Silicon: Feather Destroyers & General Benefits for all Living Creatures

“Silica” is the most common name for “Silicon.” Silica is the second most prevalent mineral in most living bodies. It makes sense that foods containing silica are essential to the body.

Silica is present in nearly all body tissue, including bone. ... It also prevents deterioration of connective tissue like collagen, which is vital for bones' tensile strength. Silica has the unique ability to “make the most” of available calcium, almost amplifying its effects in building bone.

Silica is an important component in the overall health of skin, bones, connective tissue, feathers, talons, and beaks. For humans, silica is just as important for the health of skin, hair, bones, connective tissue, hair, fingernails, and toenails.

It’s always better to feed foods containing essential nutrients rather than using synthetic, chemically produced nutrients. “Whole food” molecules, from real food work together in support of each other. Synthetic, chemically manufactured nutrients are isolated molecules. Most natural health consultants agree that synthetic molecules do not get absorbed by a living body as well as naturally occurring nutrients found in food. Synthetic chemicals consist of isolated molecules and therefore do not properly supply all nutrients required to work synergistically, complementing each other. Food naturally containing silica is the best form of this vital mineral.

Foods containing naturally occurring silica are:

• Alfalfa– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Brown Basmati Rice - Sprouted
• Bell Peppers– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Cherries– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Organic Corn
• Cucumbers – may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Dandelion– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Legumes - Sprouted
• Figs– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Honey– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Kelp– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Root vegetables such as beets, carrots, sweet potatoes– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Ginger– may antagonize feather destruction due to naturally occurring histamines & salic acid.
• Pumpkin

Silica is necessary for:

• Calcium absorption
• Skin suppleness
• Connective Tissue
• Bones
• Feathers
• Talons
• Beaks

Feather Destroyers:

Silica in the diet, combined in a balanced ratio with all other nutrients, is vital for feather destroyers. If your bird has dry skin, skin eruptions, an excessively flakey or cracking beak (some flaking/peeling is normal during growth spurts), Flakey or cracking talons, dry and brittle feather shafts, dry feathers or feathers that appear “raggedy (barbs are separated).” “Each barb is a feather within a feather with a little shaft and little barbs of its own called barbules. Barbules are mini-barbs that grow from the central shaft of each barb.  The barbules on one side of the shaft are smooth.  Those on the other side have tiny little hooks called barbicels that grab the smooth barbules that lie next to it.  When properly preened, the barbicels all hook up to their nearby barbules, and the feather vane is smooth.” 1

Photo courtesy of Birds Outside My Window

Also, if you suspect your bird may have arthritis or some other kind of connective tissue, bone, or joint problem, it may partially be a lack of silica in the diet.

Feather destroyers engage in this kind of “self-mutilation” for many, many reasons – too many to list in this one article. One of the most important reasons is unhealthy gut flora and an overall unbalanced diet.

After decades of studying, researching, and formulating diets for feather destroyers I have come to understand some of the “roots” of the problem rather than focusing on “habitual behaviors.” Many may incorrectly think that feather destruction is nothing more than a habit, which insinuates a “behavioral problem” that needs correction by training. It’s important to remember that any “behavioral problem” usually stems from both diet and environment.

Feeding a diet formulated specifically for feather destroyers is essential to the reduction or elimination of feather destruction. This kind of diet aids in the detox of the entire bodily system and flushes out unhealthy gut flora while supplying the body with the essential nutrients most feather destroyers are lacking.

Copyright 10.19.19 Machelle Pacion – TheBestBirdFood.com – All Rights Reserved

Ref:

1. Potential Health Benefits of Silica
2. Use of Silica for Skin and Hair Care
3. Absorption of Silica from Different Foods