We often get enquiries asking us which sick bird product people should use. This can be very difficult to determine since we rarely actually know what is wrong with a bird. We are forced to guess what is the most likely problem and recommend accordingly.

Below is an article helping you to decide between Guardian Angel and Survive.
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Many people have Guardian Angel and Survive in their cupboard 'just in case' and need help deciding which to use.

In selecting which product to use there are two considerations

1. What is the greatest need of the bird?

2. What is the easiest way to administer the products?

1. The key issue is that Survive is an emergency food so it is used where 'starvation' is the greatest threat. It can make up to 100% of the diet in very sick birds. In these extreme conditions it is normally given by crop tube.

A bird will probably be getting somewhere around 5 - 10% of his food intake as Survive by adding it to fresh foods or sprinkling it onto pellets. It looks (from the response) as if this or even less is working very well. Survive has been upgraded and now contains everything that Guardian Angel contains except the probiotics. Basically we leave them out of this product so we do not conflict with any antibiotics a vet may want to use. So Survive works on the immune system and provides nutrients (energy, protein and vits/mins) that are easily absorbed even from a poorly functioning gut. Obviously if Survive is used at low levels the quantity of these 'extra' nutrients is quite small. It is the nature of the protein and energy that will really having an impact.

2. Guardian Angel is a 'health drink' though it can be used as you are on food as well. GA is most applicable where the bird is dehydrating. This may be caused by diarrhoea, heat stress etc. So the balance of the nutrients in this product are different from Survive (less energy, no protein and far more of the micro nutrients, digestive and immune support). GA contains slightly less immune and digestive support ingredients than Survive simply because we have made GA water soluble and some of these ingredients don't dissolve.

The issues to consider are this:

a. You can use as much Survive as you like - no risks

b. Don't overdo the Guardian Angel - too much will cause the bird to drink huge quantities of water. Adding it to water at the recommended dose is safer for very small birds - but see c. below.

c. There is a potential conflict between the probiotics in GA and antibiotics. Assuming the antibiotic is in the drinking water and the GA is on the food there is unlikely to be a problem with this.