Toxic Foods

An imbalanced or incomplete diet is a common problem with pet birds, and is often an indirect cause of illness. Most experts agree that a good diet for birds begins with a good seed mix or pellets and a variety of other foods added as supplements. A seed only diet is not recommended, people should always try to motivate their birds to consume fresh vegetables and fruits among other things. However, one needs to be carefull as many ingredients harmless to humans can be dangerous or toxic to birds. In the wild, parrots learn which foods are safe to eat from the experience of their flock. However, parrots kept in captivity rely on their caretakers to make appropriate choices. This is why you shouldn't count on your parrot's natural instincts to guide his dietary choices.

Creating an exact list of foods considered dangerous or toxic to birds can be challenging for multiple reasons. Firstly, the right avian nutrition relates to the different species. Different bird species will demonstrate different sensitivities to toxins. Another consideration is that many food related incidents are based on observations off a bird owners' own account, which may not always be verified. Pinpointing exactly how toxic a particular food is can also be tricky as dossage is very important. Some ingredients can be eaten in moderation without problems. Yet, this same ingredient can cause illness or even death if consumed in excessive amounts, just like in humans.

Here is a break down of foods that are potentially toxic or harmful to pet birds.

Tip: buy organic fruits and vegetables to make sure no pesticides have been used. Even when washed thoroughly, pesticides can still be present due to the waxy texture of certain fruit skins. It can even already have infiltrated inside the fruit if it has a thin skin, like grapes.

Chocolate:

Theobromine, classified as methylxanthines, can cause increased heart rate, tremors, seizures, liver damage and potentially death in birds.

Avocado:

All parts of the avocado plant contain persin, a fatty acid-like compound that has cardio-toxic effects in birds. Clinical signs like respiratory distress usually develop 12 hours after ingestion and death can occur within one to two days.

Fruit pits & seeds:

Many fruit pits contain cyanide and should always be removed prior to feeding the fruit to your bird. A few examples are apple seeds and pits from cherries, plums, apricots and peaches.

Garlic & (green) onion:

Onions contain sulfur compounds that can cause red blood cells to rupture and lead to anemia. Both onion and garlic toxicity is well recognized in other animals such as dogs and cats. It also often leads to an upset stomach.

High-fat, high-sodium or high-sugar foods:

Although not technically toxic, table foods are often laden with high concentrations of fat, salt and sugar. Just like in humans, this can cause serious health problems in birds. It is best to offer birds the natural ingredients of a dish, before adding salt, spices, sauce, butter etc. Try to avoid products like potato chips, vegetables with lots of butter, fried foods, cream, ice cream, fatty meat, cookies, candy etc.

Dairy:

Diary products are not technically toxic to birds. However, studies show that birds can not properly digest lactose. A high amount of diary in the diet can cause diarrhea, However, not all products contain lactose or have very little in them, such as certain yoghurt and cheeses. Still, these foods should only be fed in small amounts and as occasional treats.

Mushrooms:

Obviously, there are a few toxic mushroom varieties. However, mushrooms that can be eaten by people are often still considered dangerous for birds. The stems and caps of mushrooms contain amatoxin and they can also lead to an upset stomach.

Raw honey:

Raw honey contains fairly high levels of botulism and can be potentially harmful to birds. Use pasteurized honey instead.

Leafy greens (cabbage, rhubarb, kale, spinach etc.):

Firstly cabbage doesn't provide nutritional value that your bird specifically needs, which is why it's better to feed your bird other veggies instead. Cabbage also contains oxalic acid, a substance which interferes with calcium absorption in the meals that follow. Other examples of vegetables that have oxalic acid are spinach, parsley, kale, rhubarb and chard, though they're also sources of vitamin A and other nutrients. Some say that cabbage can also lead to an upset stomach.

Asparagus & Eggplant:

Although not technically toxic, both asparagus and eggplant have been said to cause digestive upsets in some birds. However, many bird owners claim they never had any issues and both vegetables are in fact named in the 'safe for birds' list on many websites.

Olives:

Olives can be potentially harmful due to the excessive amount of oil and salt. They may also contain toxic residues remaining from the processing.

Celery:

Celery isn't necessarily toxic or harmful for birds. Just make sure to remove the stringy section since it can cause bowel blockages.

Tomato:

Fresh tomatoes are high in acid that causes ulcers.

Citrus fruits:

Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and tangerines aren't directly harmful to birds. However they are high in acid, which is why it should be consumed in moderation and it isn't adviced to feed birds these fruits on a daily basis.

Caffeinated beverages:

Tea or coffee can lead to cardiac problems and in certain cases can also lead to hyper-activity.

Alcohol:

Just like in humans, alcohol is bad for birds. However, since birds are so much smaller than humans, they can easily get alcohol poisoning, which can lead to seizures and death.

Meats & fish:

Meats aren't unsafe for birds but neither are they required since the natural diet we should be feeding them has enough protein to cover that dietary requirement. Different kinds of beans, nuts and seed will fulfill their full need of protein. Proteins are high in amino acid called methionine, which has to be processed by the liver and kidneys. Execessive amounts of protein in your birds diet can lead to kidney problems. Furthermore, (red) meats like beef and pork are also high in saturated fats and cholesterol, which just like in humans, is bad for birds. However, as long as it is in careful moderation, birds can snack on a small piece of meat occasionaly without it causing them harm. Try to give them white meats like turkey or chicken, which are lower in fat. Uncooked, undercooked or reheated animal protein should not be given to birds because it is at a higher risk of bacterial infection than meats that are freshly and fully cooked. Fish and shelfish are potentially toxic to birds and should be avoided.

Peanuts & peanutbutter:

Peanuts can contain aflotoxins, a carcinogenic substance. Furthermore, peanut shells can also harbor fungus. To be sure they are safe, you can buy raw peanuts and bake them yourself. There are also rare occasions of peanut allergies in birds, similar to allergies in humans.