Aflatoxicosis

[Myzomela]

The liver can regenerate, but what tends to happen with aflatoxins is that the liver damage is too extensive and the liver fails.
Milk thistle, dandelion root and other naturopathic liver protectants are controversial at best & cannot reverse damage already done to the liver.
They are also very bitter to taste and unless you give them direct to the bird's beak/crop you've got little chance of getting them to drink it in water or eat any food in which it is mixed.

What Monotwine is doing is the best approach. Clean everything out in the aviary and in particular check the food sources. Even seed that smells ok can still carry aflatoxins. None of us know what happens to our seed from the time it is harvested to the time we buy the bag. Not all seed merchants store their seed properly, or can effectively protect them from rodents and weevils.
Store all seed properly- keep it dry & cool.

By the way- you don't feed stale ( mouldy) bread to the birds do you? ( Sorry, but I had to ask!)

[jusdeb]

It was just food for thought .
Sometimes the giving of an alternative treatment can be equally beneficial for the bird and the owner , it makes the owner feel that they are doing all they can to help the birds and milk thistle straight from the ground is loved by most birds and certainly isn't going to hurt them.

[finchbreeder]

And most finches love milk thistle straight from the ground and will eat it without the slightest hesitation. So easy to do and can't hurt.
LML

[monotwine]

Thanks all for the suggestions and links.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone have a picture of milk thistle? we have quite a few plants here that run by a similar name.

By the way- you don't feed stale ( mouldy) bread to the birds do you? ( Sorry, but I had to ask!)

Thanks Myzomela, appreciate your opinion. To answer your question - NO I don't ever, don't actually feed bread in general either. I have an approach of "If I would not eat it myself, then I would not give it to the birds either". Held me in good stead thus far... perhaps I should start tasting their batches of seeds!

And yes unfortunately these birds have no chance their livers will regenerate. Not all show signs currently. So there is some hope.
Put one of my oldest birds down this weekend to save it the extended agony of dying of liver failure. Poor girl.

[jusdeb]

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=milk+ ... =mode_link" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[monotwine]

Thanks deb I am being daft I could have googled too. We do get those very rarely. Seen some about, but not from sources I would be comfortable picking from.

[Myzomela]

I agree re feeding fresh milk thistle (& dandelion)- both great foods Deb.

My comments were directed more at the supplements you can buy derived from these plants. I have used them myself for some birds. I just didn't want people to get the idea that they are a cure-all for all liver disease.

[Diane]

Good information, my searching was for seeds that I could grow myself. I dont like the thought of picking milk thistle from anywhere, apart from it looking really spiky Im always worried that its been sprayed, so I would rather get seeds and grow it my self, none of this powered stuff.

[jusdeb]

I cant find seeds on line anywhere . Looks like Im going to have to jump a fence and shake some seeds from the plant ...Hoping all the time other half feels sorry for me and jumps the fence for me

[Diane]

Got the wheatgrass seeds but not milk thistle at the healthfood shop, just got to see if they sprout now. If they do it will be like a Boost Juice bar for the Birds at my place.