greens. Serving loose-leaf chamomile is a great option. Your parrot can eat as much as it chooses and it is difficult to over-dose with this administration method as your bird can easily refuse to eat the offering UnRuffledRx offers a basic Loose Chamomile Flowers and a Parrot Calming Herb Mix that has Chamomile along with a variety of other nutritional, organic calming and healthy herbs.
Herbal Tinctures: Bird-safe tinctures are always non-alcoholic and often made from a natural, vegetable based glycerin. Tinctures actually dissolve plant-based chemicals into a liquid form. In other words, the process pulls out useful chemical constituents in the plant material to offer up a concentrated version of the nutrients and active agents. You may only need a few drops versus an entire water-bowl full of the product. While tinctures may be the easiest method for administration, you must be careful to not over-dose.
So, now that you know all of the benefits of Chamomile, get some fresh, loose leaf Chamomile for your parrot medicine cabinet.
Related Posts:
The Do's & Don'ts Of Calming Anxious Birds
Understanding Bird Stress And How To Calm Your Bird Down
The Amazing and Surprising Benefits of Chamomile for Calming Birds
References:
Sund, P. https://birdtalksubscribe.com/blogs/news/why-tea-is-so-great-for-parrots Why Tea Is So Great for Parrots. August 29, 2018.
Diane Burroughs, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist trained in ABA therapy techniques. She specializes in avian anxiety disorders and is certified in Nutrition For Mental Health. Diane has written a number of bird behavior books and she offers behavior consultations. She's developed a range of UnRuffledRx Science-backed Parrot Wellness Supplies.
Diane's products have been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at Exoticscon, a conference for exotic pet veterinarians. Her bird collars & supplements are stocked in avian vet clinics and bird stores throughout the US. With over 30 years in the field of behavior, Diane has created thousands of successful individualized behavior plans that help pets thrive.
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