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bkmaurer
Bappie
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 50
Location: Illinois |
| Willow~ the birds aspirin |
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I found this article in the Parrotlet Handbook, but it applies to all birds.
The best treats of all for birds are small, 2.5 inch willow branches. The birds like to play with them, nibble at the bark, pull off strips and eat small pieces. It is the birds' aspirin. Like human aspirin, willow has an active ingredient called salicin. People have used willow leaves and bark to relieve pain and inflammation at least since the time of the third-century-B.C. Greek physician Hippocrates. They use the bark for nest construction. I, myself was told that blackmasked lovebirds love to build their nests with it. I found this to be true. They shred it, and totally enjoy willow branches and leaves. It seems that salicin interferes with the production of prostaglandins, hormones made by the body in response to injury. Willow branches like aspirin, seem to reduce the pain and swelling caused by prostaglandins, among other things.
My birds love it. They go right to it and start shredding it. They spend hours manipulating the branches. |
Monday January 30, 2006 5:26 am |
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Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
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| Re: Willow~ the birds aspirin |
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Thanks for posting this article! I had heard something like this about willow but I never got the whole story. Thanks again! |
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Monday January 30, 2006 9:14 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
Oh wow, that's cool. I'll have to look more into it!!  Thanks for posting that. |
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Monday January 30, 2006 11:02 am |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
I wish I could find a willow tree around here, but I do have a weeping pussy willow, I wonder if that would be good? |
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Monday January 30, 2006 12:54 pm |
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bkmaurer
Bappie
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 50
Location: Illinois |
weeping willow, the kind where the branches hang down, but now the pussy willow. |
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Monday January 30, 2006 5:20 pm |
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shells picasso
Flier
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 900
Location: Sydney |
Oh, where do I get some willow branches? It would be great for Picassos beak and feather symptoms, he's got lots of pin feathers and is a bit sore. |
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Monday January 30, 2006 7:51 pm |
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Fluffy Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10063
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Oh Shells, you live in Aus, I am not sure if you have willow? We have plenty over here!  If I could only SEND it!! |
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Monday January 30, 2006 11:19 pm |
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danabird
Flier
Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 971
Location: Northwest Fla |
This reminds me of when my husband and I showed rabbits. We had a 100 hole rabbit barn and traveled all over showing rabbits (Gold & Lynx Palominos & Mini Lops) When ever our rabbits got to feeling poorly we gave them weeping willow branches. We never gave them any other type of medicine, never needed anyhting else.
Weeping willows can be bought at the nurserys here in Florida but I don't know about other places.  One thing keep them away from water sources like your septic tanks and drain fields cause their roots go to the water and can really damage some pipes.  We had a great tree out by our rabbit barn until a storm came and took it down, never have another like that one  dana |
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Sunday March 26, 2006 7:14 am |
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shells picasso
Flier
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 900
Location: Sydney |
I found willow as a herbal medicine dried in bags on e-bay, is that the same stuff? |
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Sunday March 26, 2006 2:38 pm |
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danabird
Flier
Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 971
Location: Northwest Fla |
I sure don't know all I know is that we had a big weeping willow tree and we just broke the branckes off and gave them a limb with leaves and all . It may be the same thing  |
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Sunday March 26, 2006 4:58 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
OK, can someone tell me what this tree look like close up? Even better if someone has a picture of the leave or something?? Thanks..  I know what it looks like from far away.. |
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Sunday March 26, 2006 6:10 pm |
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Yupra
Flying tumbler
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 2206
Location: CA |
What an interesting fact! Thanks for sharing |
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Sunday March 26, 2006 9:56 pm |
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danabird
Flier
Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 971
Location: Northwest Fla |
Check this out for the Weeping Willow Trees
www.fast-growing-trees.com/weeping willow
dana |
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Monday March 27, 2006 6:06 am |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
Dana, for some reason that link isn't working, but I think this is the link you meant?
http://www.fast-growing-trees......Willow.htm
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Monday March 27, 2006 12:43 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
Thanks for that. I have searched on the net, but I can't seems to find a close up of what the leaves look like.. |
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Monday March 27, 2006 2:35 pm |
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