Recently I did a post in the "Amazon Room" concerning apples and pectin, it raised concerns about what is really good for our birds and what really isn't. I feel after reading all the posts from all you distinguished readers that it should be brought to every ones attention, so all may comment and learn.
Question: Are apple seeds, avocados, chocolate, garlic etc safe or toxic for our birds? Should we feed any of these to our birds? :blink:
My personal feelings which are well known is that I will err on the side of caution.
The Forum is Open.
Jay
Post edited by: Jayd, at: 2010/02/06 01:51<br><br>Post edited by: Jayd, at: 2010/02/06 04:13
A Grey is a wild animal removed from the wild, bred to be companions. They are long removed from being able to take care of themselves but not so long as to forget at times they're still wild...so it's up to us to make sure we protect them. We're the reason they demand all this attention. We removed them from the wild. Jay
I eat the whole apple, seeds included, but I wouldn't think of giving them to my fid. After all, think of the difference in our sizes! :lol: I do not feed avocado or chocolate either.hmy: She has had lentils and other legumes that were cooked with garlic, but it hasn't been frequently.
Howardine is right, no avocado, chocolate or apple seeds, the garlic is ok just not the whole clove, if a food is seasoned with some garlic then that is ok.
We do have some threads that list the toxic foods that includes onions, mushrooms, any carbinated drinks, tea, coffee or salt.
Never take life seriously, no one gets out alive anyway!
Jay
Everyone's opinion is highly valued...
A Grey is a wild animal removed from the wild, bred to be companions. They are long removed from being able to take care of themselves but not so long as to forget at times they're still wild...so it's up to us to make sure we protect them. We're the reason they demand all this attention. We removed them from the wild. Jay
I had heard nothing about apple seeds and so have been letting Ziva tear into an apple and eat any portion she wants. No negative affects noted, but she has been so enamored with tearing the thing apart and spreading the resulting mash around the area that she has paid little attention to the seeds. If she has ingested more than one out of an entire apple being destroyed, I'd be surprised.
My Thoughts on this topic.
Should any of us, as responsible pet owners take a risk, even if it MAY be low in regards our much loved critters diets and over all health? Right off the bat, I want to state I will not take any risk with my pets health.
I only want to consider "Facts" and not "split hairs" at what level of gestation of a given item will kill your bird or other critter.
First - Everything I state below is relative to body weight and the "Dose" a given critter intakes. It is also relative to the different digestive systems of critters and their ability to actually open or chew a given item such as a small seed or LARGE pit.
Parrots have powerful beaks and when they encounter any seed or pit, their instinctive response of course is to crack it open to get to the meat inside.
Dogs - They just chop once and swallow, they do not thoroughly chew any food. So a seed will just go through it's system "Whole" come out the other end and POOF, they just completed the natural cycle of seed spreading. :-)
Humans, we do chew all our foods thoroughly and will grind those seeds and thus digest all contents of the seeds, releasing all the poisons into our system. However, do to our body weight, we would need to eat a HUGE quantity of poison seeds to become ill or die.
Seed containing fruits that your bird should never be given the seed or pit:
Apples - Cyanide poisoning.
Apricots - Cyanide poisoning.
Plums - Cyanide poisoning.
Peach - Cyanide poisoning.
Nectarine - Cyanide poisoning.
Cherry - Cyanide poisoning.
Citrus - Cyanide poisoning.
Avocado - Skin and pit definitely poisonous. The meat is highly debated... I chose NOT to allow any pet to eat it.
Veggies:
Onion - Contains a chemical named N-PROPYL DISULFIDE which denatures hemoglobin. This will DESTROY RED BLOOD CELLS. Eating onions can cause ANEMIA, JAUNDICE, and BLOODY URINE.
***Much of the information pertaining to ONIONS and the effect on red blood cells pertains to dogs. There is not conclusive evidence that it will do the same to blood cells in parrots. At this time it is suspected that ONIONS may be unsafe to feed to your parrot. Until more study has been done you should be aware that there MAY be a potential hazard in having your parrot eat onions.***
*** My bird does eat spaghetti etc. that has small amounts of onions, however while eating if I see him getting close to one, I remove it***
Garlic - Same issue as Onions.
*** I do allow my bird to eat meals prepared that have small quantities in them***
These are all proven facts in the veterinarian community online you can find.
The key is either a quantity of zero food items that contain any of the above, or moderation and careful tracking of the quantity you let your bird have in anything you know that could be detrimental to your birds health.
So this sums up my take on these items and and risks I am willing to take with a few of them.
Within all of us is a varying amount of space lint and star dust, the residue from our creation. Most are too busy to notice it, and it is stronger in some than others. It is strongest in those of us who fly and is responsible for an unconscious, subtle desire to slip into some wings and try for the elusive boundaries of our origin. ~K.O. Eckland, "Footprints On Clouds"
Dayo in flight....
Thank you Dan, and all of you. As Dan has stated "Proof" scientific proof is what is needed. What health benefits are received if we do feed our birds these questionable items and isn't it just plane safer not to feed them to our birds in the first place? Whats your feelings?:blink: Pro's, Con's? STEP-UP, the Soap box is open!!!!!
Thanks
Jay
A Grey is a wild animal removed from the wild, bred to be companions. They are long removed from being able to take care of themselves but not so long as to forget at times they're still wild...so it's up to us to make sure we protect them. We're the reason they demand all this attention. We removed them from the wild. Jay
I have to echo Dan's comments, I won't feed these foods listed above because it has been advised that they are toxic to my birds and I will err on the side of caution when it comes to their health.
Maybe there is no scientific evidence that states they are toxic but I am not going to take the chance, there are plenty of other foods they can enjoy so why risk it.
I also want to clarify my statements in the other thread in the Amazon room regarding foods and false information found on the internet at literally 100's of sites.
Many just list everything they "Think" is toxic. Sometimes it is not the actual item we feed, but the plant, tree etc. and their respective leaves, stalk or bark. It can also be due to where they grow and what is sprayed on them or possible bacterial contamination.
An example is Tomatoes. I have seen them listed as toxic on several sites. The tomato itself is not toxic, but the stem and leaves are.
Another example is grapes. Grapes are most the time sprayed with insecticides and sulfur to prevent mold. Some sites list Grapes as a poisonous food item. They are not, but care must be taken to thoroughly wash them to remove these poisonous toxins from the skin. This is also true of just about any produce you feed your bird. Always wash it thoroughly to remove any harmful residual poisonous chemicals or even worse ground grown items like strawberries, squash, cabbage etc. They can have very harmful bacteria on them that can kill or give you bird a serious bacterial infection.
I must also say, so called "Organic" food can be infected with Bacteria just as any other veggie and should never be offered until completely washed.
Within all of us is a varying amount of space lint and star dust, the residue from our creation. Most are too busy to notice it, and it is stronger in some than others. It is strongest in those of us who fly and is responsible for an unconscious, subtle desire to slip into some wings and try for the elusive boundaries of our origin. ~K.O. Eckland, "Footprints On Clouds"
A Grey is a wild animal removed from the wild, bred to be companions. They are long removed from being able to take care of themselves but not so long as to forget at times they're still wild...so it's up to us to make sure we protect them. We're the reason they demand all this attention. We removed them from the wild. Jay
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