The spring and summer of 2024 led me down an unexpected path – one that has brought joy and enrichment not only to my own parrots but also to those of my clients and students. It all began during a conversation with my group of apprentices, the Parrot Steward Consulting Collective….

We were studying olfaction, the sense of smell, in parrots. A notable study titled “Onto the sense of smell in macaws, amazons and toucans: can they use volatile cues of fruits to make foraging decisions?” investigated the olfactory abilities of these bird species (1). The researchers found that these birds could detect and respond to volatile compounds emitted by fruits, indicating that olfaction plays a role in their foraging behavior. This suggests that parrots can use their sense of smell to locate food sources in their environment.

Additionally, broader research into avian olfactory systems has demonstrated that birds, including parrots, have a more developed sense of smell than previously recognized. For instance, studies have shown that birds possess olfactory receptor genes and that the size of their olfactory bulbs correlates with their reliance on the sense of smell. These findings underscore the importance of olfaction in various avian behaviors, such as foraging, navigation, and social interactions (2).

During that meeting, Green-cheeked conure expert, Rei Rosenquist, was describing the joy her parrots get from mixes of dried leaves and flowers that she combines for them after ordering from online companies like Mountain Rose Herbs and San Francisco Herb Company.

That conversation stuck with me and one day, browsing in Walmart’s pet section, I found the Rosewood Naturals Nature’s Salad. Created for small mammals like rabbits, it’s a deliciously aromatic mix of dried stems, edible flowers, and leaves. Examples of ingredients include cornflower, dandelion, lemon balm, peppermint edible leaves and stems, and rose petals. I bought a package wondering how my parrots would react.

I provided it to my three African Greys in a dog bowl, layering it about three inches deep with a scattering of shelled sunflower seeds hidden throughout. A dried mix like this is perfect for hiding small seeds and nuts. Instead of falling to the bottom of the bowl they stay suspended in the mix, making the foraging more challenging and time consuming.

I didn’t expect much acceptance at first. Almost all adult parrots are neophobic (afraid of new things). However, mine didn’t waste any time. They went to the bowl immediately to rummage through the mix. Further, not only did they eat the hidden treats but they ate a good quantity of the mix itself, which I found fascinating. Why did they accept it immediately when they are afraid of other new enrichment? Why would they eat it?

My working theory is that this type of foraging—digging through dried leaves, petals, and stems to uncover food—is instinctual. In the wild, plant debris gathers in the crooks of branches and on the forest floor. These piles naturally attract insects and small bits of food, encouraging birds to rummage. This may explain why even neophobic parrots engage so readily with this form of enrichment

My Gardening Efforts

Because my parrots enjoyed this type of foraging so much, the next logical step was to begin making a similar mix myself. As an avid gardener, I was delighted to realize that many of the dried flowers found in the Rosewood Naturals blend—calendula, cornflower, hibiscus, roses, pansies, and others—are easy-to-grow annuals.

With this inspiration, last year in pots on my front deck, I grew lavender, rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, hibiscus, roses, and violas. In a narrow strip running down the side of the red barn, I cleared out a three-foot area for planting. There I had cornflower, calendulas, sage, spearmint, and some other flowers and vegetables. This was not difficult. I simply got “starts” (small plants ready to plant). This saves the hassle of planting seeds.

I am here to tell you that there is no such thing as a “brown thumb.” Gardening is simply another skill that can be learned. And, it’s a very easy skill to learn. If there is expressed interest in this topic, I will create a course that makes gardening and wild crafting easy to learn for all. Please contact me if this interest exists.

Wild Crafting for Parrots

I’m fortunate to live on a horse ranch in Indiana, surrounded by natural abundance. Much of the property is dedicated to alfalfa hay, with expansive meadows and a woodland edge that borders my small home. Everywhere I look, there’s green—wild herbs, flowering weeds, native shrubs, and mature trees—offering a wealth of opportunity for safe, natural foraging.

Thus, in addition to the herbs and flowers I can grow myself, I discovered the pleasure of wild crafting. Wild crafting, by definition, is “foraging or harvesting wild plants from their natural environment primarily for food or medicine.” By collecting plant materials from their natural environment, I am able to increase the variety in their diet and provide them with a natural enrichment activity.

With a degree in Ornamental Horticulture, I have strong plant identification skills, but I still take serious precautions. Whenever I head out to collect, I carry my phone equipped with the “Picture This” app. This excellent plant identification tool helps me confirm each species and avoid anything potentially irritating or toxic. It’s made the process of wild crafting both safe and deeply rewarding.

There are a wealth of books on the topic also. The first one I purchased was “How to Forage for Wild Food without Dying” by Ellen Zachos. She describes it as “An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Identifying 40 Edible Wild Plants.” A second book that goes a bit further and is a wonderful reference is “Backyard Medicine – Harvest and make your own herbal remedies” by Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal.

When I go out wild crafting, I am able to collect dandelion, day lilies, red clover, alfalfa, plantain, apple branches, cramp bark, hawthorn, wild roses, violets, raspberry, elderberry, self-heal, Canada Goldenrod, and more. All of the plants that I have listed in this article are safe for parrots to eat.

In the beginning, my interest was solely to safely identify wild edibles that I could dry for use in foraging mixes for my own parrots. However, I quickly learned that many of these edibles have medicinal value, which further peaked my interest.

Creating these mixes from my own garden and the surrounding land has been more than just a way to enrich my parrots’ lives—it’s reconnected me to the rhythms of the seasons and to the healing power of plants. With each basket of foraged leaves or homegrown petals, I’m reminded that the natural world offers far more than beauty; it offers nourishment, enrichment, and balance—for parrots and for people alike. (I have begun an avid study of herbalism.)

Drying Your Bounty

Parrots do enjoy interacting with fresh plant materials. My budgies currently feast on fresh chickweed flowers daily that I place in their very large water dish. Any of my greys will happily accept a dandelion flower for munching.

However, in order to preserve your fresh plant materials for a foraging mix or an herbal remedy, you will need a food dehydrator. This is the one that I purchased. It is a Magic Mill dehydrator with 7 stainless steel trays and two plastic ones for very small items. It allows me to set the time as well as the temperature for any specific load. It is perfect for home use if you just have a few parrots that you want to dry for.

The Potential for Treating Parrots with Herbalism

One thing has quickly lead to another. Identifying safe plants to dry for the foraging mix lead to knowledge of the healing power of many of these plants. As an example, cleavers is a weed that grows everywhere.

Cleavers is a wonderful lymphatic cleanser and spring tonic. One of the easiest ways to enjoy this is to place a bunch of freshly picked cleavers in a glass and fill with fresh water (3). Let sit for a few hours and then drink. What an easy way to promote our own and our parrots’ health! My own parrots are enjoying this at present, as am I.

There is no doubt in my mind that herbalism has a place in keeping parrots healthy and in treating their diseases. I hope that some avian veterinarians will read this and also begin to explore the vast potential for this. I have cured an upper respiratory infection in one of my greys using Canada Goldenrod tincture and Elderberry Syrup. I have also begun to make suggestions to clients who have hit a dead end in treating their parrots problems with conventional Western medicine when ill. One has a Green-winged Macaw with severe upper respiratory sensitivity. This is quite serious and necessitates frequent veterinary visits for oxygen therapy. I suggested the plant “nettle” which is known to help such symptoms. The owner reports much improvement. I will write more about herbalism and parrots in the future.

Easy Greens

Before I let you go however, let me tell you about a little fall and springtime trick for having fresh lettuce. Needed Materials – two saw horses, wood or wire screening for support, a bag of potting soil, and lettuce or other greens seeds. Instructions: (1) Place the saw horses such that the bag of potting soil will sit securely on them, spanning the two of them evenly. (2) Use 1×2 pieces of lumber or a piece of galvanized wire to span the saw horses and provide support for the bag of potting soil. (3) Lift the bag of soil and place across the saw horses. Cut an opening in the top of the bag of potting soil so that most of it is exposed but the sides still provide enough support that the soil won’t fall out. (4) Sprinkle seeds over the top and keep moist until germinated. This is a great way to grow greens right outside your front door, keeping them off the ground, away from slugs and snails. This method keeps the growing greens clean as well.

Resources

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364818495_Onto_the_sense_of_smell_in_macaws_amazons_and_toucans_can_they_use_volatile_cues_of_fruits_to_make_foraging_decisions
2. Balthazart J, Taziaux M. The underestimated role of olfaction in avian reproduction? Behav Brain Res. 2009 Jun 25;200(2):248-59. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.08.036. Epub 2008 Sep 2. PMID: 18804490; PMCID: PMC2692081
3. Bruton-Seal, Julie and Seal, Matthew. Backyard Medicine. Page 49. Skyhorse Publishing. 2020