Diet                             

Therapeutic Supplements 

Instant Ounces

As an extremely satisfied user of Instant Ounces for about 6 years now, I thought I'd share with you some of the things I use it for:

- I add a little of it to filtered water and give it to weak or
sick newly hatched chicks, and chicks that have been incubator
hatched. It provides digestive enzymes, probiotics, and energy
to strengthen them. Just two days ago I saved the second (and
last :-( ) of my grand champion cockatiel's chicks with it after
it, like the first, hatched too weak to give a feeding response.
After a few hours of getting I.O. every hour, he was strong
enough to go under a foster hen and be fed by her.

- I mix it with juice or applesauce and force feed it to sick
birds that aren't eating. It's high energy and (according to
the label) complete nutrition. Sick birds that are eating some
can have it sprinkled on their food.

- Again mixed with water, it can sustain a bird that's getting
no other nutrition due to severe illness. Instant Ounces alone
(in water) kept a 2-week old baby quaker alive for 3 days while
it was so sick that nothing else would move through the crop.
He was literally in crop stasis and only water (with a little I.O.)
would go through him.

-After illness or stress, I.O. added to formula helps young birds
gain weight and recover more quickly. During weaning, it
helps them to retain weight in spite of eating less.

-After antibiotic treatment, I.O. replaces flora and provides
digestive enzymes to help the digestive system recover.

-After a bird has had a crop or digestive problem (infection,
etc.) I.O. added to the h.f. formula a few minutes before
serving seems to partially "pre-digest" the formula and make it
easier for the bird to move and digest.

- I.O. added to hand-feeding formula helps "runt" birds, or
birds that are behind developmentally due to illness, gain
weight and "catch up" faster

Heike

Am I being silly?  Too careful?  Too conservative?  When I managed a health food store once upon a time, I came to realize that, if fructose was "better" for you than sucrose, it was only slightly so.

I'm grateful to have the chance now to clarify my thoughts about the possible benefits of using the product.

Pamela Clark

The manufacturer does not recommend using it as a daily formula or for healthy birds. According to a post he sent to another list, it was originally used as a nutrient restorative for raptors brought into wildlife rehab centers. For that purpose and for the purpose of getting quick nutrients into other ailing critters, it does a commendable job.

It can be damaging if used ongoing, though, so don't anyone even think of using it as a substitute for formula. That is not the intent or purpose of Instant Ounces. It is a tool for therapy only.

gloria

I.O.  was originally formulated in the early 1980's for people rehabilitating injured and sick birds, mostly birds of prey.
By far the greatest number of these birds were trauma cases (hit by cars, electrocuted, leg trap injuries, gunshots, etc.).  These poor birds were in terrible shape.  Most had not eaten for days, suffering from tremendous weight and blood loss, (anemic) as well as various bacterial infections and the like.  We needed a product that would serve numerous functions: a) provide immediate hydration and nutrition, b) help stabilize these birds
and make them feel comfortable, c) provide added nutrition to rebuild damaged muscles, tissues and lost blood supplies, d) help the birds regain their appetite and facilitate their ultimate release.  There were many 'tricks' we used in combining various ingredients for I.O. formula.  Simple and complex sugars, high quality (not high levels) of protein, plus additional amino
acids (sometimes I think I am the only one in the world who cares, or knows about P.E.R. of protein), niacin and niacinimide,  digestive enzymes and more were all employed.  The product worked better than anyone had imagined.
In a nutshell, veterinarians and rehabers alike responded saying 'they were now saving many birds that would not have lived in the past simply by the addition of I.O. along with their normal care'.
 
People began trying I.O. as an addition to their hand feeding
formulas and calling for more.  We started fine tuning I.O. as a supplement to hand feeding formulas simply out of demand.  Remember in the early 1980's everyone was making their own hand feeding food from many 'secret' recipes. Ingredients varied from human baby food, primate biscuits, dog foods, vegetables, fruits, seeds, oils, peanut butter and more.  Each was 'unique' and  most did a poor job at best.  When I.O. was added to these foods, interesting things began to happen: stress marks in feathers reduced or vanished, babies slept through to their next feeding instead of crying to be fed, weight gains were consistent and improved, development and feathering were also enhanced.  The same is true with today's formulas, the addition of I.O. makes any formula better.

We are not saying is corrects or counteracts any problems found within these formulas.  Now, as to why the iron levels are increased in this supplement should be fairly obviously.  Any injured animal, particularly a trauma case, requires additional amounts of iron for the formation of new blood cells.  Also extremely fast growing neonates (as in the case of our parrots) also have additional requirements for iron.

Please note: Instant Ounces is not meant to be fed as a sole source of food for extended periods of time.  This is not a daily diet, only a supplement. Under these conditions, increased iron levels are needed!  Instant Ounces is prescribed, administered and sold by many of the top avian veterinarians
in the U.S. and abroad!
 
Onto the Zinc question. Current zinc testing is highly suspicious.  Split blood samples from the same bird have been submitted on various occasions for testing.  Unfortunately, the results
do not correlate.  Some are reported with high levels, while identical samples are well within 'normal ranges(?)'.  Lengthy treatments with chelating agents (for periods of months) show no improvements with zinc levels all over the place.  It would appear current zinc testing may be bogus.  Only one veterinarian has claimed to correct all feather plucking 'caused(?) by
zinc'.
 
Virtually no other veterinarian has been able to duplicate these
claims!  I know of no competent veterinarian that has been able to correct a single case of feather plucking supposedly caused by zinc consumption. Why is the zinc contained in I.O.?  As you have stated, zinc is ubiquitous (found in many foods) as is also the case of iron.  Zinc is useful in many of the body's functions and is essential for life.  One of the many overlooked aspects of zinc is the mineral's ability to make us feel good. Birds, whether hand feeding babies, sick or injured, will all do better if they feel better.  They can better handle the stress of growing, recovering from injury, dealing with antibiotics or their neurotic humans
counterparts.
 
We need to stop and take into consideration how little I.O. is fed to birds under the preceding situations and realize we are not causing any long-term harm.  Iron is not so easily absorbed and anyone who thinks 100% of the iron in the diet is retained in our birds is greatly mistaken.  Many foods are antagonists toward iron, particularly prepared foods and dairy products.

The point I am trying to make here is that I am not in favor
of high levels of any nutrients in the diets of our birds, but there are definitely times in the lives of our birds when higher than normal levels of certain nutrients are beneficial.  I'm sure you would agree of the benefits of antibiotics, but would never advocate their use over extended periods of time!
 
In answer to your question of lowering these levels of iron and
zinc, we are not opposed to it.  But before considering any changes we must evaluate what levels should  be maintained to be beneficial.  In reality, anything in our environment can be lethal in large enough doses and conversely, regardless how deadly, all elements (including heavy metals) in our
environment are also beneficial in small amounts!
 
As I have offered before and continue to offer,  is invited to call our office with any questions regarding avian nutrition, health, breeding, etc.  FYI: We have been in the bird business since the early 1970's as: avian researcher, bird owner, breeder, broker, importer, exporter, egg incubation, hand feeder, rehabilitate,
fund raiser, lecturer, consultant to: aviaries, laboratories, veterinarians, governments and more.

If you take the time to learn a little about us you would find we are: a) ethical, b) caring, c) accessible, d) resourceful and perhaps most shocking of all e) educated and currently informed.

Please do not misinterpret these statements.  They are not made to impress you, simply to show that we are not the 'typical manufacturer' you are used to dealing with.  Only through education and sharing of information and ideas can all our birds benefit. !

Sincerely
Ernie Colaizzi
Phoenix Unlimited