Foods you shouldn't be feeding
Below is a list of
foods and drinks your bird should not eat:
1.) Alcohol: There's
NOTHING funny about getting your bird drunk, it's cruel, unnecessary,
and harmful to a creature that looks to you to provide for him and keep
him safe. In addition to it just being stupid, birds' livers can't
metabolize alcohol, so there's a good chance you'll kill the little guy
if you think it'd be "funny" to see him Tipsy!!
2.) Avocado: Most
often feeding this to a bird is fatal.
3.) Caffeine: Coffee
beans, grounds or coffee, tea and soda. Caffeine can cause cardiac
distress, hyperactivity and possible cardiac arrest.
4.) Soda: Never feed
your bird any kind soda, tea, milk or juices that are not 100% juice.
4.) Chocolate:
Chocolate will induce vomiting and diarrhea in a bird, but more
importantly, it will affect the central nervous system and eventually
cause death.
5.) Dried beans: Uncooked beans can be a choking hazard but
they also contain a toxin called hemaglutin.
6.) Fruit seeds: The
seeds from apples, cherries, peaches, apricots and pears can contain
trace amounts of cyanide.
7.) Mushrooms: Mushrooms are a type of fungus
and can cause digestive upset and even liver failure. There is also the
risk of an allergic reaction.
8.) Onions, garlic and chives: Very small
amounts are ok, but excessive consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea
and other digestive problems.
9.) Salt: Too much sodium can eventually result
in death due to dehydration and liver malfunction. Never give your bird
any kind of salt and be careful of feeding table foods that are high in
salt or that you have added salt to.
10.) Tomato Leaves: Do
not feed Stems, leaves and vines of a tomato plant.
11.) Raw Cabbage:
Cooked cabbage is ok in small amounts.
12.) Eggplant: Do not
feed any part of a Eggplant.
13.) Potato: Do not feed any part of a potato
that is green.
14.) Rhubarb: Do not feed the leaf blade of
Rhubarb
Things that should only be feed in moderation:
1.) Grapes: In the
past few years, there has been information coming forward that Grapes in
large amounts are causing renal failure. So it is wise to limit grapes
to 1 a day for large parrots and less for smaller parrots.
2.) Dairy products:
All birds have a hard time digesting dairy products so it is recommended
that you do not feed them to your bird.. However, sometimes an Avian
Veterinarian will recommend that you feed yogurt to your bird to help
with certain health issues.
3.) Sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds are like
candy to your bird and most will eat as many as possible. Eating high
quantities of them can cause renal failure as well as make your bird
more anxious and aggressive. When used as a treat in small amounts they
are just fine.
4.) Peanuts: Peanuts are high in fat and large amounts of them
can cause obesity. Peanuts also a common source of Aspergillosis and
Aflatoxin. Aspergillosis is the most common infection in birds.
Aspergillosis is a respiratory fungal infection caused by aspergillus
spores that become airborne. The spores can be ingested and spread
throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Because peanuts grow in the
ground they are considered to be a common source of aspergillus, which
can kill or make your bird sick. People can also get Aspergillosis.
Peanuts are also often contaminated with aflatoxin, a fungal toxin.
Aflatoxin is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in birds and other
animals. Caution is advised when feeding peanuts.. If you choose to feed
peanuts a simple way to help in keeping your bird healthy is to go
through your birds food and remove any peanuts or other nuts that have
black on the shell and keep your bird cage clean and remove wet food and
change water daily.
5.) Soybean: In the last few years there has
been more and more disturbing data coming forward about soybeans and
soybean products. Soybeans in their natural state contain large
quantities of natural toxins and there is data that shows that soy is
cumulatively toxic when fed to animals. For example, The Parrot Society
in New Zealand claims that soy products in bird foods have caused
problems such as immune system breakdown, failure of organs and
multiplication of the birds' own benign bacteria... So be careful when
feeding your bird a pelleted diet that contains the soybean or soybean
products.
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