• Welcome to Avian Avenue! To view our forum with less advertisments please register with us.
    Memberships are free and it will just take a moment. Click here

Milk Thistle Seed

Ripshod

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
12/6/18
Messages
7,529
Location
UK
Real Name
Linden
My vet vecently gave me milk thistle drops for Tau's drinking water. But I'm also aware our parrots can eat the seed so I'm asking anyone with experience what would be a good quantity to add to his daily diet? I'll be buying off-the-shelf human grade seed at a supermarket.
 

LunaLovebird

Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Veteran
Avenue Spotlight Award
Shutterbugs' Best
Joined
1/17/16
Messages
2,259
You can add it, but they wont get near the dose used with the liquid unless they eat a lot of seeds. They are also bitter so many birds don’t eat them. I have them in my mix because both of mine love them and I figure eating a half dozen or so of those per day is good as a low dose maintenance kind of thing. I don’t know if it’s made any difference to them and I don’t think it’s something I could easily test, but both of my birds are very healthy and their vet always comments on how good their feather quality is when we go in for check ups.
 

JLcribber

@cockatoojohn
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Shutterbugs' Best
Avenue Concierge
Joined
10/16/09
Messages
22,620
Location
Alberta, Canada
Real Name
John
The drops are a concentrate as mentioned. Your bird would need to eat an awful lot of seed to get a full dose.

It couldn't hurt to add some seed as a maintenance thing down the road.
 

Ripshod

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
12/6/18
Messages
7,529
Location
UK
Real Name
Linden
Thanks for the info. I felt that would be the case just wanted confirmation. I'll stick with the drops.
 

Leanna

Walking the driveway
Joined
6/6/15
Messages
168
Location
Missouri
Real Name
Leanna B
I use milk thistle seed powder and sprinkle it on everyone's fresh food every morning. Same with papaya powder (fresh isn't always available where I live) and a tiny pinch of hemp seeds.
 

Nikomania

Rollerblading along the road
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Joined
8/9/13
Messages
4,015
Location
San Diego
Any recommendations as to which milk thistle products to buy? There are quite a few on the market, some of which are blends.
 

Lady Jane

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
8/25/12
Messages
26,573
Location
Maryland
Real Name
Dianne
I bought milk thistle seed on nuts.com. They are a cockatiel size and fed them along with other seeds.
 

Lady Jane

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
8/25/12
Messages
26,573
Location
Maryland
Real Name
Dianne
I only fed the seed. I know Avitech used to make a nice combo for liver issues. Perhaps @Love My Zons will have some.
 

Ripshod

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
12/6/18
Messages
7,529
Location
UK
Real Name
Linden
There's some really good info here, thanks everyone. We'll complete the course with the drops then I'll include some of the seed in the diet. I love the idea of baking birdie bread with them, that may be the way for me.
 

Love My Zons

Cruising the avenue
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
10/16/09
Messages
11,344
Location
Central NC
Real Name
Claire
I only fed the seed. I know Avitech used to make a nice combo for liver issues. Perhaps @Love My Zons will have some.
Yes they did. I do have some made by Morningbird currently! It is organic milk thistle and organic dandelion root. Same exact product, since Janelle didn't patent it. Morningbird extracts the good stuff the same way Avitech did.

There is another one that I will be adding soon.
 

Hankmacaw

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avian Angel
Avenue Concierge
Joined
10/18/09
Messages
1,000,001
Location
Arizona
Real Name
Mary Lynn Skinner
Natures Valley that you can buy on Amazon is what I've used for 15 years. My vet approved of it. Dandelion is more for kidne.
 

Love My Zons

Cruising the avenue
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
10/16/09
Messages
11,344
Location
Central NC
Real Name
Claire
And for the record, I offer milk thistle seeds. If they get eaten, great, if not I still offer along with Herb Salad.

Given choices, I let them decide. ;)
 

Love My Zons

Cruising the avenue
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
10/16/09
Messages
11,344
Location
Central NC
Real Name
Claire
Natures Valley that you can buy on Amazon is what I've used for 15 years. My vet approved of it. Dandelion is more for kidne.
Dandelion is more for kidney's but they too play a large role in allowing the body to remove the by products the liver also breaks down.

Detoxification is the goal.
 

Nikomania

Rollerblading along the road
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Joined
8/9/13
Messages
4,015
Location
San Diego
I see Nature's Bounty, but not 'Valley' on Amazon
 

Rain Bow

Rollerblading along the road
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
5/3/17
Messages
4,727
I bought Nature's Answer per my vet @ the time. She mentioned what ever brand I did buy to make absolutely sure it was alcohol free...
 

Mockinbirdiva

Cruising the avenue
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
11/20/09
Messages
11,338
Location
South Carolina
Real Name
Andrea
Are you giving it as a preventative or because they need it?
 
Top