Is Flax Oil Safe for Cockatiels?

Flax Oil

• Flax oil is the oil extracted from flax seeds, harvested from the plant Linum usitatissimum. Flax oil is a popular ingredient in cooking, and it serves as a supplement for combating or preventing a variety of health conditions, including high cholesterol, atherosclerosis and other heart problems along with high blood pressure, diabetes and others. Because it contains inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids, flax oil helps fight off a number of inflammatory conditions.

Fatty Acid Balance

• Seeds and their oils are generally safe ingredients routinely incorporated into birds' diets; however, most contain little or no omega-3. Flax is an exception; it can offer health benefits and balance fatty acid ratios. For example, too much omega-6 -- found in some meats, nuts and vegetable oils -- and too little omega-3 can lead to skin problems, and dry hair and feathers. If a cockatiel is picking his feathers, for example, it could be due to essential fatty acid imbalance.

Rotating With Other Oils

• Flax oil is one of the many healthy oils considered safe and beneficial for pets, including cockatiels. C.J. Puotinen, pet health author, recommends rotating flax oil with other beneficial oils like borage, evening primrose, olive and cod liver. Rotating flax oil with other oils will help promote a balanced diet and increase nutrient intake. Using flax oil as just one of many healthy oils allows you to get a sense of which ones your cockatiel prefers.

Handling and Serving

• Flax oil is delicate; it can become rancid. Refrigerating helps keep it fresh, but you should serve fresh flax oil every time. Adding new foods like flax oil gradually allows a cockatiel to get used to the change and lets you monitor him for any problems. Try drizzling a bit over a small piece of favorite food. Avoid over-coating seeds, which may cause a bird's beak to become greasy and lead to to greasy feathers and over-preening.