Owners often use natural herbs in homeopathic treatments to keep pets healthy. One of the most commonly used plants is aloe vera, which offers budgies a range of health benefits.
Aloe vera treats skin conditions that cause irritation and predispose budgies to feather plucking. The leaves shouldn’t be eaten because they contain aloin, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation.
Aloe vera can be offered/used in different ways, including ingestion and application as a topical agent. Despite its health benefits, aloe vera should only small amounts should be used.
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is a short-stemmed succulent shrub from the genus, aloe.
The plant grows worldwide and has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Besides its application in herbal remedies, aloe vera is used in food supplements, cosmetics, and flavorings.
What Compounds Does Aloe Vera Contain?
Aloe Vera has more than 75 active components, providing various benefits to budgies. It contains vitamins, including vitamins A, C, and E.
In addition, these vitamins will benefit their immune systems, eyesight, and overall health. Poultry Science has suggested that aloe vera might contain compounds with antiviral properties in birds.
Aloe vera contains sugars such as fructose and glucose, which are a good energy source for budgies. Moreover, it has a high concentration of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
Benefits of Aloe Vera for Budgies
While aloe vera is toxic to cats and dogs, it has health benefits for budgies, including:
Soothing Agent for Skin
Aloe vera is well-known in the health and wellness industry for its ability to treat a range of skin problems.
A common ailment treated with aloe vera is itchy skin, especially the type which causes budgies to pluck their feathers excessively. This results in severe damage to the feathers and skin.
The topical application of aloe vera gel to the skin of a budgie can alleviate skin irritation and minimize feather plucking.
However, if the condition persists and you need to find a more effective remedy, orally administering aloe vera in liquid or solid form can heal the skin and prevent future flare-ups.
You can also spray the feathers with aloe vera liquid. This can be purchased or made at home by mixing 1 part aloe vera juice with 3 parts distilled water. Spray this on the affected area.
Treatment for Wounds
Aloe vera contains antibacterial ingredients that destroy microorganisms and keep wounds clean as your budgie recovers from skin infections. These include gibberellins, auxins, saponins, and salicylic acid.
So, the use of topical aloe vera to treat severe frostbite in parrots was highlighted by the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. The parrot under observation recovered completely within 5 months.
Scientists believe that the rapid recovery was supported by antibiotics, anti-inflammation medicine, and antifungal treatment, which were administered in addition to the aloe vera.
Nutritional Supplement
To benefit from aloe vera, your budgie doesn’t need to have pre-existing health or skin conditions. You can still give your budgie an aloe vera dietary supplement.
Including aloe vera in your budgie’s diet will provide it with the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes required to grow healthy and have a stronger immune system.
How To Give Aloe Vera to Budgies
Aloe vera can be administered in various ways, depending on the severity of the condition.
The plant can be consumed in liquid and solid form, which means you have some leeway in administering aloe vera to your budgie.
You may choose to mix it in with their regular food, provide it as an occasional snack, or offer it to your budgie as a beverage.
To do so, mix one part aloe vera juice with three parts water and put it in your budgie’s water bowl.
Can Budgies Eat Aloe Vera Leaves?
Budgies can’t eat aloe vera leaves due to the latex between the gel and the leaf.
High concentrations of aloin (barbaloin) are found in the latex section of aloe vera. This yellow and bitter sap is a hydroxyanthracene, which is a natural laxative and irritant. So, the ingestion of aloin, especially in high amounts, can cause mild gastrointestinal irritation.
While the symptoms may be minor at first, the intensity is likely to increase after regular or prolonged ingestion. Some of the common symptoms of aloin poisoning in budgies include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Can Budgies Eat Aloe Vera Gel?
Budgies can safely consume aloe vera gel as it doesn’t cause any adverse symptoms or side effects.
Consuming aloe vera gel provides budgies with various vitamins, enzymes, and minerals that strengthen their immune system. Moreover, aloe vera gel can be safely applied to budgie’s skin to alleviate irritation and treat skin infections.
The majority of aloe vera products are produced by crushing the entire leaf. Even though the herb is usually purified, some aloin content remains in the finished product.
For this reason, buying or growing aloe vera is the safest way to administer aloe vera to a budgie.
Is It Safe To Apply Aloe Vera To My Budgie’s Skin?
Aloe vera gel is safe to apply to a budgie’s skin.
As mentioned, budgies are prone to skin irritations, which can cause them to aggressively scratch their skin and pluck out their feathers. While these skin problems are often caused by bacterial and fungal infections, skin irritation may also occur during molting.
If your budgie is experiencing such skin conditions, applying aloe vera gel to its skin can alleviate the irritation and minimize scratching and feather plucking.
However, if this fails to work and you require a more potent treatment, orally administering aloe vera either in solid or gel form can help to reduce skin irritation.
Aloe Vera Spray for Budgies
Aloe vera spray is a commonly prescribed treatment for dry skin in budgies.
Only use homemade aloe vera sprays because store-bought variants often include oils that clog the budgie’s skin pores and trigger severe skin infections.
Homemade aloe vera sprays for budgies are easy to prepare.
To do so, scoop out aloe vera gel from a fresh aloe vera plant and mix it with distilled water in a ratio of 1:3 (1 part aloe vera for every 3 parts of water).
Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle and douse your budgie’s feathers 2-3 times a day.
