Some health food stores carry herbs in bulk, I don't know where you can buy it locally. But as Bea wrote, Mountain Rose Herbs is an excellent supplier, as is Jeans Greens, which I tend to use because it's more local to me. These two companies are probably the best for mail order herbs.

Thank you Beatriz.

I will try to find the slippery elm, there has to be a place in Ann Arbor that sells herbs.

I have never fed them with a syringe. I have restrained him before (to wash a cut on his foot), but not handfed with a syringe.

I am at least thankful that it's early in the day and if he's not eating by this afternoon I can consult with my AV or take him in if needed. I'm hoping that maybe he'll eat a little and settle down more since I'm gone at work, my watching him like a hawk (but trying to pretend like I'm not watching him), was maybe making him nervous.

Yes, that predatory stare does not go well with little birds...best thing is to pretend to be watching something else (I sing while I do this because I always sing to them and it fools them into believing nothing out of the ordinary is happening -or maybe I am just fooling myself that I actually fool them but they are wise to me and just indulging me -LOL) and observe them out of the corner of your eye.

And if he's eating, slippery elm can be prepared as a gruel, or mixed into gloop or whatever you are preparing, and that will help lubricate his gastro-intestinal tract.

Thank you so much, Randi and Beatriz. I will try to find slippery elm at whole foods on my way home.

How is Winston doing?

Thanks for asking, Angie.

I got home around 1:00 pm. Everyone was quiet when I walked in, but I may have interrupted their afternoon nap. After about 10 minutes Jerry livened up and then Winston began to sing and talk with him - music to my ears! I was relieved to see him more active and acting more like himself.

He is eating. They've been out for about 2.5 hours so far and he seems well - he's playing with Jerry and he ate some rice and veggies.

I'm about to get some sprouts started for them.

That is great news Sarah!

Do you know what we call that kind of news, Sarah? Dancing banana news! Yay!

Yes, I'm relieved. He wasn't very active when I got home so I was a bit nervous. He didn't fly out of his cage right away, but Jerry soon went to visit and they did the poofy-headed-budgie-beaking through the cage for awhile

I've been watching his poops, and they're more watery (but I expected that), but still good separation. But obviously his diet has been off since last night so I think it'll be ok. At least stuff is moving through.

And I did go to Whole foods, got the organic decaf. Chamomile and organic wild flower honey, but did not see the slippery elm - but I was dumb and forgot to write down "ulmus fulva" - it could have been in front of me but I forgot that name and no one that I asked was able to help.