Hummingbird with beak disease?
Doug Herr
"stuff" on the end of its beak. This covers about the front half of the
beak and it looks sort of like dirt buildup but that seems very
strange. It also looks like some sort of tissue build up. It is dark.
I have watched it with the binocs from pretty close up, but it is a bit
too quick to get a real good look.
Ideas?
--
Doug Herr dh...@hooked.net
http://www.hooked.net/~dherr
JJCardinal
I read in Dan True's book on hummers that hummers can grow tumors on in the
fringed edges of their tongues if they are exposed to a type of mold sometimes
found in honey--this is why experts tell us never to use anything but plain 'ol
table sugar to make hummer solution. Let's hope this is not the cause and that
someone if offering honey-laced hummer solution. I read that this can be
fatal. Do you have any wildlife rehabbers in your area?
Louise Dawson
Doug Herr
Our solution is the VitaRich Perky-Pet Brand instant Nectar, so I don't
think it was ours. If I notice other feeders in the area I will mention
this.
Anybody have the proper solution for using pure sugar? And, is this
better then the VitaRich stuff as it does list vitamins and minerals?
As to the rehabbers, we live in Oakland California so I would think
there should be something around here, but I am not familiar with them.
Liz Day
> Anybody have the proper solution for using pure sugar? And, is this
> better then the VitaRich stuff as it does list vitamins and minerals?
1 part sugar to 3-4 parts water by volume, heat to boiling and cool, I
refrigerate a small batch to refill feeders every day. Hummers get the
rest of their nutrition from bugs etc so only sugar water is necess.
Rinse and refill feeders every day in warm weather.
LD
Lanny Chambers
<ld...@iquest.net> wrote:
I'd recommend no stronger than 1:4 on a continuing basis (1:5 is OK, too).
Some new thinking suggests adding a pinch of potassium chloride ("lite" or
sodium-free salt) to the solution *IF* you use distilled or deionized
water, to replace trace electrolytes present in many flower nectars. This
is unnecessary with tapwater or well water, which contain minerals
already. The Perky-Pet mixes have not been scientifically tested for
safety in hummingbirds, and the company refuses to divulge the
"proprietary" ingredients (sounds like the cigarette industry, doesn't
it?). They are simply preying on your innocent and commendable desire to
spend good money on cute birdies--don't let them get away with it! Make
your own syrup.
--
---
Lanny Chambers (la...@derived.com) St. Louis, USA
Visit the Hummingbird Page: <http://www.derived.com/hummers/>
LeeAnne
I'm sure I won't be the only one to tell you this:
1 Part Sugar to 4 Parts Water. ie, a quarter cup of sugar for every cup of water.
The way I do it is to boil 2 quarts of water and add 2 cups of sugar once it's
boiling. The boiling supposedly helps the solution not to ferment as quickly. You
can fill your feeder(s) and store the rest in the fridge for a while. You should
change the solution in your feeder(s) every few days depending upon weather
conditions, heat, etc..
As for the vitamins, etc., I don't believe they need extra. They've been nursing
their young w/bugs all season and I'm sure they're getting all they need. You're
probably going to get blasted by a few people for using the PerkyPet kind w/the dye.
If your feeder has red on it, then you don't need the dye, they can spot the feeder
w/out it.
The best thing is just plain 'ole sugar water.
Good luck and don't get mad if you get yelled at (get even, ;-)
LeeAnne
Doug Herr wrote:
> JJCardinal wrote:
> >
> > Doug:
> > I read in Dan True's book on hummers that hummers can grow tumors on in the
> > fringed edges of their tongues if they are exposed to a type of mold sometimes
> > found in honey--this is why experts tell us never to use anything but plain 'ol
> > table sugar to make hummer solution. Let's hope this is not the cause and that
> > someone if offering honey-laced hummer solution. I read that this can be
> > fatal. Do you have any wildlife rehabbers in your area?
>
> Our solution is the VitaRich Perky-Pet Brand instant Nectar, so I don't
> think it was ours. If I notice other feeders in the area I will mention
> this.
>
> Anybody have the proper solution for using pure sugar? And, is this
> better then the VitaRich stuff as it does list vitamins and minerals?
>
Lanny Chambers
>Anybody have the proper solution for using pure sugar?
One part sugar to four parts water. No red dye, please--it's not necessary
and its effects on birds are unknown.
>And, is this
>better then the VitaRich stuff as it does list vitamins and minerals?
What should worry you are all the ingredients *not* listed. Perky-Pet is
not required by law to list ingredients of products not intended for human
consumption, so they don't. Preservatives? Who knows? BTW, they claim
their dye is "non-petroleum-based" and "FDA approved;" however, the FDA
*only* tests petroleum-based dyes--so, which lie are we supposed to
believe?
Hummingbirds get all the vitamins they need from the insects and spiders
that are about 50% of their diets. Normal tap or well water contains
sufficient mineral content to replace a bird's electrolytes, but if (and
only if) you use distilled or deionized water to make your syrup, you
might add a pinch of "lite" or sodium-free salt (potassium chloride).
Don't use table salt (sodium chloride).
PRossfox
Dextrose,, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative) & artificial food
coloring & flavorings. Pris
rk1hound how fun flies when you are doing time
ne IL zone5