I know I've spoke with a few of you on the Rescue Remedy before. Please feel free to chime in again, I would appreciate it.

I was at the health food store yesterday picking up some things and decided to ask them about the Recue Remedy. I asked them if they carried it. They did. They had both the liquid and the cream. I was asking for my ekkie, Molly. She was pretty plucked when she was surrendered to the clinic almost 2 years ago. The clinic had her for a year and she no longer plucked. I've had her home with me permanently for a month June 10th. She started plucking around her neck a little last fall. Within the past month I've noticed a small bare spot on her chest. She is molting right now too, and I'm keeping that in mind.

When I first brought her home I took pictures of her chest, and again last fall when she started plucking so I could keep records on how bad and what times. Well, I don't know if it's getting worse or not. I took her into the clinic last week and they said they thought she was looking better. I think she's looking worse but I see her every day.

Anyway, I'm considering two different things here. Well more than that. I'm focusing more on specialty toys just for her, getting her a larger cage and am considering trying the cammomile (sp?) tea, the Avi Calm, or the Rescue Remedy. What I have heard in the past about the Rescue Remedy is the alcohol that is in it. I asked the nutritionists yesterday and they said to add it to a cup of really hot water and that the hot water will evaporate the alcohol. Any opinions on this?

I was told by a friend yesterday too, to start with the cammomile tea. Opinions? I want to nip this thing in the bud before it becomes habitual and I think Molly's on the verge of becoming habitual. These are my observations of Molly only.

I'll step back and listen to your comments. Thanks in advance.

The alcohol content in the Bach Flower essences is very small, and you only dose the bird with one or two drops- either orally, or even massage the feet and beak area with the essence. I looked into using bach flower remedies with my fids, and found others in my birdclub who use them. From research I have done, I found them to be safe. Your bird would be ingesting little to no alcohol.

Rescue Remedy is one of 38 flower essences available. It is one of the most widely known, and popular. As its name indicates, it is used in a time of stress. It is a blend of essences that have a calming effect on the animal.

Bach flower essences have been known to have a great effect when used on horses that have been abused, as part of their therapeutic healing.

Each of the 38 essences targets a different feeling/emotion. If you can determine what you feel is causing your bird to pluck, perhaps picking a different essence (you can mix them too) and starting her on that would be more beneficial.

The 38 Bach Flower Essences

I too have looked into using this on Ruby when she was as naked as a rotisserie chicken several years ago but after having researched it myself I have come to the conclusion (and this is only my personal opinion) that it's ... for lack of a better word, Hooey.
Even diluted, I would not give my birds any form of alcohol.

Bach flower remedies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have also gone the route of Haloperidol with Ruby and regret it to this day, it stole her soul.

I often use essences. I like them because you can rub a drop or two right on the beak or foot. You can mix 6 different essences at one time, but for better effect it's recommended to keep it to 3 or 4 different ones. If you're concerned about alcohol, you can use the WHOLE ENERGY ESSENCES;
WHOLE ENERGY Flower Essences
Flower Essences - Full List

I have a rescue friend who is also an herbalist born and raised in Central America. She knows her stuff and I always believe her. Unfortunately in this case I forget what she said about the Chamomile but it was a no ....I'll go find out why.

For this problem especially an Ekkie I'd start with the total basics. Using distilled water only for baths, total diet change of LOW PROTEIN and high veggies and greens. The fact that she's molting now tells me she gets alot of protein because it's breeding season not molting season. Sorry for everyone who's sick of hearing me say this LOL.

Ekkies are notorious for "poor diet" in the wild. They don't tolerate high proteins well or things like pellets. So I'd drop the pellets if she's getting any and any other artificial ingredients like man made vitamins (for now).

And I wouldnt use any stuff like Jiffy mix, only live foods like veggies, dark leafy greens, some grains, fruit, a few sprouts and soak seed. And some high quality seed but not a ton. Organic if possible.

If it's the chest like that it might be nervousness from her schedule and being in hyper drive with proteins and breeding season combined. I notice my hen goes for that spot too when certain things happen. Like when she's in overdrive being around her budgie love whom she is not allowed to be with.

I'd make sure she's getting a full natural daylight schedule sleeping at dusk and waking at dawn with no artificial lighting after 3. I'd only use the FS lighting sparingly and would use two florescent tubes CRI over 94 as cited in Patrick Thrush's research. In a shop fixture 2-4 feet away with reflectors and electronic ballast. Actually if it were me I wouldnt use that either I'd just take her out in the sunlight for at least 20-30 minutes three times a week.

I'd eliminate all nuts and especially peanuts.

THEN I'd go read Laurella Desborough really really well. If you google her she'll come up and her site is very helpful. I consider her THE Ekkie expert. I'll PM you another link too. She says it's ok to clip if necessary but her TRUE feelings are never clip any bird especially an Ekkie. But because she is also a breeder she is diplomatic on her own site.

I'm never in favor of medicating anybody with this stuff unless the bird has been totally evaluated by a true expert and is under the care of a homeopathic vet also trained in traditional meds...and even then only if her life is in danger from self mutilation. For me it's masking the true problem and actually drugging the mind state of the bird versus fixing the issue. And WORSE there can be too many allergies.

When I owned my petshop there were more products that caused problems than solved them especially in the "natural" realm. Example Missing Link. What a nightmare for an allergic animal.

Even FLAX is now cited as being very allergic to animals and I know alot of them who were totally debilitated from any flax. Alot of pain and craziness. So if you're giving oils of any kind or seeds like flaxseed I'd be very careful too.

I'd do an "elimination diet/lifestyle" before adding another variable to the mix, in other words.

OH and I wouldnt EVER spray her with any stuff. Not even aloe. Not only for natural skin purposes but they can inhale the spray and aspirate it. Just bathe her in coldish distilled water. And let her dry herself.

Hope this helps.

p.s and of course rule out low humidity, problems from humidifiers or air cleaner problems and drinking water. I use distilled with a short rotation of spring water every month.

In regards to Chamomile, wasn't it Patsnest who's bird had a very bad reaction to that? Certainly not typical I guess, but something to keep in mind.

i won't be commenting much on the flower remedies in general; mainly because we were once approached to do the documentation and verification for FDA approval on the production which was absolutely impossible (since we couldn't even detect our "essences" quantitatively) and i tend to follow the belief that any effects are rather random....

anyways...
the water would have to be about 80 degC for this to work, since that would be slightly above the boiling point of ethanol (if it's not mixed in ethanol - do not touch). in order to speed it up, you can stir with a spoon.
a word of caution on this (little chem-talk) - if the essences are mixed into alcohol, they might not be absolutely soluble in water (though it's likely), so you might see a little bit of "clumping" or droplet formation which would be pretty normal

hope this helps

Sorry, I can't remember now about the Chamomile and I know alot of people use it. But it's a sedative so I would pass. I think the issue with it was more a concern about mycotoxins. But I'll ask my friend directly next time I talk to her.

i took reflexology yrs ago. bach flower essences do work. as with escential oils.one very important thing to remember that we all have an energy field. and medrains. i have seen how well these 2 have worked. only e.oils can break the brain blood barrier. not even medicines can do that. here is a book that is really useful. BACH FLOWER MASSAGE by DANIELE LO RITO,M.D. beside bach flower is the original . and the e.oils that are close to 100% are young living and nature's sunshine. they have no additives in them. Nature's Sunshine :: The world leader in herbs and health supplements and Young Living